Sword Leaved Helleborine Project N.B. Some data has been removed from this version of the conservation action plan to ensure the protection of the Llanberis populations of Cephalanthera longifolia. Cephalanthera longifolia (L.) Fritsch (synonyms can be found in Appendix 1) Common names – Sword leaved Helleborine, Long leaved helleborine, Narrow leaved helleborine, Caldrist Culddail in Welsh. Description & Background Cephalanthera longifolia is a visually striking, elegant and very attractive orchid. At 40-60 cm tall with long tapering leaves arranged in two alternating rows up a central stem. The inflorescence comprises a lax spike with 3-15 pure-white flowers that are 10-16mm in length and have pointed sepals and either a yellow or orange lip. A long-lived perennial that appears in April and flowers during May and June. C. longifolia is a rhizomatous perennial herb found in a variety of woodland types on calcareous soils, usually on chalk and hard limestone but also on calcareous schist in Scotland. It prefers permanent patches of light and is most frequent on steep, rocky slopes with an open tree canopy, but is also found along woodland edges and rides, and in scrub. (www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas, accessed June 2019) Sword leaved helleborine is a native, non-endemic, species in the United Kingdom where it is found at fewer than 100 sites with the majority of these having just a few plants (Rumsey, A. 2010). The wider distribution of C. longifolia extends across Europe, northwards to Scandinavia, and into Central Asia and China. (www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas, accessed June 2019) C. longifolia has been shown to be pollinated by bees of the genera Halictus (Hedley, 2013). Sword Leaved Helleborine Project 1 Threat Status Sword leaved helleborine declined markedly in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially before 1970. Although this can in some cases be attributed to collecting, changes in, and reduction of, woodland management and the planting of conifers, both leading to denser canopies, are considered much more significant threats. C. longifolia has not, yet, been assessed for the IUCN’s International Red List of threatened species although it has been assessed as near threatened and threatened in 15 of the 26 regional or national assessments across its range. (https://www.nationalredlist.org/, accessed June 2019) The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Vascular Plant Red List for the UK (2005) lists C. longifolia as Vulnerable A2, given a recent reduction in population where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased OR may not be understood OR may not be reversible (Cheffings, C.M. & Farrell, L. (Eds), 2005). However, the Vascular Plant Red Data List for Wales (Dines, T. 2008) assessed the species as Endangered under criteria D due to its population in Wales numbering <210 and the number of locations in Wales at which it is found being, only 4, and in England it is also assessed as Endangered A2c based on its >50% population reduction across its range and similar % reduction in area of occupancy (Stroh, P.A. et al, 2014). The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (2008) requires that three actions are implemented to ensure C. longifolia is safeguarded within the UK. 1. Implement management regimes for all known sites, with a view to connecting populations where possible including restorations of grazing regimes. 2. Surveillance programme: monitor all known populations. 3. Ensure ‘delivery plans’ for national forestry strategies (including regional forestry frameworks where appropriate) include management options to deliver for this species (eg. Open glades, rides, woodland edges, and seasonal grazing to reduce bramble). Target the uptake of these management options to current and historical sites, and to projects aiming to restore connectivity between woodlands with existing populations. For the purpose of this project information regarding its Endangered threat status as a Welsh native species will be considered. C. longifolia currently has 6 extant populations in Wales although it has historically been found at 12 sites. The largest population is at Aberdovey, Gwynedd, Vice County (VC) 48, with well over 100 plants, the next largest population is that found in Llanberis, Gwynedd, VC 49, with 35 plants. Welsh Vascular Plant Red List Category Endangered D Year Published: 2008 Date Assessed: No date given Assessor(s): Dines, T. Reviewer(s): N/A Sword Leaved Helleborine Project 2 History of C. longifolia in Llanberis Sword leaved helleborine was first recorded in Llanberis in the 1820’s around Dolbadarn Castle and Fachwen woods (Allt-Wen woods). In 1821 the Revd. Peter Bayley Williams , rector of Llanrug published a book entitled ‘Tourist's Guide through the County of Caernarvonshire’. One of the rare plants noted in the book was “Tegeirian yr Allt Wen” (Translates to the orchid of Allt Wen) found growing on the Llanddeiniolen side of Llyn Padarn (https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_galdrist_gulddail, accessed June 2019). Since these earliest records it has been found in the area intermittently and sometimes ‘in profusion’, by Mr A.O Humein 1905, but never, in the early records, with clear locality data. Since 1992 C. longifolia has been recorded accurately at 4 separate sites, one within the Coed Dinorwig Site of Special Scientific Interest (CDSSSI) (Map 1 – Area 2) and the rest within the Llyn Padarn SSSI (LPSSSI) (Map 1 – Area 1). The woodlands around Fachwen (LPSSSI) were historically managed as small farms and coppices, in the late 18th century and early 19th century, to provide wood for homes and timber Herbarium specimen collected by Sir for the local slate quarrying industry. This management would William Jackson Hooker at 'Near Llanberis' have provided the required habitat of wood meadows and 1828 © The Board of Trustees of the Royal clearings favoured by C. longifolia. It is believed the area Botanic Gardens, Kew. around the quarryman’s hospital (CDSSSI) was, at one point, clear felled and allowed to regenerate and was partially replanted. This replanting explains the small plantations of Larch (Larix decidua) and Scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris) and may also explain the small (1 – 3 plants) population of C. longifolia in that area. Following the closure of the Dinorwic Slate Quarry, Gwynedd County Council acquired the site as part of what would become Parc Padarn (Padarn Country Park), after which the site was notified as a SSSI and Local Nature Reserve. A boundary fence was erected around the main part of CDSSSI to exclude sheep and the site has since been managed with recreation in mind. Fachwen before the area became fully wooded Sword Leaved Helleborine Project 3 Current Status of C. longifolia in Llanberis The 3 largest of the 4 Llanberis populations of C. longifolia are found within the LPSSSI on an area of geology called the Fachwen formation that is comprised of interbedded limestone and silt stone. Two of these populations are found on areas of land situated between Llyn Padarn itself and the Llanberis Lake railway (narrow gauge). The third population is found within Fachwen woods close to the railway. Plants have been recorded in this population since the early 1990’s in the woodland around a large patch of Galium odoratum. This woodland population grows under an open Sessile oak (Quercus petraea), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and Hazel (Corylus avellana) canopy with Festuca rubra, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Agrostis stolonifera, Umbilicus rupestris, Sanicula europaea and a range of Bryophytes. An assessment of the this population was made in May 2019 and whilst 8 plants were found none were flowering and the whole site was thick with bramble (Rubus spp.). Assessments of the two lakeside populations within LPSSSI were also made in May 2019 and whilst these populations were flowering and had not declined in number (Previous assessment was undertaken in 2008 by Dr T. Dines) their proximity to the railway and path has led to a number of them being trampled and areas of both populations are at risk of bramble encroachment. The LPSSSI Management Plan states “Bramble appears to be encroaching on the colony of narrow- leaved helleborine within the woodland. At present there is no particular management aimed at this species, which is declining nationally, and this must be addressed.” The last known management of bramble in this area took place at the Fachwen woods site in 2005. The 4th population (1 – 3 plants) is found near the quarryman’s hospital in CDSSSI. When an assessment was made of this population in May 2019 only one plant could be found. Map 1 - The Llyn Padarn (1) and Coed Dinorwig (2) Sites of Special Scientific Interest (marked with red hatching) - This map also shows Llwyn Y Coed SSSI (3) which is not featured in this document. (map taken from http://lle.gov.wales/) Sword Leaved Helleborine Project 4 Project details & Habitat management plan overview C. longifolia is found at four sites within LPSSSI and CDSSSI with the largest number of plants being found in the LPSSSI. These populations have remained static for a number of years and are at risk from increasing bramble encroachment, a reduction in suitable habitat through a lack of woodland management and trampling from users of the path that runs alongside the Llanberis lake railway. This project proposes to instigate long term habitat management for C. longifolia at its three sites within LPSSSI and initially will concentrate on bringing the Fachwen woods population under a management regime that promotes flowering and subsequent seeding. It also proposes to bring a larger area of woodland between the Fachwen woods population and the other populations in the LPSSSI under suitable management to allow for C. longifolia colonisation. Permissions have been granted by both landowners. Management will incorporate bramble and scrub clearance through brush cutting twice annually in early spring, before C.