Fen orchid brought back from brink of extinction. Experts warn of ‘stark picture’ for Britain’s plants
The “beautiful but also variable” fen orchid, one of Britain’s most endangered orchids, has been brought back from near extinction, experts said.
After decades of conservation efforts, the fen orchid (Liparis loeselii) is no longer listed as an endangered plant on the new Great Britain Red List of vascular plants, published on Wednesday.
The fen orchid is proving to be a bright spot in an otherwise “bare picture” for Britain’s wild plants.
The new list of flowering plants and ferns, prepared by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) and the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), marks a comprehensive review of the list since it was last published in 2005.
The report finds that more than a quarter (26%) of 1,720 native species, or introduced species before AD 1500, are at risk of extinction, falling into the categories of critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, and 140 are near threatened.
The fen orchid is thought to be one of several plants thought to have been removed from the Great Britain Red List due to conservation action since the system was introduced in 1977, and is now listed as a threatened plant.
The orchid, which has special requirements such as moist alkaline soils, bare ground, and flowers temporarily in marshes and dunes, has historically suffered from drainage and abandonment of marshes, as well as from harvesting by plant enthusiasts.
By 2010, it was reported to grow wild in only three locations in East Anglia and one dune area in Kenfig, Wales, with the species numbering no more than 1,000 plants in total.
Conservationists have warned that many plants once common across the British countryside are now under threat, including wildflowers such as common milkweed found in species-rich habitats, those found in wetlands such as marsh marigolds, and arable field crops such as coarse poppies.
Arctic-alpine plants such as the endangered Alpine gentian are also threatened.
BSBI chief scientific officer and lead author of the new list, Dr. Pete Stroh said: “This latest revision of the Great Britain Red List once again paints a clear picture of the state of our wild flora.”
“Although several of our rarest species, such as the marsh orchid, have a potentially brighter future thanks to the targeted efforts of conservation organisations, and some, such as the bee orchid and pyramidal orchid, are more common than before, many plants that were once common in our countryside have continued to decline to the point where they are now considered threatened.”
The declines are linked to many factors, including more intensive agriculture, long-term neglect of landscapes, development and pollution, he said.
“All these factors are most prevalent in lowland areas, but many upland wildflowers are also at risk, most importantly our polar-alpine species, and some declines are linked to signs of climate change.”
The fen orchid is thought to be one of several plants thought to have been removed from the Great Britain Red List due to conservation action since the system was introduced in 1977, and is now listed as a threatened plant.
The orchid, which has special requirements such as moist alkaline soils, bare ground, and flowers temporarily in marshes and dunes, has historically suffered from drainage and abandonment of marshes, as well as from harvesting by plant enthusiasts.
By 2010, it was reported to grow wild in only three locations in East Anglia and one dune area in Kenfig, Wales, with the species numbering no more than 1,000 plants in total.
Nature charity Plantlife has been leading the work with a number of organizations to save the site since 2008, building on decades of work by the Wildlife Trusts to maintain remaining areas and restore former areas to suitable condition.
This has enabled the rare orchid to be reintroduced to more areas and it is now found in seven locations in England and three in Wales, with a plant population of more than 10,000.
Its success contrasts with other parts of Europe, where it has experienced a marked decline, with populations declining across much of its range.
Tim Pankhurst, Plantlife’s former conservation manager, who devoted his life to protecting fen orchids before retiring in April 2025, said: “Playing a leading role in reducing the threat status of such a beautiful but mercury orchid is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a botanist and one I will always cherish.
“As we face enormous challenges such as climate and biodiversity loss, this provides a real moment of hope for the future and is a testament to what dedicated partnership conservation work carried out consistently over decades can deliver.”
Peter Atkinson, head of plant records at the University of Cambridge Botanical Garden, said the garden team had been researching the life cycle of the fen orchid and maintained a collection of plants for more than a decade.
“Our field observations have deepened our understanding of the species, directly informed improved management of existing areas and helped wild populations grow from a few hundred to several thousand.
“We are now seeing strong, sustainable populations re-establishing in the wild, a clear sign that this kind of long-term, collaborative conservation is really working,” he said.
