A rare flower has been rediscovered for the first time in seven years, flourishing in a nature reserve – thanks to ideal weather conditions and the management of dense vegetation.
The Tubular Water-dropwort, a member of the carrot family, had been considered close to extinction.
Approximately 130 specimens were found by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust team at Rye Meads Nature Reserve near Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.
Ian Carle, Nature Reserves Manager at the Trust, described the discovery as “an incredible find, given its rarity.”
It is thought that the combination of a wet spring followed by a recent dry spell created ideal conditions for the plant.
According to the Trust, the rare flower was found among the dense vegetation of the wetland meadow, which had been cut back last year.
Tubular Water-dropwort can be recognised by its distinctive rounded flower heads, which are white and pink in colour.
There had been no recorded sightings of the plant at the nature reserve since 2018.
Mr Carle continued: “When these plants are in flower, they are easier to identify and to count, which is why we look for them at this time of year.
“Cutting the meadow last year has opened up the vegetation benefiting species such as the Water Dropwort.”
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