Red Campion (Silene dioica) is a vital pioneer in the ecological restoration of former coal mining sites. It thrives in the disturbed and often alkaline soils created by coal spoil and limestone waste. This hardy perennial quickly establishes itself on bare ground and steep slopes, helping to stabilize loose substrates with its robust root system while preventing erosion.
Its bright pink flowers bloom from May to October and provide a critical nectar source for various pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and hoverflies. The evening-scented blooms are particularly attractive to night-flying species. Red Campion supports a diverse range of invertebrate communities, with its leaves serving as food for moth caterpillars and its dense clumps offering shelter for ground-dwelling insects and spiders.
As an adaptable colonizer of waste grounds and disturbed areas, Red Campion plays a crucial role in natural succession. It gradually improves soil conditions and creates habitat mosaics, helping to transform derelict coal mining sites into species-rich grassland and scrubland communities.
Red Campion (Silene dioica) is a vital pioneer in the ecological restoration of former coal mining sites. It thrives in the disturbed and often alkaline soils created by coal spoil and limestone waste. This hardy perennial quickly establishes itself on bare ground and steep slopes, helping to stabilize loose substrates with its robust root system while preventing erosion.
Its bright pink flowers bloom from May to October and provide a critical nectar source for various pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and hoverflies. The evening-scented blooms are particularly attractive to night-flying species. Red Campion supports a diverse range of invertebrate communities, with its leaves serving as food for moth caterpillars and its dense clumps offering shelter for ground-dwelling insects and spiders.
As an adaptable colonizer of waste grounds and disturbed areas, Red Campion plays a crucial role in natural succession. It gradually improves soil conditions and creates habitat mosaics, helping to transform derelict coal mining sites into species-rich grassland and scrubland communities.
