Riverside
rescue of rare plant by Environment Agency
It’s not the most spectacular
looking plant, but when it comes to rarity
the Triangular club rush is the UK’s botanical
equivalent of the tiger. This unassuming
sedge is disappearing fast with the last
remaining specimens growing in just a few
small clumps beside the River Tamar.
The reason the plant
is so close to extinction is not known.
Scientists believe it might be due to increased
competition from fast-growing reeds or changes
in riverbank management. Alternatively it
might be due to stormier weather conditions
or increased competition from alien waterside
plants.
The UK is the most northerly
extent of the Triangular club rush’s range.
Habitat loss has already seen it disappear
from places such as the Thames and Medway.
Restricted to the upper reaches of tidal
estuaries, the plant has a bright green
angled stem and can grow from 50 – 150 cm
in height. It flowers in August and September.
A survey of the River
Tamar in 2009 revealed the rare sedge is
now only found in four distinct clumps near
Calstock. The total area covered by these
few surviving plants is less than four square
metres.
Concerned at the scale
of the decline, scientists from the Environment
Agency are making a final attempt to save
the species with help from Kew Garden’s
Millennium Seed Bank, Natural England, the
National Trust and ecologist Peter Nicholson
from Panscape Environmental Consultants.
The National Trust has
given permission for a nursery area to be
created at Cotehele where Triangular club
rush plants will be specially grown for
re-planting at other suitable locations
in the estuary. The nursery, at Morden stream,
was chosen because it has a suitable habitat
offering bank stability, an open aspect
and low salinity. The nursery will be managed
by National Trust staff from Cotehele.
This latest rescue attempt
builds on an earlier project in the 11000’s
when a number of plants were removed from
the Tamar and cultivated by Kew Gardens.
Propagated plants from Kew were then planted
at selected sites on the estuary in 1997/1998
in a bid to boost a small population of
native Triangular club rush around Rumleigh
Quay. This work effectively saved the plant
from extinction.
Further research and
monitoring by the Environment Agency has
increased scientists’ understanding of the
ecology and habitat requirements of the
rare sedge and they are now more confident
of the plant’s chances of survival.
‘The decline of the
Triangular Club Rush is causing serious
concern. This is our last chance to save
this critically endangered species,’ said
Jess Thomasson for the Environment Agency.
‘After careful research we have identified
a handful of sites where re-introduced plants
will have the best chance of survival. Also,
having a reservoir of Triangular Club Rush
plants at Cothele will greatly increase
the likelihood of success by allowing further
planting in historic strongholds on the
Tamar.’
Next week (June 10,
2010) staff from Kew and Wakehurst Place,
the Millennium Seed Bank nursery where the
plants were grown, will travel down to the
River Tamar to deliver the latest batch
of Triangular Club Rush to the new nursery
at Cotehele. Joining Environment Agency
officers on the day will be representatives
from Natural England and the National Trust
who have supported and helped fund the project.
‘We are delighted to
be able to work in partnership with the
Environment Agency and National Trust on
this important project. The re-planting
of new club rush on the Tamar is being supported
through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme,’
said Hugh Tyler for Natural England.
For full details including
the time and location of the historic re-planting
please contact the Environment Agency’s
regional press office on 01392 442008.
+ More
Environment Agency staff
dive in to make Hermitage Stream gleam clean
The Environment Agency
has showed its commitment to the local community
and the environment this week after members
of its staff gave a Hampshire stream a much
needed makeover.
Over 30 staff from the
Environment Agency’s Solent and South Downs
Area volunteered to roll up their sleeves
and put on their wellies to clean up the
Havant stream, and they found some interesting
discoveries whilst carrying out the work
on the day.
The haul of waste that
was removed from the river by the Environment
Agency included a fridge, a sofa and an
electric fire together with hundreds of
bottles, cans and newspapers. Havant Borough
Council Environmental Quality Ranger Jayne
Lever and her team provided all the equipment
used and they also removed over one tonne
of waste that was collected by Environment
Agency staff on the day.
The amount of rubbish
that was found dumped in the stream is a
concern as waste can cause obstructions
that block the flow of the waterway, potentially
leading to an increased risk of flooding
to the local area.
Paul Smith of the Environment
Agency said: “All Environment Agency staff
are encouraged to take environmental leave
days every year, when they can get build
strong relationships with colleagues whilst
doing practical things to improve their
local environment.
“We asked Havant Borough
which area could do with a clean up and
they identified the Hermitage Stream which
needed a good tidy. We removed rubbish from
the waterway and cleared the riverbed so
the water could flow freely. Our efforts
opened up the area greatly, improving the
views for the community and benefiting local
wildlife.
“However, the amount
of waste that was illegally dumped in the
stream is unacceptable as this could not
only pollute the river and harm wildlife,
but also cause significant flood risk to
the local area. We would urge people to
dispose of these items through the proper
channels and not use the river as a dumping
facility.”
Jayne Lever of Havant
Borough Council said: “Havant Borough Council
and the Environment Agency have been working
closely on a number of projects recently.
We were pleased to team up to tackle rubbish
at Hermitage Stream. Two hours of hard work
made a big difference to a large stretch
of the stream along a popular walking route
in Leigh Park.”
Anyone who spots large
items of rubbish in their local river, which
they believe could cause pollution or an
increased flood risk, should call the Environment
Agency’s 24 hour Incident Hotline on 0800
807060.
