Rare Plants
Ophrys insectifera (Kevin Walker)

Threatened Plants Project

The Threatened Plants Project is a major new BSBI initiative to learn more about threatened species covered by the new British Red List (http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-33 54). We are focussing on widespread species known to have undergone rapid declines but for which there is little information on distribution and ecology.

The species covered in 2008:-

Aims

1. Collate detailed distribution records so that we can produce better maps for each species;

2. Carry out detailed surveys of a sample of populations across Great Britain and Ireland.

What will the results tell us?

For each species the results will provide basic information on population size and extent, habitats, management and threats. The sample survey will also provide a baseline from which future population changes can be assessed and in doing so help us to better understand environmental changes (e.g. habitat loss, eutrophication, climate change). The project is also helping to refine the BSBI’s approach to the recording rare species.

How will the results be used?

Short reports will be produced for each species and made freely available on the BSBI website. We also hope to produce a book of accounts for threatened species in about 5 years time.

How can I get involved?

If you would like to get involved in this fascinating project or further information, please get in touch with your vice-county recorder or Kevin Walker (kevinwalker@bsbi.org.uk).

 

Rare Plant Registers

A Rare Plant Register is a mini Flora, containing details of just the rarest species in the county, together with up-to-date information on how they are faring.

An important feature is that they should be standardised, so that they use similar categories of rarity. Bear in mind that they do focus on rarity not conservation significance, and many counties have also drawn up lists of ecological indicator species.

The guidelines for inclusion are roughly as follows:-

  • Any plant that is nationally rare (see Martin Wigginton’s 1999 Red Data Book) or threatened i.e. included in The Vascular Plant Red Data List (Cheffings et al, 2005).
  • Any plant that is nationally scarce (i.e. in Scarce Plants or more recent lists using the same category).
  • Any plant that is rare in the county (i.e. present in three or fewer “Wells Sites” or moveable 1km squares).
  • Any plant that is scarce in the county (10 sites or fewer) and declining.

    • The full, detailed guidelines are available for downloading as a pdf document here.

    All of the above categories count only for native species, but some non-native species can be included if they are long-established and of cultural significance (i.e. archaeophytes).

    The threat to rare plants

    The threat to rare plants from collecting or deliberate damage is often given as a reason for keeping locations secret. However, in most cases we feel there is more risk to rare plants from people not knowing where they are than there might be from vandalism. By providing good quality information on the distribution of plants, the BSBI enables government agencies and conservation organisations to direct their resources more efficiently. As many rarities grow on nature reserves, it is often essential to inform the owners, managers and users about the species that are there so that suitable management techniques can be employed.

    For this reason, the BSBI encourages the production of Rare Plant Registers and their widespread dissemination. Please note, however, that readers should not trespass on private land to see plants and anyone visiting the countryside should always follow the Countryside Code and the botanists’ Code of Conduct.

     

    Published Registers

    Wiltshire. 2007. Sharon Pilkington. Available from Summerfield Books for about £12 + p&p, it covers both vice counties of Wiltshire (v.cc. 7 & 8).

    Dorset. 2004. Bryan Edwards & David Pearman. Available from Summerfield Books for about £8.

    Sussex. 2001. Mary Briggs. Comb-bound b&w report of 106 pages.

    Berkshire. 2005. Mick Crawley. Download it here.

    Monmouthshire. 2007. Trevor Evans. Wire bound, A4, 89 pages b&w.

    Staffordshire. This is an electronic report, updated by John Hawksford annually. Download the 2008 edition here (pdf 241kb).

    Shropshire. January 2005. Alex Lockton & Sarah Whild. Download it from ShropshireBotany.

    Cardiganshire. 2001. Arthur Chater. Available for a small price from Andy Jones at the Countryside Council for Wales.

    Carmarthenshire. 1999. Richard Pryce.

    Caernarfonshire. 2008. Trevor Dines & Wendy McCarthy.

    Anglesey. 2006. Ian Bonner.

    Cheshire. 2007. Graeme Kay. Download it here as a 1.3Mb pdf file.

    Outer Hebrides. 2008. Paul Smith & Richard Pankhurst. Download it here: pdf only: 413kb.

    Shetland. 2002. Walter Scott, Paul Harvey, Roger Riddington & Morag Fisher. Available from all good bookshops.

    Co. Antrim. 2006. Stan Beesley. Available as a download from Ulster Museum.

    Co. Down. 2008. Graham Day & Paul Hackney. Available as a download from Ulster Museum.