One of the UK’s rarest plants, the starved wood-sedge, has faced a new threat after it began growing directly on a public footpath in Somerset. Conservationists have intervened swiftly to protect this critically endangered species, which exists naturally in only two locations in the UK.
The starved wood-sedge has clung to survival along a woodland edge near Axbridge, traditionally growing on the banks beside the path. However, in recent years, the plants have “rather catastrophically” migrated onto the footpath itself, exposing them to the risk of trampling by walkers.
The Species Recovery Trust, which has dedicated over 20 years to rescuing the starved wood-sedge from near extinction, recognized the imminent danger. Dominic Price, the trust’s director, explained, “The plants have sadly moved off their protected bankside habitat and onto a public path, putting them directly in harm’s way.”
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To safeguard the plants, the trust removed them from the footpath and relocated them to a specialist nursery. There, the sedge will be propagated by carefully splitting clumps to grow new, healthy plants. This process aims to restore and expand the population so it can be reintroduced safely into the wild.
The trust also plans to establish two new populations within the Mendip Hills National Landscape, creating secure habitats where the starved wood-sedge can thrive without the risk of human disturbance.
Though unassuming and grass-like in appearance, the starved wood-sedge plays a crucial role in wetland ecosystems, including bogs, fens, swamps, and damp woodland edges. Its small flowers, containing both male and female blooms, attract various insect pollinators, supporting broader biodiversity. Additionally, the plant provides shelter for insects, amphibians, and birds, while helping to regulate water flow and nutrient recycling in its habitat.
The starved wood-sedge’s decline is primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Apart from Somerset and Surrey, only a handful of reintroduction sites exist. The ongoing conservation efforts, supported by funding from the Mendip Hills National Landscape team, highlight the importance of protecting even the most inconspicuous species.
Jim Hardcastle, manager of the Mendip Hills National Landscape, remarked, “This grass may seem unremarkable at first glance, but it’s a vital ecosystem component deserving of our attention and care. Supporting the Species Recovery Trust’s work is key to our mission of nature recovery.”
The Species Recovery Trust is committed to reversing the decline of 50 endangered UK species by 2050, including animals like the New Forest cicada and green tiger beetle, as well as plants such as field gentians, Welsh groundsel, and marsh clubmoss.