From a letter to the Natural Death Centre.
While we should applaud the increase of d-i-y burials and the 'set-aside' nature of Woodland Cemeteries, I am concerned, as are the BSBI (Botanical Society of the British Isles) and the Linnean Society, about the 'improving' or setting up of these areas by well-meaning but ill-informed bodies.
Many proudly announce they are to sow 'wildflower' mixtures and plant trees and shrubs of 'native' species. Too often parks and roadside verges are sown and planted with seed imported from the Netherlands or raised by nurseries from European sources. While many of the species may be the same, the genetic strains usually derive from areas frequently different from those where they are to be grown. The impact of this alien material can have a serious effect on the composition of the ancient indigenous flora. It is becoming evident, for instance, that many of the wild hyacinth or English bluebell (Hyancynthoides non-scripta) strands have become seriously introgressed by pollen from garden introductions, resulting in hybrid stock. The same can be seen close to motorway verges where native plants hybridise with introductions sown for aesthetic reasons.
Dr Andrew Gordon of Forestart recently stated that "of the 80 million broad-leaved trees and shrubs planted annually in Britain, two thirds, that is around 56 million, are from the Continent; also British nurseries import up to an estimated 30 tonnes of Dutch acorns annually". His figures were extracted from MAFF and HTA reports.
Needless to say this threatens biodiversity because common sources of seed homogenise the flora and pay no regard to its provenance or suitability to site. Sown with the best of intentions, the scattering of this stuff - willy-nilly across the nation - is threatening our floral genetic inheritance.
If cemetery planners could take account of these concerns by ensuring only indigenous plant material is encouraged in situ it could go some way to prevent the erosion of our native genetic resources.
Alan D Fairweather, 28 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh EH11 1LX.
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