Crusade to save woodland flora
THE RACE is on to save the region's vanishing woodland wild flowers.
Red Rose Forest, Greater Manchester's community forest organisation, is working to establish and preserve colonies of flowers under threat.
Research shows that about 10 species are being lost from each county in the north west every 10 years.
And a spokesman for Red Rose Forest said: ''We are aiming to nurture and preserve what we have left.''
The flowers are disappearing because of changes in land use and land development. Although tree-planting to set up new areas of woodland can help bring new wildlife habitats, woodland ecosystems require more than just trees to reach their full potential.
The project will enhance new woodlands as a natural feature capable of supporting fauna including butterflies.
Ancient woodlands are the origin of many of the area's many beautiful flowers, which have been able to replenish themselves for centuries.
But newly planted woodlands need help to prevent them from becoming bogged down with weeds. Twelve community forests in England are taking part in the wild flowers project and each has been awarded cash over four years by local heritage initiative.
The forests cover an area of nearly 1,200,000 acres. Among the flowers in the programme are the bellflower species, the foxglove, red campion, hedge mustard, hedge parsley and the native British bluebell.
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