County Durham Rare Plant Register 2016 JOHN L. DURKIN MSc. MCIEEM BSBI Recorder for County Durham 25 May Avenue. Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, NE21 6SF
[email protected] www.durhamnature.co.uk Contents Introduction to the rare plants register Notes on plant distribution and protection The individual species accounts in alphabetical order Site Index First published 2010. This is the 2016, fourth edition of the “RPR”, dedicated to Keith Cunningham, who helped so much with the early databases and in many other ways. Improvements in this edition include- The new English Red List is incorporated into this edition. An additional 10% records, most of these more recent and more precise. Cover picture—Bird’s Eye Primrose at Widdybank Fell. Introduction Most counties are in the process of compiling a County Rare Plant Register, to assist in the study and conservation of their rare species. The process is made easier if the county has a published Flora and a strong Biological Records Centre, and Durham is fortunate to have Gordon Graham's Flora and the Durham Wildlife Trust’s “Recorder" system. We have also had a Biodiversity project, based at Rainton Meadows, which until 2013 carried out conservation projects to protect the rare species. It is hoped that the “RPR” will act as a stimulus for local botanists to make special efforts to improve the database by recording these species. The register will be used to increase our understanding of the status and distribution of the rare species, and to aid and promote their conservation. Species Covered Three groups of vascular plant species are included.