Rare Plant Register for Huntingdonshire - Botanical Society of the ...

established well and has thrived. This population has since served as a source for the natural
re-colonisation of other parts of the county, with the exception of the Offord D’Arcy population
which was planted in the 1950’s. Many of these other populations have also been long
established, for example a colony has been known at Morborne Hill since at least 1964. Given
that this species has been re-established in the county for almost 100 years, it is surely time
now to stop maligning it with alien status and instead appreciate it for what it is, a nature
conservation success story. While the reintroduction of this species was carried out long
before the procedures and standards for conservation re-introductions were established, it
might be constructive to treat it as one nonetheless. With the development of the Great Fen
Project this species future in Huntingdonshire has probably never looked so bright.
Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantx.
Wild Service-tree
National Status: Not scarce, not threatened County Status: Scarce (5 sites, 11 tetrads)
Site Grid Reference Last Record
Archer’s Wood Nature Reserve TL174812 2009 (DB)
Aversley Wood SSSI TL164822 2008 (DB)
Gamsey Wood Nature Reserve TL2281 1996 (TW & SW)
Monks Wood SSSI TL190795
76
TL19438007
TL201808
Upton Wood TL17997986
TL18007989
2008 (DB)
2009 (DB)
2009 (DB)
2010 (MiB)
2010 (MiB)
This easily overlooked tree is widely but sparsely distributed in, and indicative of, ancient
woodlands on the boulder clay. I have attempted to list only native populations. In the future,
distinctions between native and introduced populations may become clouded as a result of
plantings e.g. at Lady’s Wood, Littless Wood and Ramsey Heights Clay Pits. This point has
been reinforced by NM, who informs me that the Brampton Wood trees listed in previous
editions of the RPR of planted origin.
Stachys arvensis (L.) L.
Field Woundwort
National Status: Near Threatened County Status: Rare (1 site, 1 tetrad)
Site Grid Reference Last Record
Colne, allotments TL384753 1998 (SW)
Although this species remains frequent over much of its British range it has declined in some
areas, probably as a result of increases in winter cropping, the use of broad-spectrum
herbicides, increased use of nitrogen-based fertilisers and the planting of more competitive
crop cultivars (Wilson & King, 2003). It has always been rare in Huntingdonshire (Wells,
2003).