For my part, I'm just happy to see a rather nuanced discussion unfolding here. I see I'm not alone in being frustrated with some of the unintended consequences of the "natives only" movement, even though to a large extent, I'm a part of that movement, or at least a supporter of its main tenets. I think it really comes down to the fact that there are a few really bad actors, and then a whole bunch of stuff somewhere in the middle. I'm a big fan of Norway spruce-obviously not a native tree-and I know of some woods which are mostly native, but have a few big , old monsters of this species mixed in. In my view, absolutely not a problem, in any way. But those same woods are truly being "choked" by common buckthorn. That will be their demise, as that plant really does have the ability to crowd everything else out. It just depends on the situation, but to not realize there is a problem with non-native, invasive plant species proliferating in the environment indicates that you, OP, just haven't yet seen the light. Since you're interested enough in the topic to bring it up, I suspect you will in time come to see the havoc. A part of it really depends on your managing to fall in love with the native plant communities which have not yet been destroyed. Then once you cross that threshold, I think it will become clear what something like Callery pear, garlic mustard, or common buckthorn is doing to the landscape. +oM

Sounds interesting. Wouldn't you need rather a lot of space? I would try it but I don't have room. City plot. Julie in WPB

NOW - HAVE Native Tree Seeds! I've just bought some tree seeds on Ebay. I don't know how they've been stored, but they aren't dried up and dead. They are fat and heavy, ready to sow - in fact two of the acorns are already sprouting. I don't want dozens of big trees in my garden,and I don't do bonsai. It would be a pity to waste them, so I now have a few fresh seeds of the following to swap: Castanea sativa - Chestnut Corylus avellana - Hazel Fagus sylvatica - Beech Prunus domestica institia - Damson Quercus robur - English Oak

Thanks for replying Floral, but, if I knew which kind by name, I could likely find it. I just know it's a North American native, it's native in Pennsylvania, where I live, and I had actually purchased it before, and planted it, but, I think I planted it too deep or something, but, the roots were so short, but, anyways, it isn't likely to come back up. But, REALLY, it's too early to say for sure, but, I want to get more plants anyway. It's a shade loving thick bladed Pa native Carex plant. I've seen it growing wild in the mountains not really far from me, after I first saw it I ordered and planted it, which is the planting I reffered to above where I may have planted it too deep. So, you may not know it as far as it growing in the UK, but, hey, it may for all I know, but, I do kinda doubt that it does, at least naturally, but, I bet if introduced it would love moist woodland soil in the UK, unless it needs a different PH soil.