flora english nature Summer 2004

A dozen arable appear on the team working on Government Biodiversity Action Plans, the cirl bunting in forming almost 20% of the 66 flowering the South Hams plants listed. Some arable plants such as district of Devon cornflower and corncockle are species has done much to which can readily be recognised, but now, extend local ironically, are hardly to be seen in the knowledge of the

wild. To help with the recognition of the locations of some . Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature less familiar species English Nature and of these rarer plants WILDGuides launched an identification and the Northmoor guide Arable plants – a field guide – Trust has done an

co-authored by Phil Wilson and Miles immense amount of Myosurus minimus King, at in July. Professor detailed survey in

Peter Crane, Director of Kew Gardens and the Chilterns. Mousetail Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of English Nature, led the presentations given at the Defra reported their findings following a event. The launch was undertaken as part Committee investigation into the issues of Kew’s Go Wild summer theme which raised by invasive species. A workshop concentrated on British Biodiversity and held jointly by the British Lichen Society featured some additional 19 installations and English Nature at Nettlecombe Court including wildlife-friendly gardens, an attracted a range of enthusiastic European arable plot, a human-sized badger sett and lichenologists to present papers on the a -top walk. impacts of nitrogen deposition on lichens. A workshop on fungi held by English Another aspect of arable plants is a Nature in association with Cardiff relative dearth of information on their University proved to be an excellent whereabouts. While the recent New Atlas stimulating event. of the Flora of Britain and Ireland does include these species they are likely to Two years ago Andy Jackson, then have been under-recorded. This is partly Biodiversity Officer for Kew based at due to their occurrence on private land and Wakehurst Place, and now head there, partly to neglect from botanists. Wiltshire had an idea. Given the international Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group has importance of the British bryophyte flora initiated a project, funded by Defra, to and interest of the bryophytes at Wakehurst rectify this lack of information locally by why not give them prominence? Last encouraging new recording of arable September, the Francis Rose Reserve was plants. This information can then be used launched, an appropriate tribute to a person to help target agri-environment schemes. who identified their importance and who In addition, English Nature and the Esmee has done so much to get Sites of Special Fairburn Trust are together funding Scientific Interest notified for their lower Plantlife International on behalf of the interest. Arable Plants Group to establish an Arable Areas database. People who own, Other contributions in this varied edition or who regularly visit, farms, are being of Flora English Nature include articles on encouraged to submit a form detailing fungi as indicators of dead wood habitat their findings in the expectation that our quality, plant conservation work on knowledge base will improve. The Royal Pitcairn Island, a UK overseas territory,

Paul Glendell/English Nature Society for the Protection of Birds local and Bronze Age ! Tower mustard Arabis glabra Could a ‘Hardy’ plant see ‘The Return of the Native’?

The urban concrete jungle of the great It is part of the massive system of water metropolis seems a complete antithesis to storage works in south west owned Thomas Hardy’s Dorset – a rolling, rural by Thames Water. The principal population landscape cloaked in greenery, which most of plants is located on free-draining, sandy people would conjure up in their minds soils on or alongside a grassy causeway when thinking about biodiversity hotspots dividing the reservoir basin. The site was in Britain. However, London holds its fair thought to hold one of the largest UK share of ‘biodiversity’ and, despite habitat populations of this nationally scarce and fragmentation from the urban sprawl, declining biennial, with c. 3,000 flowering supports important populations of a variety spikes and many non-flowering rosettes of species. To this end, the London recorded in 1997. However, when Phil Biodiversity Partnership has been successful Wilson1 re-surveyed the reservoir in 2001, in promoting biodiversity in Greater London it demonstrated that the London population for the past six years, with over 60 had declined to a fraction of its former self organisations participating in 10 Habitat with only 134 flowering spikes remaining. Action Plans and 12 Species Action Plans (SAPs). Fortunately, the future of tower mustard in London is looking more secure as a working Tower mustard has been one of the United group has been formed between English Kingdom priority SAP plants that form part Nature, Plantlife, Thames Water, Royal of the London Biodiversity Action Plan. Botanic Gardens and the Wildfowl and Historically, the plant was more widespread Wetlands Trust (WWT). Thames Water has across London. Indeed, the earliest written undertaken appropriate management at Stain British reference to the species comes from Hill Reservoir to help the native population

Tower mustard Arabis glabra. Middlesex, listed by John Gerard in The recover, which has included a combination Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature Herball or Generall Historie of grass cutting, scrub clearance and soil of Plantes of 1597 as disturbance. Plants have also been grown ‘Tower Cress’ occurring at Kew Gardens from collected seed ‘at Pyms by a village called (a proportion of which has also been stored Edmonton neere London’. at the Millennium Seed Bank), with a further Alexander Irvine reported population of plants recently established on plants at another Middlesex sandy banks at WWT’s London Wetland location between Hampton Centre. Encouragingly plants at both these Wick and Sunbury in 1835, sites successfully flowered and set seed this coinciding with the only year. Furthermore, the information gleaned known locale of the capital’s about the species, not only from ongoing current extant population. conservation action on the ground in London William Newbould was the and elsewhere in the UK, but also from last to report the plant’s current research by academic institutions presence in Middlesex in including Sussex University, could facilitate 1860. Thereafter, the future reintroduction of tower mustard back species was believed to have to some of its former historic UK haunts. been extinct in London Who knows, perhaps we could see ‘the throughout the 20th century return of the true native’ on suitable sandy until Brian Spooner banks around Bridport and Parkstone in re-discovered a population Hardy’s Dorset? in 1987 at Stain Hill Reservoir. The reservoir Richard Bullock retains the only extant Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust population (of the 30 Biodiversity Officer

known UK sites) in 1Project Officer for Plantlife International funded by English Nature’s Greater London. Action for Plants contract

2 Cut-grass Leersia oryzoides Rediscovery discovered in Richmond of rare lichen in Cut-grass is a nationally rare plant, status in The contracted panicles were only partially Hampshire Britain Endangered, and is listed in Schedule exserted from the leaf-sheaths and the 8 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act as well spikelets only just emerging. A remarkable lichen as being a Biodiversity Action Plan priority find has been made in species. There are recent records of it as a Cut-grass was last recorded in the Richmond Hampshire by Neil native in just three sites in south east area, at Kew, between 1779 and 1805 by one Sanderson. Bacidia , in Surrey and West Sussex, Bishop Goodenough, but it is considered by subturgidula is a small therefore the discovery of a small population a local botanist that the recently discovered lichen which has only beside a pond close to the River Thames at plants have probably arrived within the ever been found on two Richmond in Surrey is highly significant. last few years. One possible route for occasions, in 1868 and colonisation of the site is via seeds deposited 1873, both in the New The plants were discovered by Madeline by the River Thames during a seasonal flood. Forest and on old holly Holloway of Ecological Network Information wood. The new Consultants in early September 2002 whilst The proposed flood protection scheme has now discovery was made in carrying out a Phase 1 survey to assess the been shelved, and discussions are underway April 2003 at Queen ecological impact of a proposed flood between English Nature and the site’s owners Bower, also on an old alleviation scheme adjacent to the river. They and local botanists to ensure that the cut-grass holly, and Neil was were growing at the margins of a small pond population is properly protected and that its particularly excited as which held little water at the time of survey. habitat continues to be suitably managed. he has been looking for Associates included greater pond-sedge, reed this species for nearly canary-grass, purple loosestrife and a North Madeline Holloway 15 years! American introduction, pickerelweed. Adapted from an article in BSBI News

Paulownia kawakamii in the car park of English Nature’s Colchester office. kawakamii Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature in Essex: a mystery solved

In the early summer of 2000, a large plant P. kawakamii is a native of China, and can sprung up from a crack in the tarmac, at the grow into a deciduous tree up to 8 metres in foot of a south-facing wall, in the car park of height. It bears flowers in large racemes, up English Nature’s Colchester office. Despite to a metre long and 50 cm wide, each with the local concentration of informed observers, around 300 frilly, scented flowers. It is nobody could put a name to it. Even as it cultivated in Australia and the United States grew, to some 2 metres in height, with huge (often the bluish-flowered cultivar ‘sapphire heart-shaped, shallowly-lobed leaves, to 80 cm dragon’) for ornament, shade, timber and the across, we were no nearer to identifying it, nor rehabilitation of degraded farmland. Other even being able to assign it to a particular family. cultivars are available in different flower colours (from white to pink), and with differing At the end of the summer, the aerial parts degrees of drought tolerance and hardiness. withered rapidly, and the plant was forgotten The susceptibility of the Colchester specimen until in 2001 and 2002 when up it sprung again. to cool temperatures suggests we are not likely In 2003, it was even more robust, reaching nearly to see it in its full, flowering glory here, but it 4 metres. It was a mystery which refused to is nevertheless a magnificent sight which is go away. Then, in June 2003, I visited Kew much appreciated by local staff. Jo Braddock, Gardens, and saw the same plant growing in Administrative Officer, says “We love our the herbaceous borders – it was Paulownia ‘triffid’ and look forward to its appearance kawakamii, a relative of the more familiar every year”. foxglove tree P. tomentosa. P. kawakami, one of several species bearing the English name Dr Chris Gibson ‘dragon tree’, is not listed by Stace or Clement Essex, Herts and London Team, & Foster as occurring in the ‘wild’ in Britain. Colchester

3 The Nature Coast Project has also launched a Beach Warden scheme, encouraging volunteers to ‘adopt’ their local beach and monitor its wildlife. Training in wildlife identification, surveys and organising beach cleans is being provided along with a handbook offering useful advice and contacts. Beach Wardens will report any damaging activities as well as encouraging local community awareness by producing articles for parish newsletters and running guided walks and practical conservation tasks.

The biggest threat to dynamic coastal habitats is coastal squeeze - where coastal wildlife becomes trapped between rising sea levels on the one side and fixed coastal Garden escapes threaten native shingle defences on the other. Coastal habitats, plants at Pagham Harbour SSSI. which under natural conditions would Nature Coast Project Squeezing life back migrate landward, are unable to do so. into our coasts Coastal Wildlife – feeling the squeeze? is a conference for school children being For the past three years the Vegetated held in Chichester. Organised jointly Shingle Project has concentrated on raising between Nature Coast and the West Sussex awareness of vegetated shingle as an Countryside Studies Trust, the aim is to raise important wildlife habitat in West Sussex. awareness among the next generation of Only specially adapted plants can cope with planners and coastal managers, of climate the arid, almost soil-less conditions and change and the problems it will pose for salt-laden winds but those that do, in our coasts. This is a particular problem turn, support many invertebrates in West Sussex where 93% of the and coastal birds. coastline is defended against the sea and predicted sea level rise is among Now, the Nature Coast Project is the highest in the country. Yet habitats carrying on this work for all coastal such as saltmarsh and shingle beaches habitats in the county from seabed and provide a natural coastal defence and offer a New site lagoon to salt marsh and sand dune. With more sustainable alternative to the traditional a densely populated coastal strip and high hard defences such as sea walls. for coral levels of recreational pressure, public necklace in attitudes towards coastal wildlife have a For more information about the Nature huge influence. Coast Project contact Julie Hatcher on Dorset 01243 863141 or visit the website at The Project, launched earlier this year with a www.pebbledash.org.uk Coral necklace children’s design-a-logo competition, is an Illecebrum verticillatum, English Nature-led partnership project, which recently reclassified as is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Nationally Rare, is Although basically an awareness-raising largely restricted as a project, it is also involved in practical native to Hampshire and management issues such as research into Cornwall. It is a very the control of invasive garden plants on the rare plant in Dorset, so vegetated shingle at Pagham Harbour Site the 2003 discovery of a of Special Scientific Interest, where houses small population at a border the beach. new site at Avon Common was In October, a new vegetated shingle particularly welcome. identification leaflet was published. The find was made by Produced in partnership with the East Sussex English Nature Coastal Biodiversity Project, it will help Conservation Officer those with an interest in the habitat to The Nature Coast Project logo is unveiled at the Project’s launch. Douglas Kite. improve their knowledge. Nature Coast Project

4 Wiltshire FWAG launches Rare orchid project to help rare arable plants dug up An unwelcome incident Plants such as cornflower and corn marigold, set up the Wiltshire Rare Arable Plants of plant theft occurred in which once added a splash of colour to our Project. The project aims to review existing Dorset concerning the arable farmland, have largely disappeared records of arable plant distribution and work lizard orchid, a from the very cereal fields that gave many of with farmers and agronomists to record new nationally rare plant them their names. In July, Wiltshire Farming sites and secure management beneficial classified as Vulnerable. and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) to these plants. The project was officially A very small population launched a new county-wide project aimed at launched in July at a two-day event growing beside a main promoting the conservation of these plants. in Kingston Deverill for farmers and road near Wareham has It coincided with the national launch of agronomists, entitled Managing Wildlife persisted for at least 12 Arable plants – a field guide, a book On Your Farm. This included a talk on the years, but in 2003 the co-authored by Phil Wilson and Miles King identification and management of rare arable only was designed to help people recognise these plants by national expert and co-author of deliberately dug up and plants and understand their requirements. the new field guide, Dr Phil Wilson, and removed. The incident the chance to see a number of these is a reminder of the Arable farmland can support a unique fascinating plants. vulnerability of rare collection of plants that are adapted to plants to theft, and raises colonise the disturbed land created by tillage. To help conserve these plants, some farmers the issue of the extent to Nearly 300 species of wild plant have been are leaving uncropped cultivated margins in which confidentiality is found on arable land, including species such their fields, which will encourage them to necessary concerning as shepherd’s-needle, pheasant’s-eye and grow. Others are actually restricting the location information for rough poppy. However, over the last 60 types of herbicides they use so that the plants such species. years once-widespread and common cornfield can grow, whilst still allowing the farmer to flowers have suffered a serious decline due to produce a crop. Not only does this help changes in agricultural practices, including these rare plants, it can also provide valuable Narrow-leaved faster maturing crops, increased efficiency of habitat for other farmland wildlife including helleborine in modern herbicides and a move away from hares, grey partridge and beneficial insects. traditional rotations. These plants may now Despite parts of Wiltshire being recognised Hampshire be the rarest species on the farm! as nationally important for these plants, their distribution and current status are still poorly Good news concerning Fortunately, Wiltshire still supports a number known. The project is working with the nationally scarce of important rare arable plants. The county is agronomists and farmers to record sites narrow-leaved (also nationally important for the spectacular where these species occur - hopefully this known as sword-leaved) pheasant’s-eye and red hemp-nettle. There is will confirm old records and identify new helleborine Cephalanthera also a characteristic community of nationally locations. Recording forms can be requested longifolia at Chappett’s scarce species, including corn gromwell, from the Farmland Biodiversity Project Copse, a Hampshire & corn parsley and Venus’s looking-glass. Officer, Simon Smart. Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Reserve. In recognition of this, Wiltshire FWAG, Dagmar Junghans Monitoring by Volunteer supported by English Nature and Defra, has English Nature, Wiltshire Team Reserve Warden Richard Hedley, who also leads the management work on the site, revealed a Three-lobed water-crowfoot in Kent total of 2,185 flowering spikes in 2003, the Work for three-lobed water-crowfoot reintroduction of disturbance - a group of local highest total since 1995. Ranunculus tripartitus has yielded positive schoolchildren proved particularly effective results at Combwell Wood SSSI in Kent. here! Twenty-four plants made an appearance A joint project between English Nature, during the late spring and summer of 2003, Plantlife and the Kent High Weald Project has with many producing flowers. Monitoring seen the first reappearance of this plant at continues at the site and it is hoped that further Combwell since 2000. The plant is found in a work may be possible to encourage the temporary pond on the edge of this woodland recovery of this plant at Combwell. SSSI. Work involved increasing light levels, removing the build-up of organic matter in the Pauline Harvey Conservation Officer pond, clearing invasive Juncus effusus and the English Nature, Kent Team

5 Peter Bennett Features at Kew Go Wild Gardens included: at Kew Gardens and Tree-top walkway A 110 m walkway winding through the canopies Wakehurst Place of oak and redwood - a rare chance to Peter Bennett view trees from a bird’s-eye perspective and to Last summer, Kew Gardens and Wakehurst explore the lives of the many creatures which Place held an exciting and ambitious festival make their home in Britain’s tree-tops. concentrating on British biodiversity. It is often easy to overlook the diversity of life on Field hospital your doorstep. This festival, called Go Wild, An evocative collector’s pavilion illustrated celebrated our native wildlife and ran from the traditional medicinal uses of native May to September. It highlighted species species. Presenting the science behind folk which occur in the gardens, and explored the remedies, the Field hospital also demonstrated diversity of wild habitats throughout why plants, leeches and maggots are finding the United Kingdom. Go Wild also looked a new role in modern medicine. at sustainable practices in traditional agricultural and land management. Something’s brewing at Kew A dramatic living display of hops and Visitors were able to climb into the canopy barley, growing in the Princess of Wales of a magnificent oak tree, explore the tracks Conservatory, showed the interdependence of small mammals living in the wilder areas of traditional practices on the landscape, of Kew, discover the medicinal value of culture and rural economy. native wild plants or listen to the rustling of a traditional wheat field. Go Wild Self raising flowers demonstrated the interdependence of plants, Modern agricultural methods, pesticides and animals and humans, and showed the herbicides have created uniform fields of irreplaceable beauty of Britain’s unique wheat, instead of the rich mixture of flowers wildlife. Through special features, exhibitions and wild plants of 70 years ago. The and art installations, Go Wild conveyed traditional wheat field showed how fields the conservation message at the heart of looked in the past and how they supported Kew’s work. insect life and wildflowers.

6 Grown home biodiversity and show the important role Artist and maker, Lois Walpole, grows her domestic gardens can play in becoming Cornish own willow and fashions the living wood corridors for wildlife. The prize of £200 plant finds into an amazing range of items including coat worth of vouchers was provided by English hangers, tables, chairs, baskets and bowls. Nature as part of their Gardens Initiative. There have been some This intriguing living installation showed The winner was Bob McMeekin with his good plant discoveries how sustainable manufacture is possible in an ‘Railway Reclaimed’ garden. Chris Gibson, in Cornwall lately. Ian urban environment by growing, harvesting, English Nature’s judge, said, “The Railway Bennallick has refound using and recycling willow artefacts. Reclaimed garden highlights how gardens oak fern and a second and disused railways are important for nature site for marsh fern in Vegetarian option in urban areas, both acting as important east Cornwall, and Kew’s Diploma students presented their wildlife corridors. This garden links the two dense-flowered fumitory vegetable plots, which use traditional and shows how innovative garden design and in a barley field at methods to improve soil condition, encourage biodiversity can work together.” Porthcothan, growing beneficial wildlife and produce healthy crops with narrow-fruited using methods like companion planting. The Wild Ideas gardens were sponsored by cornsalad, round-leaved the SITA Environmental Trust, and the gardens fluellen, weasel’s-snout, Blooms, birds, bugs and bees were judged by Chris Gibson, Conservation dwarf spurge, tall A huge floral plantscape highlighted the Officer for English Nature; Nigel Taylor, ramping-fumitory and importance of domestic gardens as havens for Head of Horticulture and Public Education at small toadflax. wildlife. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Steve Ruddy Cornfield knotgrass at Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew; and Mary Polygonum rurivagum A badger sett! Reynolds, designer of the Defra Biodiversity has been discovered in A human-sized underground badger sett Garden at Kew. good numbers at a farm offered an amazing insight into the life of near Saltash and one of Britain’s most intriguing and Porthtowan. The misunderstood wild animals. Features at Wakehurst recently published book Place included: Arable plants – a field Carbon light life guide has proved useful A series of glass panels located in the Charcoal burner’s encampment with the arable plants gardens, revealed the tracks of small Charcoal burning was a hugely important identifications. Good mammals going about their lives, showing industrial process from Roman times to the populations of the vital link between habitat and wildlife. middle of the 19th century. Today, 40,000 cranberry have also been tonnes of charcoal are used in barbecues, refound on Bodmin Wild harvest much of it imported from south east Asia. Moor at two of its three A new exhibition in White Peaks Gallery An authentic charcoal-burner’s encampment sites in the county. showed a selection of artefacts made from illustrated a form of sustainable woodland British native plants, British timbers, management, which can reduce the impact Last year Flora English photographs of British habitats and of on threatened forests of the world. Nature reported the present-day uses of wild plants. discovery of northern Peter Bennett yellow-cress Rorippa Flying pollen Go Wild co-ordinator islandica in Somerset A series of beautiful microscope images by the Somerset Rare illustrated the complex structure of Plants Group – the first wind-borne pollen from UK native plants record for England. and their relationship with plant reproduction. More recently a The images were presented as banner Botanical Cornwall installations in the landscapes of Kew. Group workshop discovered a large Wild ideas population of the rarity Six showcase gardens illustrated ways of growing with marsh creating a wildlife-friendly haven in a small yellow-cress R. palustris domestic garden. The plots were designed by on the muddy margins Kew final year Diploma of Horticulture of Upper Tamar Lake, students to inspire urban gardeners, and were on both the Cornwall judged by English Nature and Kew for their and Devon shores of promotion of biodiversity and landscape the lake. The plants design. The aim of the designs was to were identified by encourage a greater understanding of Paul Green. Peter Bennett 7 The Francis Rose Reserve

A tribute to Francis Rose - Francis Rose MBE doyen of field botanists

On 16 September 2003 an eclectic gathering National Museum of Wales, who gave an of botanists, saplings and veterans piled amusing potted biography, followed by into the Millennium Seed Bank conference Nick Hodgetts, former plants advisor at the Andy Brown, English Nature’s room at Wakehurst. Such was the draw of Joint Nature Conservation Committee, who Chief Executive. one of the most distinguished field botanists outlined the national and international of our generation, Francis Rose MBE. importance of the Wealden sandrocks for We gathered here, not only to celebrate lower plants. this great man’s contribution to botany and conservation, but to launch a new reserve in Brian Marsh then presented the coveted his honour at Wakehurst, a special area of Marsh Christian Trust Award to an imposing sandrock exposures, home to a individual who has done much to further the host of Atlantic moisture-loving lower plants. conservation of bryophytes. The recipient -

Nick Hodgetts. David Holyoak - has done sterling work for Andy Jackson of Kew and Head of English Nature and Plantlife International in Wakehurst Place, introduced the day’s recent years and is Conservation Officer of celebrations followed by a talk from Francis the British Bryological Society. himself. He expressed his delight and pride that this area would in perpetuity be In our excitement the proceedings managed with mosses, liverworts, lichens somewhat over-ran, so over a buzz of and ferns centre stage, groups that Francis conversation we headed for Wakehurst’s has fostered so much awareness of to a restaurant and downed our excellent dinner. Tim Rich. steady flow of students for more than half a Then we did what had to be done – entered century. The Francis Rose Reserve Francis’s real element – the field. Tours of is the first nature reserve in England to the sandrock reserve took place in warm be devoted to lower plants and the second sunshine, not so good for the delicate in the world (the first goes to Dawyck in liverworts and ferns (they will survive) but Scotland!). matched the mood of the day. I’m sure I’m not the only one in English Nature who can Peter Crane, Director of Kew, then paid his look back to memorable days in the field

Andy Jackson. warm tribute. Andy Brown, English with Francis, when you want to soak up Nature’s Chief Executive, rightly every moment of his infectious passion for acknowledged Francis’s contribution to plants, and wish you could somehow achieve botany and conservation, recognising the just a fraction of what Francis has achieved role he has played in inspiring many of us for plant conservation in this country. in English Nature today, and his guiding hand in the early days of the Nature Ron Porley Conservancy Council when many of his Bryologist, Botanical Unit detailed reports led to sites being designated Terrestrial Wildlife Team, Peter Crane. as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. English Nature, All photos Ron Porley/English Nature We also heard from Tim Rich of the based at Newbury

8 New record after 130 years

Nothing for 130 years. But in September an endangered species of fungus was spotted by an English Nature Biodiversity Action Plan Fungi Officer – and it was only his second day on the job!

Wooly oyster Hohenbuehelia mastrucata on a fallen beech trunk, a carnivore which traps and En-route to Kings Lynn Fungi as indicators of eats nemotodes. Dr Martyn Ainsworth station with English Nature’s lead contact for dead wood habitat quality fungi, Carl Borges, Dr Martyn Ainsworth suggested a detour to the Grasslands containing waxcap fungi have trees in an age-dependent manner, fungi home of the last West rightly attracted an increasing amount of help to transform these bulky items into Norfolk sightings of the interest in the last 10 years. As some of labyrinthine mini-ecosystems and help to oak polypore these do not support a wide range of create more niches as they go. Fungi (Buglossoporus) flowering plants they have, perhaps, been colonising standing and fallen dead trunks quercinus – at Castle overlooked, but recent work has redressed and branches have a more limited Rising. It was a fruitful that balance such that they have been the distribution and are more endangered diversion! Armed with focus of increased survey work and public than colonisers of more ephemeral woody only an inaccurate grid interest (Flora English Nature winter 2002 resources such as twigs. Hence it is reference and the name of - pink waxcap). While woodlands have expected that the detection of suites of the village the chances of been known to harbour a wide range of fungi which are apparently dependent on finding this rare species fungi for a very long time, there has not, larger diameter (ie older) dead wood will were low, but Martyn’s as yet, been a method available to be helpful in assessing relative enthusiasm paid off when facilitate surveying them. One of the conservation value. they stumbled on it in the more promising avenues now being local woodland. pursued is the development of a list of Selecting fungi living on dead wood fungal species which are characteristically (saprotrophs) is also attractive because The rare golden yellow found fruiting on the dead wood of they are a species-rich group associated bracket fungus was last broadleaved tree species in southern with this resource, the main agents of recorded at Castle Rising in England so that we can compare habitat primary decay, relatively amenable to 1871 and 73, and nothing quality between different woods. laboratory manipulations and hence offer has been seen since in the possibilities of combined ecological and West Norfolk area. This approach marks a departure from the genetic investigations. Surprisingly in this waxcap-dominated grassland assessment regard, but again probably reflecting their In fact, across the country as dead-wood communities often feature restricted habitat, the ecology of fungi this species is only found many genera but each is represented by colonising bulkier woody substrata has where there are collections only a few species. Having a shortlist of been largely neglected. This contrasts of old oaks and their target species to search for will help to with the large research portfolio developed fallen branches are left to make the task more manageable for the from studies of the pioneer community decay naturally. The small dedicated group of fungi specialists (primary colonisers) of twigs and small fungus is not killing the available. Furthermore, it should help to branches led by Dr Alan Rayner (Bath) trees and may even highlight the conservation importance that and Prof Lynne Boddy (Cardiff). This prolong their life. It sites can gain as their trees increase in age expertise is transferable to species of actually helps to recycle and decompose naturally. In the first conservation concern as is already being the dead parts of the tree instance, the approach will be to look at demonstrated in Cardiff with species of and provide holes and the larger elements of dead wood such as Hericium, a strongly associated crevices for other wildlife trunks and large branches. As with other with large-diameter woody resources. groups of organisms which interact with Continued on page 10 ̈ Continued on page 11 ̈

9 Interestingly, 50% of all fungi specially Of the 404 species deemed not to have protected under the Wildlife and adequate habitat protection, a surprising Countryside Act 1981, ie oak polypore 234 fungal species were selected in 1994 Piptoporus quercinus (listed as for attention under the four survey-and- Buglossoporus pulvinus) and bearded manage strategies of the Pacific Northwest tooth Hericium erinaceum, are species of Forest Plan. One notable outcome was the bulky substrata, thus further accentuating sudden ‘celebrity’ status of a bracket the importance of this habitat. fungus found on dead Abies and Tsuga. Although having fruitbodies unflatteringly Since this is very much a new venture, it is described as resembling a doormat, the worth considering some of the historical fungus formerly known as Bridgeoporus events which have catalysed the nobilissimus became better known as the development of this approach. In addition noble polypore. The sheer size of its to the publication of the Swedish book fruitbodies (one was recorded as weighing Pink bracket Aurantiporus alborubescens Signalarte and pyramids of ‘signal 136 kg in the original description) helped on a fallen beeck trunk in Berkshire, one of four counties with records. species’ for Scandinavian virgin forests, to give confidence to the assertion that, Dr Martyn Ainsworth three projects that had the greatest in the fruiting state at least, it really was catalytic impact on me personally are rare and not merely overlooked. Each outlined below: known site was even accorded its own exclusion zone of 240 hectares protected Northwest Forest Plan - habitat of from disturbance and any planned the northern spotted owl ground-disturbing activities had to await a noble polypore survey. At the other end Declaring the northern spotted owl of the scale, all 234 fungal species were ‘threatened’ in 1990, the US Fish and proposed for extensive surveying to find Wildlife Service sparked a series of legal high-priority sites and a decade of regional challenges bringing Pacific Northwest surveys for little known species timber sales on Federal land to a halt and commenced in 1996. an intervention by President Clinton in 1993. In the ensuing debate, public and Indicators of habitat quality in scientific concerns about maintenance of European beech forests ecosystem function were seen to outweigh those of saving viable populations of Concern for loss of native biodiversity individual species. The focus was on from European forests prompted Jacob diminishing ancient (old-growth) forests at Heilmann-Clausen and Morten Christensen a late-succession or climax stage of to start mapping fungi that were characteristic development and, for the first time, fungi of dead wood in Danish beech forests in became a major part of forest management 1998. Their aim was to produce a list of in the owl’s range. The ecosystem mostly easily identified fungi with relatively management team considered species conspicuous fruitbodies. This was a associated with late-succession forests deliberate strategy to promote interest in drawn from eight organism groups the project and stimulate recording. It also (fungi, lichens, bryophytes, amphibians, helped to circumvent the issue of fungi

Orange powder porecrust Ceriporia mammals, molluscs, vascular plants which have few records but are so metamorphosa on fallen oak trunk and arthropods). inconspicuous they are probably overlooked showing the accompanying orange powdery spore masses of its asexual by most recorders. It must not be forgotten state. Dr Martyn Ainsworth that the downside to this strategy is the omission of many species characteristic of dead beech wood, for example a cornucopia of inconspicuous corticioids (fruitbodies resembling white paint or smears of wax) which demand specialist attention and considerable microscopy time. Jacob and Morten used the phrase “coarse woody debris” (as did those working in the spotted owl’s range), however I am reluctant to describe a standing dead oak trunk, the product of several centuries of development, as any form of ‘debris’.

10 Following Danish field testing and summing up the next steps required, this ̈ Continued from page 9 potential inclusion of extra indicator fungi, assessment highlighted three essential Jacob and Morten are now expanding their tasks: survey work, production of a UK such as birds, bats and efforts to try to include more non-Danish Red Data Book for fungi and the insects. Places where sites in their top 20 beech sites in Europe. identification of indicator species to assess oaks are allowed to One factor unfavourably affecting the habitat quality. One of the four criteria become ancient and scores of non-Danish participants is which emerged as useful for site selection slowly decay are now in undoubtedly the questionable pan- described sites which are ‘outstanding short supply so the European applicability of the Danish list examples of a habitat type of known species is the subject of a which may result in future adoption of mycological importance’. Only the Biodiversity Action Plan some country-specific fine tuning. That waxcap grassland fungal species diversity and is protected under said, I could not resist applying the values (eg the CHEG profile) were cited Schedule 8 of the existing Danish list to one of my local as a guide to application of this criterion. Wildlife and Countryside woods near Windsor. I had high Clearly there is much room for Act, 1981. expectations because I had chosen 14 improvement (apologies for the pun!) in hectares which probably constitute the assessing any other fungal habitat, not “It was incredible luck to best surviving fragment of the pre-Saxon least for the purposes of SSSI selection. find it with so little Windsor Forest. Satisfyingly, it was on a information,” said Carl. par with Fontainbleau Forest and within Looking to the future, the initial phase “But Martyn has spent the top ten European sites documented of this project involves compiling over 20 years studying during the early years of the project. manageable lists of appropriate fungi dead-wood fungi and Interestingly, the Danish team were struck starting with those associated with oak, how they live and fight by the repeated co-occurrence of several beech, elm and lime, some of which I have each other for territory indicators on the same log or trunk. studied and photographed near Windsor and this species in This is now being refined into a concept of over the last 10 years. The more particular has taken his ‘decay pathways’ whereby the presence of conspicuously-fruiting candidate species fancy so he’s made it his one species can sometimes render the show an enormous range of form. They personal mission!” microhabitat in a more favourable release spores from structures as diverse as condition for colonisation by others. spines (eg Hericium and Mycoacia), tubes “I am very lucky that I (eg Ceriporia and Phellinus) and gills live near Windsor Great Important Fungus Areas (IFAs) in (eg Ossicaulis and Hohenbuehelia). Some Park,” said Martyn. the UK example species (identifications checked “Here there has been a by microscopy where appropriate) and continuity of oaks since It was becoming clear that in order to their bulky wood habitats are shown on Saxon times at least and evaluate and compare sites or habitats for these pages. In order to validate the list not surprisingly the oak their fungal interest, more criteria were and show it can work to highlight areas polypore is still very urgently needed. Indeed the Important already accepted as important for their much a part of the local Fungi Areas dossier highlighted the lack of bulky dead-wood assemblages, it is hoped wildlife. I am currently site-based information as a factor holding to incorporate an analysis of existing working with English back fungal conservation. Furthermore in Continued on page 12 ̈ Nature to assess how fungi such as this and the bearded tooth Hericium Robust bracket Phillinus robustus on a fallen oak trunk in its Windsor Forest stronghold. Dr Martyn Ainsworth erinaceum can be used as indicators to pinpoint sites of conservation interest. In some ways this is using fungi like we use top predators such as birds of prey, if they are doing well then the ecosystem as a whole is probably doing well. What we need to be doing now is making sure that there will be a continuous supply of old trees so their associated wildlife has a secure future”.

11 Fragrant toothcrust Mycoacia nothofagi on a fallen beech trunk, usually detectable by its powerful To realise the potential of this fundamental sweet soapy scent. fungal records. In view of this and to Dr Martyn Ainsworth avoid unnecessary identification and resource, funding is currently required to recording effort, the indicator lists will not standardise recording of sites and update include very common species with broader distribution maps. In the meantime, all ecological amplitude in genera such as site-based queries require laborious Stereum, Bjerkandera and Schizopora. ‘manual de-replication’ of data entries, particularly where sites are uniquely Hopefully, the British Mycological Society described by different recorders and the Fungal Records Database (BMSFRD) can same site is visited over several years. be made available for interrogation beyond The ‘cleaned’ data can then be augmented the summary data currently accessible to by consultation with other fieldworkers Mealy oyster Ossicaulis lignatilis and the public on the BMSFRD website. experienced in this ecological group and associated brown rot within a hollow fallen elm trunk. Dr Martyn Ainsworth hopefully successfully tested across a wide geographic area.

Ultimately the ‘best’ sites for bulky dead-wood resources will emerge for comparison with those obtained by assessing saproxylic invertebrates. The task of assessing how well their fungal inhabitants are protected can then follow. The future supply of dead wood should also be considered. Small concentrations of dead wood may currently harbour a hotspot of fungal diversity but they cannot be viewed in spatial or temporal isolation. Attention should focus on the wider landscape and century-based timescales in which such hotspots may be seen to be a temporary and mobile feature. All of which brings the issues of provision of sufficient areas and continuity of trees sharply into focus.

Dr Martyn Ainsworth BAP fungi contractor

12 Bronze Age botany

In a move to broaden interest in biodiversity, and plants in particular, an English Nature Peterborough-based project has begun, with the aim of promoting links between archaeology and wildlife. This is happening at the Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre, located to the south of the city which contains a 3,500-year-old 2 kilometre-long wooden platform. Discovered in the 1970s by archaeologist Francis Prior during preparations for extending an industrial estate, the platform is in an astonishingly good state of preservation thanks to being buried under several metres of peat.

Flag Fen has already been involved in plant conservation, as it provides a nursery area for the rare species, fen ragwort Senecio paludosus (Flora English Nature, winter 2001). The site recently opened its new visitor centre and, with Flag Fen becoming popular as an educational resource, an A view of the Flag Fen site. Paul Lacey/English Nature opportunity arose to demonstrate how examples of plants that can be put to human beings once interacted with their practical use. And, stinging nettle Urtica environment. English Nature staff paid a dioica showed how a plant many people visit in the summer of 2002 and recorded despise can serve as a source of cloth, rope, what was present. From this list, I then dye, food and medicine. researched how humans throughout the ages have exploited the various properties of This work has already produced two these plants. unexpected spin-offs. I was asked to give a talk on the subject as part of Flag Fen’s A leaflet is currently in production, which summer lecture schedule. Then, I had to will be free to visitors. Around the site, a appear on a television programme, offering number of small ‘flags’ will mark the advice to a ‘Bronze Age family’ on what in position of the plants mentioned and these the hedgerows was good or bad to eat. The have been grouped into four categories; family, recruited by Central News, spent a food, medicines, tools and practical uses week attempting to live like a Bronze Age and multi-purpose plants. group. Although their principal concerns centred on being deprived of their normal Food plants covered in the leaflet include plant-based stimulants tea, coffee and common mallow Malva sylvestris and cigarettes, they did show some interest in fat-hen Chenopodium album. Both these such sustaining fare as dandelion leaves, fat species have had a long association with hen and wild parsnip. They were, however, humans, mallow having been mentioned by far less enthusiastic about the sloes they the Roman writer Pliny and fat-hen giving were offered! its old Scandinavian name ‘Melde’ to two villages in Suffolk. Paul Lacey Communications Unit Medicinal species include purple and Terrestrial Wildlife Team yellow loosestrife Lythrum salicaria and Lysimachia vulgaris, and (with a cautionary note!) hemlock Conium maculatum, apparently used to cure rabid dog bites! Woad Isatis tinctoria, the ancient Britons’ war paint, provided one of several splendid

13 We were also able to describe and map Plant conservation vegetation communities, and to provide activities on better information on the conservation status of native species, including an assessment of Pitcairn Island the major threats and, for certain taxa considered to be most at risk, an assessment Pitcairn Island, the fabled home of the of population size and demographic Bounty mutineers, is isolated at the eastern structure. In a few cases such data were extremity of the main group of Polynesian backed up with a molecular assessment of islands, roughly half way between New genetic diversity. Thus we were able to Zealand and South America and just south of provide a large amount of baseline data that the Tropic of Capricorn. Identification of the could be used to prioritise future conservation flora of Pitcairn began almost as soon as activities. The main threats to the native European contact with the community of species were identified as those posed by mutineers and their Tahitian wives, but it invasive non-native plants, by critically was not until the Mangarevan Expedition of small population size or distribution, by 1934 that extensive collections of the habitat loss, and by erosion. The main island’s flora were undertaken. Research invasive species causing problems are interest from Trinity College began in 1991 Syzygium jambos, introduced originally for during the Sir Peter Scott Commemorative fuel wood, and Lantana camara; both are

Hibiscus australensis, first noted on the Expedition to the Pitcairn Islands, which well know as pest species elsewhere. island in 1997, where it is rare and local. focused its attention mainly on ‘nearby’ Several native species were found to exist The species also occurs in the Austral islands where its conservation status is Henderson Island (a World Heritage Site) in either very restricted areas, such as uncertain, but likely to be very rare. It is being trialled on Pitcairn as a ground and two atolls Oeno and Ducie. However, it Lastreopsis aff. pacifica where all but one cover in plots cleared of the invasive became apparent in 1991 that the main individual occurred in a colony occupying an Syzygium jambos. 2 Dr Steve Waldren conservation issues with the flora of these area of 20 x 60 m , or occurred in very low islands was on Pitcairn itself. As a UK numbers, such as the endemic Coprosma Overseas Territory governed from the British benefica, where only 12 individuals were High Commission in New Zealand, the recorded. C. benefica was thought to be responsibility for biodiversity conservation dioecious, and in 1997 we found only one on the island rests with the UK Government. male plant, though the sex of several Accordingly, we secured funding from the individuals could not be determined. UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office in The vulnerability of species with such low 1997 to examine in detail the floristics, numbers was made evident when the largest vegetation communities and conservation specimen of C. benefica blew over during a status of the native flora. storm. We were unable to locate the endemic Abutilon pitcairnense and Myrsine Our 1997 visit to the island provided a sp. previously recorded from the island. more complete floristic inventory than was previously possible. We added 12 new Following the 1991 expedition, McCoys Valley, showing typical native montane forest of Metrosideros collina, records of presumed native species to bring recommendations were made that a with rich pteridophyte ground layer, epiphytic ferns and bryophytes, and the the total native flora to 81 taxa, of which Conservation Officer be funded as a local typically leaning stems of the trees. 10 are considered endemic. government position, and this was achieved Dr Steve Waldren

14 in 1997 when Jay Warren was appointed to the post. In 1999, with help from Colin Clubbe and colleagues at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Jay attended a Darwin Initiative-funded programme at RBG Kew to provide training in practical plant conservation.

The latest pieces in the conservation jigsaw A Haloragis species, locally frequent on the south coast of Pitcairn, though not fell into place in early 2003 with funding Almost the whole community of the island is recorded prior to 1997. It has not yet from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth working with Noeleen on this plot survey and been seen in flower, so has not been fully identified to species. Office to investigate methods to remove clearance, providing a useful source of Dr Steve Waldren Syzygium jambos and reinstate native forest income locally in addition to undertaking species, while minimising the potential effects practical conservation. of soil erosion. At the same time, Fauna and Flora International provided funding to We have devised a strategy for the recovery undertake recovery work on critically of critically endangered species which endangered plants, and the Irish Research involves firstly securing the existing genepool Council for Science and Technology provided by vegetative propagation, followed by an a research fellowship for Noeleen Smyth. assessment of genetic variation, and then controlled breeding to try and maximise In the meantime Carol had relocated a diversity. Ultimately we hope that this might specimen of the Abutilon, and Jay and Carol include a study of the relative effects of successfully propagated this from cuttings, inbreeding and outbreeding depression. proudly displayed to Noeleen and Steve when Many problems remain to be studied, not they visited in July 2003. We also found that least the taxonomic identity of taxa such as a trial translocation of the endemic giant fern the Myrsine and Lastreopsis. We found that Angiopteris chauliodonta undertaken by several of the Coprosma surveyed in 1997 Naomi and Steve in 1997 was successful, could not be refound in 2003; no trace with 26 young plants established in Jack remained of the largest plant that blew over in Willems Valley from 40 transplanted stipules 1997, and the solitary male from that time An undescribed species of Peperomia from the a very restricted area of the (fleshy outgrowths of the base, had recently died. However, we located southern coast. Recent molecular containing an axilliary bud). We also found a several other specimens and, intriguingly, analyses suggest it is closely related to P. hendersonensis of nearby Henderson young plant of a Myrsine species in McCoy’s found that some plants that were ‘female’ in Island, and the more widespread Valley, and in December cuttings were 1997 now appeared to be exclusively ‘male’. P. pallida. We hope to publish a formal description of this species shortly. successfully rooted at Trinity College Botanic Molecular markers will again be used to Dr Steve Waldren Garden. Further work is needed to see if this confirm or refute whether we have relocated taxon is the same as M. hosakae, endemic to exactly the same individuals, but we collected nearby Henderson Island, or whether the fruit from one individual growing at the base Pitcairn material represents a distinct taxon. of a radio mast guy wire in 1997, and we are certain that the same specimen was producing Perhaps the most exciting event was the only male flowers in 2003. construction of the island nursery, which will provide a facility to propagate both threatened Clearly, there is still much to learn, including native plants and plants that are of economic the most effective means of invasive species benefit to the islanders. For example, we plan control. But so far we are extremely to introduce a range of Avocado cultivars optimistic about the approach taken, which grafted onto standard stocks, and these will involves a genuine partnership between the greatly increase the avocado season on the local community with their practical skills, island. Noeleen’s practical horticultural and the baseline information that the scientific training can be put to use in training islanders team from Dublin can provide. with grafting techniques. The nursery is also Working together, being used to raise stock that will be planted we can make a real Dr Steve Waldren*, Dr Naomi Kingston1, into experimental plots cleared of Syzygium, contribution to practical Noeleen Smyth*, Jay Warren2 & Carol Warren3 as well as propagation of critically threatened plant conservation, and *Department of Botany, Trinity College, Dublin species. A series of 20 plots have so far been the approach taken on 1National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin surveyed, and these will be cleared of Pitcairn may serve as a 2Conservation Officer, Pitcairn Island, Syzygium once stock for replanting has been model for conservation 3Pitcairn Island propagated and grown on. on other islands.

15 Publications reports

Some recent English Nature Research Reports of plant and fungi interest include:

No. 492, Creolophus (Hericium) cirrhatus, Hericium erinaceus & H. coralloides in England.

No. 503, Lichen survey of selected Breckland SSSIs, 2002.

No. 528, The implications of climate Management handbooks change for the conservation of Beech woodlands and associated flora in Two important management handbooks the UK. have been recently published by FACT, the Forum for the Application of No. 540, Report on the marsh honey Conservation Techniques, with the fungus Armillaria ectypa, a UK BAP assistance of English Nature: species. The Scrub Management Handbook: No. 541, Report on hazel gloves Guidance on the management of scrub on Hypocreopsis rhododendri, a UK BAP nature conservation sites. ascomycete fungus (with reference to willow glove Hypocreopsis lichenoides). The Herbicide Handbook: These are available free from: Enquiry Guidance on the Service, English Nature. use of herbicides on nature Leaflets conservation sites. The Fungus Conservation Forum has published a leaflet entitled Grassland The handbooks gems: managing lawns and pastures for are available for fungi which provides sound management downloading on English Nature’s advice for the conservation of these website, www.english-nature.org.uk, and fungi, many of which are particularly the website also gives details for obtaining attractive. paper copies, price £30 for both and £15 for the Herbicide Handbook only. Plantlife has produced a leaflet for the Back from the Brink management series Another management handbook, this time entitled Ciliate strap-lichen: Gift of the concerning heathlands, has been produced Gulf Stream. This lichen is a rare by Nigel Symes and John Day of the RSPB: species classified as Endangered and listed in Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and A practical guide to the restoration and Countryside Act, and which reaches the management of Lowland Heathland. northern limits of its distribution in the British Isles. Another leaflet in this This handbook provides a reference for the Plantlife series is Looking after rare planning, implementation and monitoring mosses and liverworts in coastal dune of the management of lowland heathland, slacks, which provides useful and presents the latest methods to do the management advice for the conservation job efficiently. The inclusion of case of these plants, several of which are studies is a valuable addition to meet the threatened in Britain and Europe. aims of the book.

16 Books Arable plants - a field guide

This English Nature and WILDGuides book by Phil Wilson and Miles King contains information on over 100 species of Britain’s rare arable plants, each covered in full colour with a photograph or illustration. It describes the development of agriculture in Britain from the Neolithic Age and discusses modern threats and opportunities like genetic modification, plus: John Davis illustration. • A descriptive identification account The last chapter analyses the present with reference to similar species situation, where some remaining heathlands • A distribution map are still in sub-optimal conditions due to • Flowering and germination period chart decades of neglect. The author then takes • Notes on habitat, soil type and special an optimistic look to the future based on a management requirements renewed interest by the public, the help of the funding bodies, such as the Heritage For details contact Wildguides; Lottery Fund, and changes in legislation Tel 07818 403678, which will hopefully secure the future of e-mail [email protected] this habitat. The book is profusely www.fieldguide.arableplants illustrated with beautiful photographs, many of them from the early 20th century New Isle of Wight Flora and fine watercolours by artist John Davis.

A new Flora has been published for the Flora of the Fells: celebrating Isle of Wight by Dovecote Press, with the Cumbria’s mountain landscapes authors comprising Colin Pope, Lorna Snow & David Allen. The book provides This attractive short book produced by the an authoritative account of the current and Flora of the Fells project explores the historic status and distribution of the relationships between the famous scenery vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and of the Lake District and the Pennine stoneworts, plus information concerning uplands and their distinctive flora. A key plant folklore, habitats, climate, geology, aim of the book is to increase people’s vegetation history and the history of enjoyment and understanding of the upland botany on the island. The Isle of Wight is countryside by highlighting the flora and home to a number of rare species including how the plants have survived there since narrow-leaved lungwort, Martin’s ramping- the last ice age. A key message is that fumitory, early gentian and wood calamint. although Cumbria has a remarkable range of flora much needs to be done to continue Heathland to protect and enhance it. The book contains numerous excellent colour This informative book written by James photographs and illustrations. The Flora of Parry and published by the National Trust the Fells website is: www.floraofthefells.com in their Living Landscapes series focuses on the cultural aspects of lowland heathlands. Fungi The book includes relevant descriptions of the habitat and its wildlife, its geographical A short book in the “Naturally Scottish” distribution and management issues, the series by Scottish Natural Heritage written history of heathland industries and the by Roy Watling and Stephen Ward, resources that have been obtained from providing an introduction to the life cycles, heathlands over the centuries: plants habitats and conservation of fungi in (heather, gorse, bracken), food (honey, rabbits, Scotland. Illustrated with a range of fine sheep) and minerals (gravels, sands). colour photographs.

17 People Wildlife CD-Rom -

Honours: Gardening with wildlife in mind Honours in the botanical world include Books about wildlife gardening are, happily, David Pearman and common enough these days but what about Stella Turk, both using new technology to help people select awarded MBEs; and plants to attract birds, insects and other Dr Jane Smart awarded animals into their gardens? The idea wasn’t an OBE. new. Jill Hamilton’s Flora for fauna CD did something along these lines more than 10 On the move: years ago, with the aid, one must add, of a Plantlife International’s generous grant from English Nature. But the address is now: ambitions of Flora for fauna were pretty 14 Rollestone Street well confined to butterflies and their food Salisbury plants. Imagine, instead, a database linking Wiltshire all desirable garden creatures to the plants, SP1 1DX native or otherwise, which might draw them Tel: 01722 342730 in to a garden. This was the initial goal of E-mail: the project which began in 2000, in Lewes. [email protected] Its horizons have shrunk a little over the last Flora Locale’s address three years and the original plan for 1,200 photographs for no fee. Being involved in is now: entries has been reduced by a third. There this venture has been at various stages, Denford Manor are now 500 plants and 300 ‘creatures’, exciting, frightening, worrying, stimulating, Hungerford with hyperlinks for almost all of the species exhausting and frustrating but never for Berkshire described, to the plants (or animals or both) one moment dull. It’s certainly the most RG17 0UN with which each is ecologically linked. memorable project in which I have Tel: 01488 689035 Click on sparrowhawk and it will take you to participated in 25 years with English E-mail: goldfinch (and of course other birds). From Nature/Nature Conservancy Council. [email protected] goldfinch you can browse to sunflower and thence to linnet, tuberous thistle or Cirsium The CD costs £9.99 (plus £1.50 p&p) and is tuberosum if you prefer to search that way. available from The Plant Press, 10 Market This in turn might lead you to Bombus Street, Lewes, BN7 2LU or e-mail John lapidarius or some other bee and then to Stockdale, [email protected] or call other bee-pollinated plants and on, endlessly, 01273 476151. elsewhere. Each species has its own screen, with a text of up to 200 words and a very Steve Berry high quality photograph. People and Nature Officer External Relations Team In the case of plants, some basic horticultural information is provided, as far as possible by Bogbean. Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature way of symbols. This covers preferred soil type, aspect, height, growing habit, flowering colour and period and so on.

Primrose. Animals are linked to the plants that feed or Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature shelter them as well as, where appropriate, to the other animals on which they prey or for which they are themselves prey.

The most remarkable aspect of the CD is the huge debt its successful production owes to the efforts of a truly vast number of English Nature staff. For once, the cliché ‘too numerous to mention’ is apposite since almost 100 people helped with writing or improving the text, editing, proof-reading and critically, supplying their own

18 Botanical network Contacts

A contact situated in each English Nature Area Team willing to deal with plant issues. The Lowlands, Uplands and Biodiversity teams at Beds, Cambs and Northants Kent Biodiversity Unit English Nature have Zak Hawkes Phil Williams combined to form the Cheshire to Lancashire Norfolk Senior Biodiversity Officer Terrestrial Wildlife Team Deborah Rusbridge Peter Lambley Peter Brotherton which includes species and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly North and East Yorkshire - Senior Biodiversity habitats specialists and is Andrew McDouall York office Information Officer managed by Dr Richard Cumbria Susan Wilson David Switzer Wright. Jacqui Ogden and Ian Slater Leyburn office Biodiversity Officer Devon Colin Newlands Gavin Measures Botanical Unit Dave Appleton and England Local Biodiversity Simon Dunsford North Mercia Botanical expertise in Chris Walker Action Coordinator English Nature is distributed Dorset (Defra, Bristol) Jonathan Cox Northumbria Alison Barnes around England with David Mitchell particular people specialising Eastern Area team Maritime Biodiversity Steve Clifton Peak District and Derbyshire Coordinator in key species, geographical Audra Hurst Essex, Herts and London Angela Moffat areas and/or habitat types. Dr Chris Gibson Somerset and Biodiversity Support Officer London office Gloucestershire Claire Brittain Peterborough Alex Machin and Stephen Parker Dr Jill Sutcliffe Rachel Cooke Suffolk Botanical Manager – Hants and Isle of Wight Nick Sibbett co-ordinator Catherine Chatters Sussex and Surrey Dr Stewart Clarke Herefordshire and Michael Knight Environmental Impacts Worcestershire Thames and Chilterns Team, Freshwater – Ron Porley David Heaver aquatic species including Humber to Pennines Wiltshire charophytes Brian Davies Katie Lloyd Colchester Carl Borges - Fungi (Currently on sabbatical) Conservation Land Management Kendal A Magazine for Land Managers Ian Taylor - Vascular plants, ferns and conifers; North and Midlands areas and Appropriate management of the habitats in full-colour Uplands and woodland which they grow is essential to the survival of illustrations to species; orchid species; all rare plants. It is not surprising then that set the scene. Schedule 8 licensing of getting things done on the ground is the aim of Each issue has vascular plants. all plant Biodiversity Action Plans. Land a range of managers therefore have an important role to regular features Newbury play in plant conservation, but they need up to containing listings of events Ron Porley - Vascular plants, date information. To help provide this English and new publications, product updates, south and south eastern Nature publishes a quarterly magazine which reports and topical comment. areas and grassland species; is designed with the land manager in mind. bryophytes – mosses and Co-ordinated by a team of land management liverworts; Schedule 8 Conservation Land Management draws on the experts from English Nature working in licensing of non-vascular practical experience of writers from across the partnership with the conservation networks, plants British Isles and beyond. Articles focus on the FACT and EUROSITE, Conservation Land wide range of land management issues in Management brings together a wealth of Norwich conservation, including habitat management practical experience. At just £14 (individual Peter Lambley - Lichens and restoration, the control of problem rate) for a year’s subscription it also represents species, grazing animals and machinery. superb value for money! Taunton Additional information, including details of Simon Leach - Vascular costs and materials, is presented in easy-to- To subscribe contact – plants, south west area follow text boxes and diagrams, with British Wildlife Publishing, tel: 01256 760663 and coastal species

19 Flora English Nature Course and conferences Participants of the workshop examining focuses on plant work the lichen flora of a roadside tree. being done by Peter Lambley/English Nature English Nature and its Workshop on lichens and the changing partners and is published air pollution environment in Britain annually. Lichens are well known as indicators of English Nature is the air pollution. Work in the early 1970s Government Agency that showed that it was possible to use lichens champions the as biomonitors to measure average winter conservation of wildlife levels of sulphur dioxide. A scale using and geology throughout lichens growing on trees was developed by England. Francis Rose and David Hawksworth which enabled the levels of air pollution to Editor: Dr Jill Sutcliffe be mapped in areas where there were no Botanical Manager measuring gauges. However, in the last Terrestrial Wildlife Team two decades of the twentieth century Pat Wolseley, the Secretary of the Society Northminster House levels of sulphur dioxide dropped and also Research Associate at the Natural Peterborough PE1 1UA dramatically as a result of the change from History Museum. There were 32 participants coal burning to gas powered stations and from Britain, France, the Netherlands, Enquiry Service the introduction of clean air areas in the Germany and Italy. Papers were read over Tel: 01733 455000 urban centres. Lichens are responding by two days with a field excursion on the moving back into the cities to such an third to the Institute for Grassland and www.english-nature.org.uk extent that over 32 lichens were recorded Environmental Research at North Wyke in on trees in Regent’s Park in 2003 when 20 Devon. There were sessions on the changing © English Nature 2004 years ago the total would have been in lichen flora, the pollution environment, Printed on Evolution Satin, single figures. monitoring and conserving lichen 75% recycled post-consumer communities. It was clear that we are waste paper, Elemental However, just as lichens have been dealing with a complex situation where in Chlorine Free. reclaiming the cities there is some part the effects of sulphur dioxide were evidence that the lichen flora is either masking the effects of other pollutants and ISSN 1479-3164 not recovering in many parts of the that we were in a very dynamic situation. Designed and Printed by countryside or that new lichen There is still considerable uncertainty about Status Design and communities are replacing well established the relative importance of nitrogen oxides Advertising, 1.5M. ones. The reasons for this are not entirely from car exhausts and other sources clear but appear to relate to high levels of compared with ammonia and ammonium. Line illustrations by nitrogen in its various forms of ammonia, Nevertheless the workshop pooled Sarah Wroot ammonium and perhaps nitrous oxides. together the experiences of key workers This is a phenomenon which has also been from different countries and backgrounds An apology observed in other parts of western Europe. and suggested areas for future research In Flora English Nature Whilst many lichen communities escaped and action. In due course the proceedings winter 2002, photo captions the worst effects of the high sulphur of the workshop will be published as an on page 3 for northern dioxide levels especially in western Britain English Nature Research Report. yellowcress and six-stamined there is now a concern that they may be waterwort were transposed. affected by these pollutants. As the UK The whole workshop took place in a very Apologies to all, particuarly including England still has very good friendly and informal atmosphere, but was to the photographer Liz examples of some of the most threatened also very constructive and stimulating. It McDonnell. lichen communities in Europe notably also showed what could be achieved through those in parklands and woodlands we have the partnership between a small specialist an international responsibility to conserve society which supplied the expertise and the habitats in which they occur. contacts and English Nature which contributed the funds to enable the workshop For this reason English Nature contributed to take place. Together we identified a a grant to the British Lichen Society to conservation issue and sought answers to a enable it to run a workshop on the poorly understood conservation problem. changing pollution environment in Britain. This was held from 24 to 27 February at Peter Lambley the Field Studies Council Centre at Lichenologist, Botanical Unit Nettlecombe in Somerset and organised by English Nature, Norfolk team