Click here to download a new report from the Gaelic Woodland Project which warns that the failure to regulate the highly invasive Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is causing serious, ongoing harm to Irish ecosystems — despite it being classified by the National Parks and Wildlife Service as an “established highly invasive species with a risk of high impact.”
While many invasive plants, such as Rhododendron ponticum, are now banned for sale, Cherry Laurel remains freely available in garden centres, supermarkets, and nurseries nationwide. As a result, it has spread to every county in Ireland, displacing native species, degrading habitats, and costing state bodies significant resources in control efforts.
Key findings from the report:
- Cherry Laurel is the second most common non-native shrub in Irish woodlands.
- It releases toxins (cyanide) that harm soil, deters herbivores, and blocks light from the forest floor — killing native flora and fauna.
- Ireland’s own environmental agencies list it as highly invasive, yet it is still not on the legal ‘List of National Concern’ under EU-derived invasive species law.
- Adding Cherry Laurel to this list would allow regulation and stop its sale, aligning with Ireland’s EU biodiversity obligations.
Quote:
“Once you learn to spot Cherry Laurel, you see it everywhere in our woodlands — and you can’t unsee it. Its omission from the List of National Concern is a huge mistake. The science is clear, the public wants action, and our own agencies say it’s highly invasive. Now it’s up to policymakers to act to protect our fragile ecosystems.”
— Oisín O Néill, Director, Gaelic Woodland Project
