Today several people came to Chelo and began to uproot flowers. They were not vandals, but the first group of volunteers of the Volunteering Office of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician autonomous government) which collaborates with Fragas do Mandeo to eradicate one invasive alien species: the crocosmia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora).
Four groups of volunteers will be coming during July and August, duly authorized and accompanied by camp leaders. Their objective is to uproot these flowers without leaving any bulb in the ground. Although they look harmless and are used in gardening because they grow well, they are an environmental problem if they spread to natural areas. Originating from the crossing of two South African species, the plant is common in Galician coastal areas, finding in cool and damp places ―such as river banks― an excellent habitat in which to propagate, thus displacing the native vegetation. In Chelo (Coirós) it was planted as an ornamental bush in the parking lot, and has already colonized the mill channel and now there is the risk that it might continue advancing along the River Mandeo bank.
You should never throw the remains of exotic plants in the woods or free any pet, because you could create severe environmental problems that affect the native species.
