Huntingdonshire - Botanical Society of the British Isles

This species has undergone a catastrophic decline in Britain over the last 200 years. Even in
many protected sites, decline has been observed and new individuals are rare. Part of the
reason for this undoubtedly relates to its specialist requirements. It is intolerant of intensive
grazing and dyke management regimes but requires open water to be maintained and light
vegetation management to provide opportunities for the establishment of seedlings (Stewart
et al. 1994).
Sonchus palustris L.
Marsh Sow-thistle
National Status: Nationally Scarce, not
threatened
County Status: Scarce (7 sites, 8 tetrads)
Site Grid Reference Last Record
Monks Wood SSSI TL197795 2008 (DB)
Morborne Hill TL120907 1998 (PT)
Offord D’Arcy, Rectory Farm TL217665 2000 (TW)
Portholme SSSI & SAC TL236702 2003 (SS)
Ramsey Heights Nature Reserve TL245849 2008 (DB)
Woodwalton Fen SSSI & SAC
TL235847
TL227850
2009 (DB)
2009 (DB)
Woodwalton Fen, farmland dyke east of TL235850 2009 (DB)
Woodwalton Marsh SSSI TL212812 2002 (TW)
This species is often treated as an alien in Huntingdonshire (e.g. Preston et al. 2002), but this
view is probably a little too ‘black and white’ for comfort and certainly does not pay due credit
to what is a great success story. This Nationally Scarce species was native to
Huntingdonshire but was driven to extinction as a result of the drainage of the Fens in the 19 th
Century. It was re-introduced to Woodwalton Fen in 1912, using native stock, where it
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 (6 sites, 12 tetrads)
Site Grid Reference Last Record
Archer’s Wood Nature Reserve TL174812 2009 (DB)
Aversley Wood SSSI TL164822 2008 (DB)
Brampton Wood SSSI TL1870 2002 (TW)
Gamsey Wood Nature Reserve TL2281 1996 (TW & SW)
65