How Stansted Airport is helping the National Trust to re-establish the rare and endangered oxlip in Hatfield Forest
An endangered flower is thriving in a woodland just a few miles from Bishop’s Stortford – under the flight path of Stansted Airport.
A population of oxlips – primula elatior – is helping the National Trust in its work to save this rare flower from extinction.
Priory Wood, located just a short distance from the airport’s runway, is home to several of these delicate yellow flowers that are found only in small pockets of East Anglia.
The project involves the NT harvesting the seeds from the airport’s land, growing them in its propagation facility and carefully reintroducing them to Hatfield Forest, where the flower has declined in recent years.
Grazing deer have been responsible for much of the small, perennial, ancient woodland plant’s demise in the forest, although it is hoped they will once again thrive there for future generations to enjoy.
Martin Churley, head of environment and sustainability at Stansted operator MAG (Manchester Airports Group), said: “Our work to restore the natural habitats on the land that we own around the airport has created the perfect environment for oxlips to thrive.
“Once on the brink of extinction, they are flourishing in Priory Wood, which has become a sanctuary for these beautiful flowers.
“It is wonderful to see this plant, which only grows in a few small parts of East Anglia, now providing a much-needed boost to the National Trust’s nature conservation efforts in Hatfield Forest.
“This project is one of many we are working on regarding the translocation of plants from airport sites as part of MAG’s commitment to biodiversity.”
James Rowland, Hatfield Forest’s property operations manager, said: “This nationally scarce species hasn’t been recorded in its purest form in Hatfield Forest since the 1980s due to the impact of deer and human activity.
“The discovery of pure oxlips at a neighbouring, enclosed woodland which was once a part of the forest presents a rare opportunity to collect seeds, propagate and reintroduce this significant species in an attempt to encourage a self-sustaining oxlip population.
“The new oxlips will be placed in specially designed enclosures next spring, safe from the risk of browsing deer and trampling, with the hope that in the years to come, oxlips will be a common sight at Hatfield Forest once again.”
In recent years, the airport’s environment team has been working to return several underused areas around the site back to nature.
A 2.5-acre habitat area created to the north of the runway recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. This secluded corner of the airport has become a haven for small animals, plants and even a small colony of great crested newts.
The airport has turned to traditional methods in its woodlands by using the power of the Suffolk punch horse to remove felled wood to avoid damage that modern machinery might cause.
It is all part of the airport’s commitment to reducing the effects of its operation on wildlife habitats and species in and around the airport, setting a target of zero net loss in biodiversity.