Fugitive on the Downs: Cotoneaster
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Fugitive on the Downs: Cotoneaster by Stefan Czapski as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
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Fugitive on the Downs: Cotoneaster
Image: © Stefan Czapski Taken: 16 Nov 2016
There are sweeps of this low-growing shrub on the steep slopes above the old Brockham quarry. In November both leaves and berries were a striking shade of red. I didn't recognise the plant, so for help turned to my friends Jane Braham and Mike Lewis (professional gardeners, both of them). They identified it as a form of Cotoneaster - a garden escape with invasive tendencies. Eradication will be difficult - especially as the plant seems to colonise the steepest slopes. In the mean time - for better or worse - the shrub will add a splash of colour to the downland flora.
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Image Location
Latitude
51.248627
Longitude
-0.282747