A report which came out earlier this month has newly classified a wide range of plants as threatened species, including some found on local nature reserves, managed by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

The report ‘GB Red List for Vascular Plants’ published by the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI) provides a comprehensive revision of the previous list, published 20 years ago. The term ‘vascular plants’ covers all seed-bearing plants (flowering plants as well as conifers) and pteridophytes (ferns and fern allies). Of the 1,720 species evaluated for the new list, 26% were assessed as threatened. Red Lists use internationally recognised criteria to assess threat status, and are crucial in providing the evidence which underpins nature conservation and helps prioritise future action.

The decline of these plants is not only a loss for wildlife but a warning sign for us all. Many play key roles in supporting pollinators, maintaining healthy soils, and regulating water, all of which people rely on for food, clean air and resilience to climate change. Their disappearance weakens the natural systems that underpin our wellbeing, making their protection essential for both nature and our future.

Ian Carle, Nature Reserves Manager at Herts and Middlesex Trust says, 

“The latest Red List from the BSBI makes sobering reading and newly classifies species found on our nature reserves such as Marsh Marigold, Quaking-grass, Betony, Common Rock-rose, and Devil’s-bit Scabious amongst others as threatened. It is further evidence that our native wildlife is in trouble – none of these plants were deemed threatened when the analysis for the last report was done in 2005.

“That’s why it’s so important to protect what we have. On many of our grassland nature reserves, we are using traditional conservation grazing methods to reduce nutrients in the soil, thereby increasing the diversity of plant species. In those areas, where we can’t use grazing animals, we’re clearing scrub, and using cutting regimes, which leave some areas uncut to protect grassland invertebrates, which are vital in pollinating plants and spreading seeds.”

Hertfordshire has followed a very similar pattern to much of the rest of the country, where over 97% of semi-natural grassland was lost in the 50 years prior to 1984. Over the last 50 years, grassland and heathland have seen greater decline than any other habitat. This has had a dramatic impact on both flora and fauna. 

Find out more about the work of the Trust and the work we are doing to restore nature on our news page.