The article, which had the headline "Seeds of Evil" in the magazine, was about a possible ban on the cheap, fast-growing and evergreen bush that originally comes from Asia Minor and the Balkans.
In this country it shields hundreds of thousands of private gardens from prying eyes.
However, conservationists complain that the plant has little to offer native insects.
An expert from Nabu even said, somewhat exaggeratedly, that from an ecological point of view, the cherry laurel is as worthless as a concrete wall.
Many fans of the plant didn't like that at all, and so I was accused, on behalf of all cherry laurel opponents, of eco-madness, a rage for regulation and, strangely enough, "left-wing, do-gooder do-gooderism."
This week I had to remember the angry letters again, because exactly what my interlocutors were demanding three years ago was happening in Switzerland: the sale of cherry laurel has been effectively banned by the Federal Council by changing the so-called release regulation.
This is intended to prevent the invasive plant from increasingly entering the environment, spreading further and displacing more ecologically valuable plants.
The damage caused by invasive species is enormous: a UN report last year concluded that they play a key role in about 60 percent of documented animal or plant extinctions.
From a global perspective, the cherry laurel will only make a tiny contribution, but in my opinion we have long been able to observe the damage it causes in the wild.
It's just a little empirical evidence, but on the approximately five kilometer long forest route that I have been walking or running regularly for about ten years, more cherry laurel bushes are sprouting every year.
In some areas that are not far from residential areas, they seem to me to already be in the majority in the undergrowth.
In any case, they disturb the growth of native deciduous trees.
This annoys me, and that's why I'm trying what I can to stop the spread in "my" forest.
But the fast-growing cherry laurel beasts are tough, even if they are up to your knees: They have very deep roots and can hardly be pulled out of the ground.
In addition, I am always viewed critically when I jerk around the plants.
I may have to take a spade with me when I do my rounds soon.
If you have made similar observations during your walks, then write to me, preferably with attached photo evidence: guido.kleinhubbert@spiegel.de.
Thank you in advance!
Kind regards
, Guido Kleinhubbert
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(Feedback & suggestions?)