Over the past two years, Bedfordshire WT, in partnership with BNHS and The Greensand Trust, has been running a ‘Rare Species Guardians’ project. The aim of the project has been to identify threatened/declining plant species across the county, and then assigning a ‘guardian’ to each – whose job is to survey and report on their species each year. This is with a view to identify trends in population growth or decline, along with any potential threats and management issues.

Year 2 of our project (2023) saw over 100 reports received from 28 guardians covering around 50 species – including pasqueflower, sheep’s-bit, sulphur clover, and a range of orchids to name but a few. This was a significant increase in data when compared with 2022. We thank all our ‘guardians’ for their time spent searching for hidden locations, counting plants and filling in recording sheets.

Now that we have collected two years’ data, the focus of the project must not only be to ‘count’ and ‘record’ but to identify those species which are struggling and understand their threats. This is the time for action – to inform landowners and discuss management techniques before these species decline further towards extinction.

That said we have also recorded success stories where careful management can lead to increased numbers of plants – such as the Sheep’s-bit at Readshill where this year 1,344 flowers, buds and seedheads were counted in comparison to just 68 in 2022.

This site has benefitted from the efforts of local volunteers from Clophill, the Parish Council and the Greensand Trust which have kept the trees, broom and bracken at bay enough to keep the sheep’s-bit area open. Similar success has been seen among the man orchid population at Totternhoe.

A web page has been launched on all three partner websites, with more details about the project; and an information  evening is being held ahead of the launch of the 2024 survey season. This will be on Tuesday 30^th April, at the Working Woodlands Centre in Maulden.

If you would be interested in getting involved with the project, or attending the launch evening, then please contact Sophie Stocking (sophie.stocking@wildlifebcn.org)