One-flowered wintergreen rescued from Scottish coastal erosion
Conservationists have moved 3,400 one-flowered wintergreen plants from an eroding Moray shoreline to Culbin Forest in one of the UK's largest plant rescues, aiming to save a genetically unique species.
A rare plant species faces extinction due to coastal erosion threatening its only remaining habitat. The one-flowered wintergreen has lost more than half its UK population over the past 50 years and now survives at only seven sites in north-east Scotland's ancient pine woods, with just three supporting healthy populations. Coastal erosion caused two to three metres of land to collapse into the sea in recent years, directly threatening the wildflower's habitat.
Mass relocation preserves genetic diversity
3,400 one-flowered wintergreen plants were rescued from the eroding shoreline and relocated to Culbin Forest in Moray. The decision to intervene was driven by the rarity of the local population's genetic lineage. The total number of genetically distinct individuals across the UK is estimated to be fewer than 500. At one site, a group of 100 plants represented just two distinct individuals. This large-scale move aims to prevent total loss and maintain key genetic variation.
Mycorrhizal networks critical for survival
The translocation required moving 3,400 soil blocks to preserve underground mycorrhizal fungal networks essential for the plant's survival. The one-flowered wintergreen is partially mycoheterotrophic, meaning it draws nutrients from specific fungi in woodland soils. This symbiotic relationship is vital, and changes in forest management alongside hotter, drier conditions have affected the necessary fungal networks and soil moisture.
Expert consensus on conservation necessity
Conservationists agree the relocation was vital to prevent the extinction of this genetically unique species. Iain Macdonald, a biodiversity adviser at NatureScot, stated the action was necessary to prevent total loss. Sam Jones, senior ecological adviser at Plantlife Scotland, said, "This type of groundbreaking conservation work will help ensure endangered species like the one-flowered wintergreen are not lost." The project represents one of the largest single-species plant rescues ever attempted in the UK, a significant effort in a nation ranked among the most nature-depleted on Earth due to habitat loss and climate change.
A small number of plants and seeds were also moved to another wood to establish a new population.
