Rare buttercup
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The rare "St Martin's Buttercup has been discovered on a Scilly flower farm. Churchtown Farm, the home of postal flower delivery company Scent from the Islands, is the only place in the world the buttercup grows.
The discovery was made as Natural England, the Government's advisor on the natural environment, assessed the farm to see if it was suitable to include in the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme, created to safeguard England's natural wealth.
Co-owner of Churchtown, Ben Julian, said Natural England representatives became excited as they toured the 30-acre property on St Martin's not just because of the St Martins Buttercup - similar to the more common Hairy Buttercup - but also because the farms fields are home to a long list of rare arable plants. These include the 6ft tall, purple-headed Babbingtons Leek, Italian Lords and Ladies - similar to the wild Arum - and Quaking Grass.
Ben said: “We've now been accepted onto the scheme which is fantastic news. As a result we have committed, for the next 10 years, to use a number of traditional farming methods which will promote and conserve the rare arable plants growing alongside our primary crop of scented narcissi and scented pinks.
“Ours is a family business founded by my parents and we've always preferred using complementary farming methods where possible, without compromising the quality and financial viability of the crop, so we were extremely interested in the HLS scheme.”
As part of HLS, the Julians have also introduced grazing livestock to their land. The scheme is keen to reintroduce grazing cattle to the islands, especially rare breeds. Churchtown Farm is now home to seven rare Devon Red cows - the only cattle on the island.
Natural England has encouraged the Julians to become involved with an environmental project managed by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust. The Trust is responsible for the Islands heathland. The mutually-beneficial project involves the Churchtown cows grazing St Martins? heathlands for free to improve their condition.
“I feel very positive about HLS,” Ben explained. “By protecting the rare plant species I no longer farm areas of our land that previously I felt compelled to - even though I knew it was inefficient and I can definitely see the benefits of the cows already. Having them has altered the way I feel about crops. This year I have grown stubble turnips for them to graze in fields I would normally have left fallow. At the moment we are ploughing what remains of that crop back into the land which is fertilising the ground naturally. Now we can rotate crops instead of leaving land fallow and the improvement in land quality is already very apparent.”
Natural England stated: “HLS aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority situations and areas. Natural England is a champion of multi-functional land use,
where land is used in many ways and in a joined-up manner, to ensure that our economy, communities and environment thrive.”
Media enquiries: Sue Bradbury PR Tel: 01872 863863
Ends 27 March 2011
