Nature Features

The discovery of a rare plant on National Trust land in South Devon has been heralded as a major botanical discovery.

Volunteer botanists discovered the Long Headed Clover as part of English Nature's rare plant surveys on the Trust's coastal land from Bolt Head to Bolt Tail.

Since the 19th century, the nationally rare Long-Headed Clover has only been recorded at a few locations on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall - also protected by the Trust.

The Bolt Head area has important species

It was once known to be present along the Devon coastline in the Dartmouth and Budleigh Salterton areas - but that was 100 years ago.

The plant grows mainly on thin soils on the cliff-edge in short, relatively open vegetation.

It is a southern species present in the far south west of England at the northern limit of its native range, which extends southwards through France to the Mediterranean.

The National Trust believes the discovery of the species in Devon proves that the plant is more widespread than had previously been thought.

It also highlights the national importance of this stretch of coast for rare and threatened species.

The plant grows in thin soils on the cliff-edge

The coastline between Bolt Head and Start Point is rich in various flora and fauna. The National Trust's work involves preventing bracken and scrub from encroaching on the habitat of these rare species.

The trust's area warden for Salcombe, Emma Townsend, said: "We are thrilled that the Long Headed Clover has been discovered on the Trust's land in South Devon.

"This means that this stretch of coast is even more important for its wildflowers than we had previously realised.

"The trust works hard to protect important landscapes like this and this type of discovery really reminds us of what we are aiming to achieve through our work."

This particular area, south of Salcombe, is part of the South Devon Heritage Coast and is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.