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Renewed hopes for future of one of UK’s rarest plants after strath success





There is now renewed hope for One-Flowered Wintergreen that it can recover from being on the brink of extinction in the UK. All the current populations are found in Scotland.
There is now renewed hope for One-Flowered Wintergreen that it can recover from being on the brink of extinction in the UK. All the current populations are found in Scotland.

There are renewed hopes for the survival of a rare threatened woodland flower following a successful project in the Cairngorms National Park

The UK’s first ever conservation project for One-Flowered Wintergreen has resulted in a 70 per cent survival rate after the crucial first nine months

It is estimated that half of UK population of this flower has been lost over last 50 years

The rare and illusive One-flowered Wintergreen Moneses uniflora, a small flowering plant found in pine woodlands, has defied expectations of Plantlife Scotland and partners in the UK’s first ever project to restore the species.

There has been a 70 per cent survival success rate following a translocation - movement of a species from one location to another - from a secure population of the species in Roseisle Forest and Old Grantown Wood to RSPB Abernethy, led by the charity.

The flower has suffered a sharp decline globally and there are only two known remaining patches in the national park and as few as just seven populations in the whole of the country.

Instead of relying on photosynthesis to create energy to survive, One-flowered Wintergreen can also take energy from fungus in woodland soils known as a partial-mycoheterotroph.

This complexity means it has been a challenge for conservationists to understand it and help it thrive again.

Alongside the translocation, 12 of the collected plants were sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh for research into the complex fungal interactions that One-flowered Wintergreen relies on to survive.

There have been further breakthroughs in the understanding about the plant during this project.

Trials of cattle grazing and invasive species removal in woodland generated a rapid recovery of One-flowered Wintergreen, suggesting this plant might prefer heavily disturbed woodland soils.

The pioneering conservation work for One-flowered Wintergreen is part of the Cairngorms Rare Plants project and is a cause for celebration for Plantlife and its partners – RSPB Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland and the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Sam Jones, Senior Ecological Advisor, Plantlife Scotland, said: ‘I am thrilled with the success of One-flowered Wintergreen in this translocation – the first of its kind for this species.

“Translocating a species comes with its challenges, especially when our understanding of the plant is limited, so a 70 per cent survival rate is considered a huge success.

“We now hope to do more translocations of One-flowered Wintergreen to allow genetic mixing between populations and to rescue the plants from threatened sites, allowing it to thrive in Scotland once again.

“Collaborating with partners was vital to the success of this project, and I look forward to continuing our joint efforts for the future of One-flowered Wintergreen and the pine woodlands of Scotland it calls home.”

Chris Tilbury, assistant warden at RSPB Abernethy, said: “e are passionate about saving Scotland’s rare and endangered species at the reserve.

“Although our existing colony of one-flowered wintergreen, one of only a few left in Scotland, had responded positively to recent cattle grazing trials, it remained isolated and vulnerable.

“This dynamic translocation project, as part of an exciting partnership led by Plantlife Scotland, has provided the opportunity to strengthen the genetic diversity and increase the abundance of this beautiful plant.

“Working with our partners from NatureScot, RBGE, FLS and Cairngorms National Park has also been invaluable in terms of exchanging knowledge and sharing best practice, as we aim to secure the future of one-flowered wintergreen in Scotland’s iconic pine forests.”

Jennifer Baker, a horticulture student at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, said: "As a horticulture student at RBGE, participating in the One-flowered Wintergreen translocation project with Plantlife was an honour.

“Collaborating on this initiative allowed us to uncover crucial insights into the soil microbiome supporting this delicate species.

“Isolating various types of soil mycorrhizal fungi has paved the way for future research into developing propagation methods to grow and conserve One-flowered Wintergreen.

“This work is vital for safeguarding the species from future population declines, and I look forward to further research and collaboration with Plantlife, and the Scottish native Plants section at RBGE."


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