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“Beautiful but Brilliant” Fen orchid – one of Britain’s most endangered orchids – has been brought back closer extinction, experts Said.
After decades of conservation efforts, the fen orchid (Liparis loessli) is no longer listed as threatened with extinction in the new Great British Red List for vascular plants. plantsPublished on Wednesday.
The fen orchid proves to be a bright spot in an otherwise “bitter picture” for Britain’s wild plants.
The new list, prepared by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) and the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and includes flowering plants and ferns, marks the most comprehensive review of the list since it was last published in 2005.
This shows that of the 1,720 native species or species introduced before 1500 AD, more than a quarter (26%) are at risk of extinction, falling into the critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable categories, and 140 are listed as near threatened.
The fen orchid is believed to be one of the few plants to have fallen off the GB Red List due to conservation action since the system began in 1977, and is now listed as near threatened.
Orchids, which have special requirements including moist alkaline soil and bare ground Flower The ephemera in the fens and sand dunes were historically affected by drainage and abandonment of the fens, as well as by collecting by plant enthusiasts.
As of 2010, it was reported growing wild in only three locations in East Anglia and one mound site in Kenfig, Wales, with the total number of species not exceeding 1,000.
Conservation experts have warned that many plants that were once widespread across the British countryside are now at risk, including wild flowers such as common milkwort found in species-rich habitats, marsh-marigold found in wetlands and arable field plants including rough poppy.
Arctic-alpine plants such as the endangered alpine gentian are also at risk.
Dr Piet Stroh, BSBI scientific officer and lead author of the new list, said: “This latest revision of the GB Red List again paints a clear picture of the state of our wild flora.”
“Although some of our rare species, such as fen orchids, have a potentially bright future due to the targeted efforts of conservation organisations, and some, for example bee orchids and pyramidal orchids, are more common than they once were, many plants that were once widespread across our countryside are continuing to decline to such an extent that they are now considered endangered.”
He said the decline is linked to a number of factors, including more intensive agriculture, long-term neglect of landscapes, development and pollution.
“All of these factors are most prevalent in lowland areas, but many of the upland wildflowers are also at risk, particularly our arctic-alpine species, some of whose declines are linked to climate change symptoms.”
The fen orchid is believed to be one of the few plants to have fallen off the GB Red List due to conservation action since the system began in 1977, and is now listed as near threatened.
The orchid, which has special requirements including moist alkaline soil and temporary flowering in bare ground and fences and in sand dunes, was historically affected by drainage and abandonment of fences, as well as by collecting by plant enthusiasts.
As of 2010, it was reported growing wild in only three locations in East Anglia and one mound site in Kenfig, Wales, with the total number of species not exceeding 1,000.
The nature charity PlantLife has led work with a number of organizations to save the plant since 2008, building on decades of work by wildlife trusts to care for the remaining sites and restore former sites to suitable condition.
This has enabled the rare orchid to be reintroduced to more places, and it is now found in seven locations in England and three in Wales, with populations of over 10,000 plants.
Its success is in contrast to elsewhere in Europe, where it is in significant decline due to population loss across much of its range.
Tim Pankhurst, Plantlife’s former conservation manager, who dedicated his life to protecting fen orchids before retiring in April 2025, said: “Playing a leading role in reducing the status of such a beautiful but threatened orchid is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a botanist and one I will always cherish.
“As we face the enormous challenges of climate and biodiversity loss, this provides a moment of real hope for the future and is testament to what sustained, dedicated partnership conservation work over many decades can deliver.”
Peter Atkinson, plant records officer at Cambridge University Botanical Garden, said the garden team has been investigating the life cycle of the fen orchid and maintaining the plant collection for more than a decade.
“Our field observations have deepened our understanding of the species, directly informed better management of existing sites, and helped increase the wild population from a few hundred to several thousand.
“We are now seeing strong, sustainable populations re-established in the wild – a clear indication that this kind of long-term, collaborative conservation really works,” he said.