Practically every settlement has some gorse. It is an evergreen woody shrub with vicious thorns, giving deep splinters to those who touch it. From October to the end of December gorse flowers and the entire bush may appear bright yellow. It provides shelter for livestock and for nesting birds, particularly the Falkland Thrush and Military Starling and it is the best place to find a Falklands green spider. It is however, now considered an invasive threat in areas where it has no agricultural benefit and and sometimes needs controlling.

Gorse, native to Europe, was introduced to the Falklands before 1848 (Moore 1968) by settlers to help make hedges to contain cattle and give some shelter. Plants were often placed on a bank. The Falkland Island Magazine August 1904 has a small entry: Gorse and Broom plants for sale at the Parsonage 0/3d each plant- open weather in May is best time to transplant them- secure the roots well from frost.

Sources include:A Field Guide to the Wildlife of The Falkland Islands and South Georgia - Ian J Strange, Plants of the Falkland Islands- Ali Liddle, Flowering Plants of the Falkland Islands- Robin W. Woods,The Vascular Flora of the Falkland Islands- D. M. Moore, B.Sc., Ph.D, 1968, Jane Cameron Archives/ Falkland Islands Magazine August 1904, fig.gov.fk/agriculture

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