Medicinal plants offer natural cure for threatened ecosystems: Plantlife report published 8 January 2009

Medicinal plants are under threat, with potential consequences for the healthcare of millions worldwide. A new Plantlife report outlines a 'blueprint' for their conservation and shows how medicinal plants can be the key to saving whole habitats. Featured in New Scientist magazine, the Plantlife report details 14 successful conservation initiatives in six countries in E Africa and the Himalayas. Click here for the press release or here for the full report PDF (7.8MB).

Plantlife photo competition results out now: November 2008

Almost 500 images were received as entries for Plantlife's first photographic competition, held in 2008. Entries were from Plantlife members and non-members across the UK, with the theme of the entries being 'Wild plants of the UK across the seasons'. Chief judge was Bob Gibbons, a professional nature and wildlife photographer. The overall competition winner was Reginald Poad from Cornwall. For more information and a list of winning entries, which have now been featured in Plantlife's 2009 calendar, please click here.

Plantlife welcomes new Environmental Audit Committee report: November 2008

A report published by the Environmental Audit Committee concludes that the Government will fail to reach international targets for halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. Plantlife welcomes the report and agrees that the UK will fall far short unless renewed effort and resources beyond traditional nature conservation policies are put in place by the Government. For more information on Plantlife's reaction to the report, please click here.

Plantlife supports Better Planning Coalition: November 2008

Plantlife is a member of the Better Planning Coalition, which is campaigning for a fairer and more accountable planning system in the UK. Current amendments to planning laws mean that major infrastructure developments may be streamlined through the planning process to allow construction to start much faster. The coalition believe it is vital that communities continue to have a say - for more information click here to visit the Planning Disaster website and find out how you can take action to help.

Groundbreaking Red List report published on declines and threats to plants in Wales: 26 June 2008

Plantlife Wales has published the first ever analysis of the declines and threats facing plants in Wales. With the help of the Botanical Society of the British Isles, comprehensive data on sites and populations has been compiled and analysed using international criteria. The report shows that 38 plants have become extinct in Wales and 1 in 6 are threatened with extinction. Click here for the full report (817KB) and here for the press release (46KB). 

Public vote will pick UK's greenest farmer: Vote now!

The RSPB has joined forces with BBC Countryfile, Butterfly Conservation and Plantlife this year to launch the Nature of Farming Award, a new competition to celebrate some of the great work that farmers do to protect and enhance wildlife of all kinds on their land. For more information about the Nature of Farming Awards and to follow a link to vote for one of the four shortlisted farmers, click here.

Heritage Lottery Fund award £50,000 for volunteers programme in the South West of England: June 2008

Plantlife is delighted to announce the award of £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will be used to inspire the next generation of wild flower enthusiasts in the South West of England. The project will include a programme of activities including guided walks, school talks and plant identification training. For more information, please see the press release - click here.

Ragwort - friend or foe? New leaflet launched: June 2008

Plantlife has joined forces with the British Horse Society and Butterfly Conservation to launch a new guidance leaflet on managing Common Ragwort. The new leaflet aims to build a consensus around the management of this contentious yellow flower, which is poisonous to horses, livestock and humans, but also a native plant which is a valuable source of nectar for butterflies, moths and hoverflies. For the joint press release, please click here. To download the PDF of the leaflet (972KB), click here.

Plantlife supports National Insect Week 23-29 June 2008

The Buzz is Back!! National Insect Week - organised by the Royal Entomological Society - aims to educate and inspire about the wonders of the insect world. For more information about events and activities during National Insect Week, click here.

Plantlife welcomes launch of invasives strategy: May 2008

Plantlife welcomes the new Invasive Non-Native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain as a step forward in tackling threats posed by non-native species to biodiversity. We welcome government commitment to build awareness and coordinate action but remain concerned at insufficient resources available to address these issues. For Plantlife's response and concerns, click here. For more on Plantlife's work on invasive species click here. To download the Framework Strategy, click here.

Pond Education Pack and poster launched : April 2008

A new Pond Education Pack aimed at 8-11 year olds has been launched in Scotland, providing activities for teachers and rangers to include in lessons focusing on pond plants and their importance in the pond ecosystem. For more information, click here.

Speaking up for plants on farmland in Europe: February 2008

Plantlife is working to get plants a better deal on farmland in Europe - click here to find out more about the first public consultation on the European Common Agricultural Policy 'Health Check' and Plantlife's response to the consultation.

Celebrate our seaweeds and their freshwater relatives - top UK spots pinpointed for first time: 30 Jan 2008

A list of the most important sites in the UK for seaweeds and freshwater algae is published for the first time. For the full report 'Important Plant Areas for Algae', click on the PDF symbol. For the full press release, click here.

Golden Eye Lichen reappears after going 'missing' for nearly 10 years: Dec 2007

The 'Golden Eye' lichen Teloschistes chrysolphthalmus has reappeared in Herefordshire after being thought extinct in the UK. For the press release, click on the PDF symbol.

Count the parsnips and add the mustard this Christmas: Dec 2007

Greater Water-parsnips and Tower Mustard are on the conservation menu for Plantlife as we celebrate new projects to boost two endangered plant species. For the press release, click the PDF symbol.

Mosses, fungi and lichens: new project to boost conservation in Scotland: Nov 2007

A new project led by Plantlife Scotland was launched in November 2007 to celebrate and raise awareness of mosses, liverworts, lichens and fungi, and the richness that exists in Scotland. Click here for press release.

St Anns House Bed and Breakfast donate green pound to Plantlife: Oct 2007

A bed and breakfast in Salisbury will be donating a 'green tax' in aid of Plantlife's work. For the press release, please click on the PDF symbol.

Adder's tongue spearwort success in Gloucestershire: Oct 2007

One of Britain's rarest wild flowers has reappeared, and now has the highest number of plants there for more than a decade. For the press release, click on the PDF symbol.

Join in with our Garden Centre Survey in Scotland: Aug 2007

Help us find out more about the pond plants on sale in our garden centres. For the press release, click on the PDF.

Click here for link to Pond Alert! campaign web pages

List of the 150 most Important Plant Areas in the UK is launched by Plantlife: July 2007

A list of the most Important Plant Areas in the UK is published in a bid to focus attention towards these internationally important sites. For the press release, click on the PDF.

Link to Important Plant Area pages

Plant Diversity Challenge: July 2007

A review of UK progress towards the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation - July 2007. Please click on the PDF below to see the report.

Plight of Britain's wildflowers: current conservation policies fall short: June 2007

Conservation policies fail to protect rare arable plants.

Click here for 'New Priorities for Arable Plant Conservation' report June 2007