Rare local flowers under threat of extinction

Some of the county’s most beautiful wildflowers are under threat of extinction, with one species only surviving on a single nature reserve, according to a local conservation charity.

The future of a number of internationally significant wildflowers hangs in the balance warns Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, which has produced information showing where some of the most significant flowers are still surviving in the county.

Meadow clary is now only found on one site in the whole of Gloucestershire, at the Stuart Fawkes Nature Reserve in Minchinhampton, which is managed by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

The Badgeworth buttercup (also known as Adder’s tongue spearwort) is only found on two sites in Gloucestershire, including the Badgeworth Nature Reserve.

The sword-leaved helleborine is one of the most threatened orchids in the county, but can still be found on nature reserves in the Wye Valley.

And Gloucestershire’s county flower, the wild daffodil, now only survives in patchy populations. Two vital strongholds are Betty Daw’s Wood and Gwen and Vera’s Fields near Newent.

“Here in Gloucestershire we have a rich heritage of dazzling wildflowers. Sadly, one reason why they are so special is because many are rare, and some are under threat of extinction,” says Adam Taylor, Head of Land Management at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. “The nature reserves that we look after are vital havens for some of the rarest species. The fact that declining wildflowers are surviving shows that our management of these sites is working, and are giving rare species the toehold they need to survive and expand again into the wider countryside.”

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, which manages 65 nature reserves throughout the county, is asking local people to donate to its Rarities appeal so it can restore and expand places where wildflowers can thrive. Further restoration works at Stuart Fawkes nature reserve, for example, would help species such as meadow clary. For further information, please visit gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust would like to thank Grundon Waste Management for donating £10,000 to support rare wildflowers in the county.