Contents

4 IPAs in the UK 6 What is an IPA? 10 Driving effective management 11 Practical action on the ground 12 Engaging, celebrating, motivating... 14 Bold, dynamic management 15 What next?

Front cover IPA ©Lazortech/iStock Inside cover Soay woodland ©Deborah Long/Plantlife

The UK’s Important Plant Areas 3 IPAs in the UK

Map code IPA name 58 Arnecliff & Park Hole Woods IPA 113 Wembury Point to Erme 1 IPA 59 Sefton Coast IPA Estuary IPA 2 Mainland IPA 60 Alderley Edge IPA 114 Plymouth Sound & Estuaries IPA 3 North Coast of IPA 61 Cressbrook Dale IPA 115 Moor Bryophyte Sites IPA 4 Caithness & 62 Midland Meres & Mosses IPA 116 Lanhydrock Park IPA Peatlands IPA 63 Brown Moss IPA 117 Park IPA 5 IPA 64 Peterborough Brick Pits IPA 118 Polruan to Cliffs IPA 6 Harris & Lewis IPA 65 Holme & Woodwalton Fens IPA 119 St. Austell Clay Pits IPA 7 Uists IPA 66 Ouse Washes IPA 120 Mid Moors IPA 8 Sgurr Mor IPA 67 Wicken Fen IPA 121 Porthmellin Head to Nare Head IPA 9 IPA 68 Chippenham Fen IPA 122 Fal & Helford IPA 10 & Morrich More IPA 69 Breckland IPA 123 IPA 11 Culbin Sands & Bar IPA 70 North Norfolk Coast & The Wash IPA 124 Isles of Scilly IPA 12 Rosemarkie to Shandwick Coast IPA 71 The Broads IPA 125 Land's End IPA 13 Black Wood of Rannoch IPA 72 Waveney & Little Ouse Valley 126 St. Just Moors (Lower Bostraze 14 Moniack Gorge IPA Fens IPA and Leswidden) IPA 15 Strathglass Complex IPA 73 The Sandlings IPA 127 West Cornwall Bryophyte Sites IPA 16 Southwest Skye IPA 74 Thames Estuary, Essex & Suffolk 128 Godrevy Point to Cligga Head IPA 17 Rum IPA Coast IPA 129 Penhale Dunes IPA 18 Coll & Tiree IPA 75 Whiteness Gap IPA 130 West Pentire Fields IPA 19 IPA 76 Sandwich Bay IPA 131 Dunsland Park IPA 20 West Coast of Scotland IPA 77 Dungeness & Rye Coastal Plain IPA 132 North Cornwall & Devon Coastal Woods IPA 21 Ardmeanach IPA 78 Ranscombe Farm IPA 133 Lundy IPA 22 Colonsay IPA 79 Epping Forest IPA 134 Braunton Burrows IPA 23 Mull Oakwoods IPA 80 Wealden Heaths & Greensand Grassland IPA 135 Arlington Park & Woods IPA 24 Isle of Lismore IPA 81 Lewes Downs IPA 136 Filleigh Park IPA 25 & IPA 82 Amberley Wild Brooks 137 Exmoor IPA 26 IPA & Arun Valley IPA 138 River Wye IPA 27 Rannoch Moor IPA 83 East Hampshire Hangers, North 139 Cliffs of the Brecon Beacons 28 & IPA Downs & South Downs IPA National Park IPA 29 IPA 84 The Solent Coast IPA 140 Kenfig IPA 30 Breadalbanes Mountains IPA 85 Isle of Wight Downs IPA 141 Gower IPA 31 Den of Airlie IPA 86 The New Forest IPA 142 Dinefwr Deer Park IPA 32 Milton Wood IPA 87 Whiteparish IPA 143 Pembrey Coast: Carmarthen Bay 33 -Blairgowrie Lochs IPA 88 Porton Down IPA & Estuaries IPA 34 Crieff Woods IPA 89 Longparish IPA 144 Carmarthen Bay Dunes IPA 35 IPA 90 Thames Basin Heaths IPA 145 Pembrokeshire Limestone 36 Woods IPA 91 Burnham Beeches IPA Coast IPA 37 Bankhead Moss IPA 92 The Chilterns IPA 146 Skomer, Skokholm & Dale Peninsula IPA 38 Isle of Cumbrae IPA 93 Oxford Meadows IPA 147 St. David's Heaths & Seacliffs IPA 39 IPA 94 The Cotswolds IPA 148 Mwnt Arable Fields IPA 40 Beinn Bheigier IPA 95 Wye Valley IPA 149 Waun Rhydd IPA 41 Carsegowan Moss IPA 96 Savernake Forest IPA 150 Ceredigion Bogs IPA 42 Kells IPA 97 Salisbury Plain, Cranborne Chase & Pewsey Downs IPA 151 Cambrian Mountains 43 Roslin Glen IPA Woodlands IPA 98 Longleat Woods & Parks IPA 44 Clearburn Loch IPA 152 Cambrian Mountains Orefield IPA 99 Avon Gorge IPA 45 Lochs and Mires of the Ale 153 Welsh Marches Cliffs & Ettrick Waters IPA 100 Severn Estuary Shore IPA & Steppe Grasslands IPA 46 Southeast Scotland 101 The Mendips IPA 154 IPA Outcrops IPA 102 Somerset Levels IPA 155 Oakwoods IPA 47 River Tweed IPA 103 Fivehead Fields IPA 156 Lleyn Seacliffs IPA 48 Berwick-upon-Tweed Coast IPA 104 Melbury Park IPA 157 IPA 49 Lindisfarne IPA 105 Dorset Heath & Studland Dunes IPA 158 Great Orme's Head IPA 50 Lordenshaw, Forest Burn IPA 106 Dorset Coast: Isle of Portland 159 Anglesey Fens IPA 51 River Derwent & Bassenthwaite to Studland Cliffs IPA 160 Anglesey Dunes IPA Lake IPA 107 Chesil Beach & The Fleet IPA 52 Lake District IPA 161 Northwest Anglesey 108 Torbay Limestones IPA Heaths & Seacliffs IPA 53 Moor House to Upper Teesdale IPA 109 Stokenham IPA 162 Strangford Lough IPA 54 Duddon Dunes IPA 110 South Devon Coast: Bolt Tail 163 Garron Plateau IPA 55 Stocks Reservoir IPA to Start Point IPA 164 Clones-Roslea Area IPA 56 Yorkshire Dales Limestone IPA 111 Chudleigh Rocks IPA 165 Upper Lough Erne IPA 57 Bolton Abbey Woods IPA 112 Dartmoor IPA Confidential Welsh IPA (not mapped)

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10 8 12 9 11 14 2 15 7 16 29 17 19 3 26 28 20 4 IPA core 25 27 13 32 31 30 33 18 246 5 IPA zone of opportunity 21 23 34 Areas into which key species 10 36 35 or habitats could expand with 22 8 12 9 11 supportive land management 43 14 47 48 40 38 37 15 49 7 46 39 45 16 44 29 17 19 50 26 28 4220 163 25 27 13 32 31 30 18 4124 33 21 23 34 53 51 52 162 35 22 36 58

165 164 56 43 54 47 48 40 38 37 46 49 39 55 57 45 44 50 59 42 163 158 161 159 41 60 61 160 157 53 51 70 63 52 162 62 156 155 58 154 71 165 164 56 54 64 66 69 65 152 153 72 151 55 57 67 150 68 73 148 149 59 147 139 138 94 142 93 74 146 144 15958 92 145 143 161 159 60 61 79 141 140 160 91 99 157 96 78 75 100 90 70 101 97 63 76 133 156 102 98 62 89 135 137 155 88 134 136 154 80 71 132 103 87 83 82 7764 81 69 131 104 86 84 66 152 65 72 153 67 101571 105 85 111 150 106 68 73 115 112 148 130 120 116 108 117 114 149 128 129 119 118 141173 109 127 139 138 94 121 110 142 93 74 126 122 146 144 95 92 125 145 143 79 123 141 140 91 124 99 100 96 90 78 75 10The1 UK’s97 Important Plant Areas 5 76 133 102 98 89 135 137 88 134 136 80 132 103 87 83 82 77 81 131 104 86 84 105 85 111 107 115 112 106 130 120 116 108 117 114 128 129 119 127 118 113 109 121 110 126 122 125 124 123 What is an IPA? Important Plant Areas have been identified by a partnership of 16 organisations, bringing together botanical expertise from across the UK

The UK has committed to protect and manage at least 75% of our IPAs effectively 7% of the land area of the UK lies within an IPA

6 What is an IPA? 1. The facilitation of this work is an important contribution towards EU Natura 2000 objectives and the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy Identifying and managing Important Plant Areas is a fundamental part of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, of which the UK is a signatory

By working in partnership with communities, landowners, land managers and policy makers, we will celebrate, enjoy, manage and showcase these globally There are 17 important places and the wild plants found plants and habitats that make them so special on IPAs in the UK that grow nowhere else in the world

The UK’s Important Plant Areas 7 Formby Beach ©Gavin Wray CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 All IPAs have been identified using at least one of three internationally agreed criteria:

1. Significant populations of threatened wild plants Spatulate fleawort, Northwest Anglesey Heaths & Seacliffs IPA Fleabane ©Alastair Moralee/Plantlife

8 What is an IPA? 2. Outstanding examples of one or more threatened habitats

Munsary peatlands, Caithness & Sutherland peatlands IPA Munsary Dubh Lochans ©Michael Scott/Plantlife 3. An exceptionally high diversity of wild plants Atlantic woodlands, Meirionnydd Oakwoods IPA Meirionnydd Oakwoods ©Dave Lamacraft/Plantlife

IPAs are typical of our landscape – they are patchworks of habitats and species and are rarely identified on the presence of one type of plant or habitat

The UK’s Important Plant Areas 9 Driving effective management

Effective land management is the single most important factor in plant conservation

The Breckland IPA of East Anglia is a unique landscape, Breckland famous for its dry heath habitats, formerly inland sand dunes. Unusually, they are home to communities of both lime and IPA, England acid-loving plants, including many special species such as field wormwood (Artemisia campestris) and Breckland thyme (Thymus serpyllum). The special mosaic of habitats Partnership within the IPA packs in an incredible diversity of wildlife Plantlife, Butterfly – 1,800 scarce or threatened species. Conservation, Forestry Commission, Norfolk Although many of the remaining fragments of Breckland heath Wildlife Trust, Natural are notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), this has England, Thetford Town not ensured the survival of many of their characteristic species Council, UEA, RSPB – such as Spanish catchfly Silene( otites), an endangered species reliant on swards kept open by irregular disturbance. Issue By focusing on the key interest features of the IPA, incorporating Managing protected the right management to sustain its plant populations and sites to support their working in effective partnerships, there can be a positive botanical interest future for the Breckland’s unique wildlife. Solution Below: At Cranwich Camp, a Forestry Commission site managed by Restoring wildlife sites Norfolk Wildlife Trust, over 3,000 Spanish catchfly have appeared on an area stripped of turf by Plantlife and Butterfly Conservation from the plants up Spanish catchfly, Breckland ©Bob Gibbons/Plantlife

10 Driving effective management | Practical action on the ground Practical action on the ground Photograph ©David Black/Plantlife

The west coast of Scotland is internationally important for its West Coast Atlantic woodlands and oceanic heathlands. Detailed habitat mapping within the IPA helps target better management IPA, Scotland advice and habitat restoration to help landowners, farmers Partnership and their advisers identify what they can do where. Plantlife, Forest Research The West Coast IPA has two main threats: the spread of invasive Rhododendron x superponticum in the woodlands and burning Issue (muirburn) of the oceanic heaths. Better management advice Better targeted management can reduce these threats by protecting important areas. Rhododendron affects many IPAs in western Britain and has spread

Solution along the entire west coast of Scotland. It takes over the understory Enabling land managers of Atlantic woodlands, shading out internationally important to conserve our important communities of bryophytes and lichens, which have their world plants and wildlife headquarters in Scotland.

Above: Plantlife explains how to set Working with Forest Research, Plantlife has developed a toolkit, up a simple programme to monitor sprayed Rhododendron at Jeanie’s practical support and regular demonstration events on how best Wood, Tarbert, Argyll to remove Rhododendron, and how to manage this and other IPAs.

The UK’s Important Plant Areas 11 Engaging, celebrating, motivating...

Southwest Atlantic woodlands IPAs are of international Southwest importance for their lichen and bryophyte interest, but they are vulnerable to changes in woodland management, Atlantic atmospheric pollution, invasive species and climate change. woodlands There is a lack of general knowledge about lower plants which can inhibit land management decisions and limit the visitor experience IPAs, England to woodlands. Plantlife’s Make the Small Things Count project has been working in partnership to raise the profile of lichens Partnership and bryophytes among a varied target audience. Plantlife, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor Land managers National Park Authority, Training, identification guides, a habitat management toolkit Quantock Hills AONB, and the opportunity to meet with colleagues have all improved North Devon Coast AONB the knowledge base and confidence of land managers to inform woodland management and to share knowledge. Issue Lack of knowledge, awareness and understanding of charismatic but hard- to-identify lichens and bryophytes

Solution A learning and engagement programme that celebrates and develops interest in lower plants, and increases the number of people with identification skills and management knowledge

12 Engaging, celebrating, motivating... 2 DOES THE LICHEN HAVE TINY LEAFY LOBES? 3 IS THE LICHEN CRUSTY AND GRANULAR? (continued) Plantlife Some key features to look Fruits and isidia on Lobaria pulmonaria Plantlife is speaking up for England’s wild for when identifying lichens Degelia atlantica Felt lichen Pannaria conoplea Mealy-rimmed shingle lichen Thelotrema lepadinum Barnacle lichen Mycobilimbia pilularis flowers, plants and fungi. From the open spaces Use a hand lens (preferably x10 of our nature reserves to the corridors of magnification) to examine them. wet wet Westminster, we’re here to raise their profile, celebrate their beauty and protect their future. Colour Of upper (and if visible, the lower) surface. The colour of a species can vary Wild flowers, plants and fungi play a eg depending on whether it is wet or dry. fundamental role for wildlife and their colour and character light up our landscapes. But Cyphellae and pseudocyphellae Pores or cracks that expose the interior of the Lobules on Leptogium cyanescens without our help this priceless natural heritage lichen, appearing as paler spots or lines is in danger of being lost. Join us in enjoying on the surface. the very best that nature has to offer. Volunteers Fruits Reproductive structures that produce spores. They can be round discs, Britain’s countryside. pimple-like or globular, and their colour Save it with flowers. often contrasts to the lichen surface. Volunteer schemes and local volunteers have received public engagement training Hypothallus A dark mat on the lower Form Scallop-like plates closely attached to the substrate with Form Small lobes with finely scalloped margins. Form A thin crust with numerous small, distinctive Form A fine granular dusting with distinctive fruits. Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales. surface, often only visible between lobes longitudinal ridges, concentric “growth” rings and blackish felted Colour Pale grey to blue-grey with paler margins, barnacle-like fruits. Colour Green to grey-green, greener when wet. or at the margins. It may be thin and Soredia on Sticta limbata margins (the hypothallus). sometimes tinged brown and darker when wet. Colour Whitish to pale grey. Soredia/Isidia None. Plantlife visible only as a dark stain, but when on lower plants and courses on lichen identification, enabling them to share knowledge Colour Pale grey, sometimes tinged brown; darker when wet. Soredia/Isidia Coarse grey soredia. Soredia/Isidia None. Fruit Abundant; buff to pinkish-orange and globular, or pill-like. 14 Rollestone Street, well developed may be thicker and Soredia/Isidia Numerous knobbly isidia on the surface and Fruit Very rare. Fruit Abundant; like small barnacles. Notes Frequently found on or near the base of mature trees, often Salisbury, Wiltshire velvet-like. margins, especially on the raised ridges where the lobe margins Underside Blackish or greyish velvety mat (hypothallus) not Notes Found on mature trees and shrubs in old woods including in more shaded conditions. SP1 1DX meet. usually visible. hazel and rowan, and on smooth bark on mature ash and oak. 01722 342730 Isidia Tiny projections on the surface with the general public. Fruit Very rare; reddish. Notes Similar to P. rubiginosa, but this is usually abundantly that may be nodular, granular, finger- [email protected] Underside Thick blackish or greyish velvety mat (hypothallus) fertile, has no soredia. like, or branched like tiny fragments of visible at the edges of upturned lobe margins. coral. They are a means of vegetative Notes Similar to D. plumbea, but this is usually abundantly fertile, www.plantlife.org.uk reproduction. has no isidia. ISBN: 978-1-910212-03-5 Lobe The rounded “leaf” of a leafy lichen. Parmeliella triptophylla Black-bordered shingle lichen 3 IS THE LICHEN CRUSTY AND GRANULAR? 4 DOES THE LICHEN LOOK JELLY LIKE WHEN WET? © March 2014 Hypothallus on Degelia sp. Lichen apprentices have been trained by The British Lichen Society, and can now carry Lobules Small “secondary” lobes that Plantlife International – the Wild Plant Conservation is a Dimerella lutea Orange dimple lichen Leptogium lichenoides Tattered jelly-skin lichen Leptogium cyanescens Blue jelly-skin lichen develop on the margins or on the surface charity charitable company limited by guarantee. of lobes. Registered in England and Wales, charity no 1059559. dry out surveys and contribute to local lichen records and woodland management planning. Registered company no 3166339, registered in England Rhizines Root-like structures, as found and Wales. on the underside of Peltigera species. These may be straight, forked or This guide is based on text written for Plantlife Cymru branched. and Plantlife Scotland by Andy Acton and Anna Griffith. Soredia Floury powder or coarse All photos © Acton/Griffith 2013 except: Nephroma granules that often occur along ridges or Rhizines on Peltigera sp. parile © Ray Woods 2013, soredia on Sticta limbata © cracks on the surface, or on the lobe margins. They may be diffuse or arise in Dave Lamacraft 2013, and Dimerella lutea © Tim discrete structures (termed soralia). Like Wilkins 2012. Adults, families and schools isidia, they are a means of vegetative reproduction.

Tomentum An even or patchy carpet of Schools and families have been on ‘Botanical Adventures’ inspired by the project’s short hairs (usually brownish or pale) on the underside as found in Sticta species. Lichens of Atlantic Form Tiny lobes (squamules) on the black margins of Form A thin membrane (sometimes barely visible) Form Dense mass of very thin lobes that appear Form Intricate rosettes of thin overlapping lobes with a dense crust of isidia. to finely granular. minutely frilly at the margins due to abundant isidia. isidia or lobules, or both. Tomentum with cyphellae on Sticta sp. bespoke resources, which encourage learning about and exploration of woodlands. Colour Blackish when wet to brown or grey-brown when dry. Colour Pale grey-green to grey. Colour Dark brown when wet, grey to grey-brown when dry. Colour Pale blue-grey when dry, dark grey to blackish when wet. Woodlands in the South West Soredia/Isidia Minute, thin and finger-like, often branched (best visible Soredia/Isidia None. Soredia/Isidia Abundant elongated cylindrical isidia on lobe Soredia/Isidia Cylindrical or flattened isidia or lobules abundant on The British when dry). Fruit Small (to 2mm), orange with a pale margin, looking like minute margins. lobe margins or surface. Lichen Society Guide 1 The Lobarion lichens of ash, Fruit Rare; small (to 1mm), red-brown. apricot halves (especially when wet). Produced seasonally. Fruit Rare; small red-brown disc. Fruit Very rare. Underside Black hypothallus extending beyond the margins of the lobes. Notes Mainly grows on mosses or bark in damp shaded situations. Underside Ridged. Underside Smooth or slightly wrinkled. hazel, willow, rowan and old oak They have also been inspired by volunteers and project staff at open events on IPAs, Notes Appears as a dark stain on the bark of trees (especially old ash). There are only two British species of Dimerella; the other has smaller Notes Found among mosses on trees (especially ash) and Notes When wet is similar to some other Leptogium species. white to pinkish fruits and rarely occurs on mosses. sometimes on mossy rocks in old woodlands. Very similar to some If in doubt dry a specimen to see the distinctive colour of dry other Leptogium species, eg L. pulvinatum (but that species has L. cyanescens. flattened isidia). and have attended arts workshops. The wider community has gained enhanced knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the importance of the woodlands and their lichens and bryophytes, with over 40,000 people taking part in events. Attitudes have changed with many reporting that in spite of frequent visits to the project area, they had previously been unaware of the area’s significance.

The UK’s Important Plant Areas 13 Bold, dynamic management

Dynamic processes are fundamental to most natural ecosystems. Kenfig IPA, Mapping IPAs and their zones of opportunity helps to identify Wales the key areas to sustain the botanical interest of these sites. Kenfig IPA is one of the best remaining sand dune systems in Britain, Partnership internationally important for its dune habitats, for its population Plantlife, Natural Resources of the endangered fen orchid (Liparis loeselii), and for its stonewort Wales, Bridgend County (Charophytes) algae that carpet the bottom of clear pools. Borough Council Like so many other sand dune systems, the dunes have stabilised and become overgrown with vegetation. Issue Decline in natural processes The solution, pioneered by a partnership between Plantlife, Natural that underpin healthy Resources Wales and Bridgend County Borough Council, has been ecosystems to undertake the largest dune-scape restoration project in Britain. By opening up large areas of sand previously smothered by vegetation, Solution winds are able to move sand around again, re-mobilising the dune Re-invigorating dynamic systems and allowing specialities such as petalwort (Petalophyllum landscapes to improve ralfsii), sea stock (Matthiola sinuata) and fen orchid to find their nature’s resilience place and thrive.

Left: Fen orchid (Liparis loeselii ssp ovata) at Kenfig. Below: Dune re-mobilisation at Kenfig IPA Photograph ©www.first-nature.com Photograph ©Scott Hand/CCW

14 Bold, dynamic management | What next? What next?

Like much of our countryside, IPAs are under pressure. Lack of management, fragmentation, invasive species, development and intensification all threaten these special places If you own, manage or care for an IPA in the UK – and you would like to know more or work in partnership with us – please get in touch with:

England Scotland Wales

Alastair Moralee Deborah Long Colin Cheesman [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

For more information on the UK’s Important Plant Areas, please go to our website at www.plantlife.org.uk where you will find the complete database of UK IPAs

The UK’s Important Plant Areas 15 Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales Plantlife 14 Rollestone Street Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 1DX Tel: 01722 342730 Plantlife Scotland, Tel: 01786 478509 Plantlife Cymru, Cardiff Tel: 02920 376193

Email: [email protected] www.plantlife.org.uk We are Plantlife

Plantlife International – the Wild Plant Conservation Wild flowers, plants and fungi play a fundamental role charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee. for wildlife, and their colour and character light up our Registered in England and Wales, company no. 3166339. landscapes. But without our help, this priceless natural Registered in England and Wales, charity no. 1059559. heritage is in danger of being lost. Registered in Scotland, charity no. SC038951. Plantlife is the organisation that is speaking up for our ISBN: 978-1-910212-24-0 wild flowers, plants and fungi. From the open spaces © Plantlife January 2016 of our nature reserves to the corridors of government, designbyStudioAde.com we’re here to raise their profile, to celebrate their beauty and protect their future. Join us in enjoying the very best that nature has to offer.

Britain’s countryside Save it with flowers