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Conservationists have launched a dramatic rescue operation for one of the UKis the rarest plantsThe hungry wood-sedge has, “rather frighteningly, decided” to grow directly on the public footpath. The critically endangered species, once considered the country’s rarest plant, is found in only two native locations across Britain, one of which is at Axbridge in Somerset.
For more than two decades, the Species Recovery Trust has worked diligently to protect the starling wood-sedge, which had declined to critically low levels. However, a small group of plants stick survival near a path woodland Somerset faced a new, unexpected threat.
Dominic Price, director of the Trust, explained the alarming situation: “Over the last few years the plants have unfortunately, and rather alarmingly, decided to leave the shore habitat we have created for them, and have started growing directly on the public footpath. This puts them at direct risk of damage from being trampled.”
To prevent their death, the Trust decided to remove the plants from the track and move them into “captivity” at a specialist plant nursery. Here, they will be propagated and “grown up” by dividing the clumps, allowing the sections to grow into fully mature plants capable of recolonizing the original location.
In addition to this immediate protection, the Trust has the ambition to establish two new populations of starling wood-sedge within the Mendip Hills National Landscape, ensuring their long-term protection from loss.
“undisputed” GrassThe species generally thrives in wetland environments such as swamps, marshes, as well as moist woodland edges. Despite its small, inconspicuous nature FlowerHaving both male and female blooms on the same plant, it plays an important role in attracting a wide variety of insect pollinators. Experts highlight its wider ecological importance, providing habitat for insects, amphibians and birds, and regulating water flow and nutrient recycling in wetlands.
The plant’s decline has been mainly attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation, leaving it confined to its two native sites in Somerset and Surrey, along with a scattering of reintroduction locations.
The Mendip Hills National Landscape Team provided significant funding for the Somerset project. Team manager Jim Hardcastle commented: “Nature recovery is key to our work these days so it’s great that we can help the Species Recovery Trust with their important work. At first glance it’s a fairly ordinary weed that many people will have passed by over the years but it’s still an important part of the ecosystem and deserves our attention and support.”
The Species Recovery Trust is committed to removing 50 species from the brink of extinction in the UK by 2050, a mission that includes animals such as the New Forest cicada and green tiger beetle, as well as plants such as field gentian and marsh clubmoss.