Call the petal police
The orchid squad – Regular patrols to protect rare wild flower A wild orchid growing on Silverdale golf course in Lancashire has been given police protection to stop it being stolen. Officers have introduced patrols around the lady’s slipper flower, whose Latin name is Cypripedium calceolus, and are considering installing CCTV. They fear that raiders will try to take cuttings or dig up the flower when it blooms this month or next — the orchid can fetch up to £5,000 when flowering. The plant, which takes its name from its distinctive shoe-shaped petals and is highly prized by collectors, has been security-tagged in a further attempt to deter thieves. Rob Petley-Jones, of English Nature, said: “It is illegal even to touch this plant. You would need a special licence for it.”
Scarcity value – It was once thought extinct; only a few grow wild
The orchid was once widespread across the north of England but its popularity meant that by 1917 scientists believed it had been picked to extinction in the wild. A specimen was discovered in 1930, however; its location was kept secret. The species is considered so important that a panel of botanical experts — the Cypripedium Committee — was set up to discuss how to protect and propagate the flower. Scientists from Kew Gardens, left, in London have begun planting lady’s slippers grown from the seed of wild plants at sites around Britain. At present, the numbers of the purple and yellow orchid remain extremely low and the Lancashire lady’s slipper is officially Britain’s rarest wild flower.
Pollution problem – Nitrogen from fertilisers is killing off plant species
The plant has struggled to survive because of the high levels of nitrogen in the soil from fertilisers used in farming. Earlier this year a survey for the charity Plantlife found one in five of Britain’s wild plants was facing extinction because of climate change and pollution. The Prince of Wales, left, patron of Plantlife, has spoken about the need to protect the orchid. Constable Duncan Thomas, the wildlife officer for Lancashire police, said: “People travel from all ends of the country on what is almost a pilgrimage to view the plant in bloom and are often overcome with emotion at the sight.” In 2004 the orchid was severely damaged when a thief tried to dig up the plant, and last year one of its stems was cut off when it flowered.
Clash over priorities – Locals question use of police time
Critics have questioned the use of police time to guard a plant and some Lancashire residents complain that priorities are skewed. Christopher Brandon, 32, said: “It sounds as if this plant is getting better protection than the Queen. Anyone would think a life was at stake, rather than just a pretty flower.” The law is clear. It is an offence to uproot any plant, bulb or flower on the European protected species list. Wild flowers belong to the owner of the land on which they grow and taking them could be classified as theft. Such is the importance attached to the lady’s slipper that it has been given a log number on the police computer, allowing a speedy response should anyone try to do more than admire it.
via: timesonline
