4
PLANTLIFE
On 24th November, 19S9 I attended a reception
hasted by David Bellamy at the Natural History
Museum of a new organisation to conserve
plants. The enthusiasm of the team of
organisers will be greatly needed to overcome
the desperate situation both in this country
and worldwide. As members of this group we
must try to save individual species and
habitats before it is too late.
1. Save the Flow Country from being planted
with conifers.
2. Save the ponies of the New Forest to ensure
grazing maintains the habitat.
3. Save the Blackwater and Fin/Lacky River-
Valleys in Ireland from dredging and
straightening.
4. Save the Northern Corries on Cairngorm from
extended ski facilities.
5. Save the Norfolk Broads from pollution and
damage by motor cruisers.
Since records were first kept at least 22
species of plants have become extinct: 10 of
them in the 1960's and 1970'5. The British
Red Data Book lists 317 threatened species of
flowering plants. Plantlife can save them if
enough people who care join. Help them
promote changes in agricultural policy; save
the remaining 3% of botanically interesting
meadows; save the remaining 50% of ancient
woodland; save the remaining 25% of our