The distribution of the Oxlip Primula elatior (L.) Hill in Essex
Table 1 Analysis of sites recorded in 1974 flora, but on which Oxlips were not found in 2002 survey
(Figures in brackets are the percentage each habitat contributes to the total).
Habitat type Number of Number Percentage Possible reasons for losses
sites from with no loss
1974 flora oxlips in
____________________________________2002____________________________________________________
Woodlands 70 (87.5) 21 (75.0) 30.0 5 grubbed out; 9 possibly neglect;
7 oxlip very scarce when recorded
Ditches / stream 5 (6.25) 3 (10.7) 60.0 No obvious reasons
______banks_________________________________________________________________________________
Meadows 5 (6.25) 4 (14.3) 80.0 2 ploughed up; 2 no clear
reasons, but may be result of
________________________________________________________________inappropriate management
Totals 80 28 30.8
Over one quarter of the woodlands listed in the 1974 flora no longer contained Oxlips. The reasons
for this arc clear where the woods no longer exist or have been very heavily coniferised. In many
cases, however, it is more difficult to understand the reasons for the losses. Some of the original
surveys record the species as 'scarce'. In these cases it is understandable that the plant may have
become extinct if the particular woodlands in which they grew have not been managed and heavy
shade has prevented the Oxlips from flowering. We do not know the average life span of an Oxlip
plant, although we believe it to be possibly as long as 20 years and seedling mortality in the woodland
has been shown to be as high as 79% (Browne, 1995). Given these facts some of these records may
be old enough to account for plants dying of old age and not being replaced from seed.
The contribution to these losses by damage to woodland sites is revealed in the Ancient Semi
Natural Woodland report (1982) by English Nature. Of the 990 hectares of Oxlip woodland in
Essex in the late 1960s, 122 hectares (12.3%) has been grubbed out and 219 hectares (22.1%)
replanted, mainly with non-native conifer species.
The numbers of plants on ditch and stream banks is invariably small. These colonies must be the
most exposed to loss as a result of ditch maintenance operations. Plants may be eitber dug out or
smothered by the spoil from such operations. It is perhaps not surprising that on more than half of
the sites recorded by Jermyn the plant was not re-found. Finally the survey failed to locate Oxlips
on 80% of the previously recorded meadow sites. This again is not a surprise, and these figures are
in line with both county and national losses of this habitat. The only remaining site from Jermyn's
list is the Bardfield meadows, and as we shall sec later the plant here is close to extinction. For all
of the sites lost there was no clear correlation between their demise and their geographical position
in the county; there was no significantly higher rate of loss of sites at the extremities of the plant's
range.
The survey did identify 36 sites additional to those in the 1974 flora. This is a considerable number,
but we must remember that in 28 years there has been much further recording by both individual
recorders, and by the Wildlife Trust in its Phase 1 habitat survey of the county.
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)