Plantlife's history
Plantlife begun in 1989, following a conference of leading conservation organisations, where the case was argued that not enough was being done to protect and conserve wild plants. Since then, Plantlife has grown from an office of two people, to a staff of 30 with a head office in Salisbury, UK, and dedicated national offices in Wales and Scotland.
Jane Smart and David Bellamy
at the launch of Plantlife in 1989
©Joe Sutton
1989
The launch: Plantlife’s President David Bellamy delivers a manifesto for plant conservation to Number 10 Downing Street.
1990
Launch of Back from the Brink, Plantlife’s internationally renowned species recovery programme.
1991
In collaboration with the Burren Action Group, Plantlife opposes construction of a proposed visitor centre at Mullaghmore, starting an ulitimately successfully nine-year campaign to protect this internationally important site in Ireland.
1992
Plantlife leads the Peat Commission Inquiry into the unsustainable use of peat.
1993
Publication of Acid Test for Plants, Plantlife’s definitive report on the impacts of acid rain on British plants.
1994
Biodiversity Challenge, published by Plantlife and five other nature conservation organisations, initiates a target-led approach to UK conservation as part of the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
1995
Launch of Planta Europa: the network of organisations working for plant conservation across Europe, at a conference in Hyeres, France.
Starfruit ©Bob Gibbons/Plantlife
1996
Following work by Plantlife, Starfruit Damasonium alisma, once Britains’s rarest plant, reappears at a site in Buckinghamshire for the first time in thirty years
1997
Plantlife magazine wins the BBC Wildlife Award for Best Environmental Charity Publication.
1998
Increased protection for the Bluebell after Plantlife campaign for its inclusion on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
1999
Acquisition of the internationally important Deep Dale in the Peak District National Park (Plantlife’s 22nd nature reserve).
2000
Better protection of plant habitats through the introduction of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act for England and Wales following a campaign by Plantlife and members of Wildlife and Countryside Link.
The European Plant Conservation
Strategy. Shown here is the
Russian translation ©Plantlife
2001
European Plant Conservation Strategy published as the European contribution to the emerging Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.
2002
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation agreed at the sixth Conference of the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity after much development, advocacy and negotiation by Plantlife.
2003
Dr Jane Smart, Plantlife’s Chief Executive is awarded an OBE “for services to the conservation of wild plants”.
2004
Plantlife, along with Kew and JNCC, publish on behalf of the UK Government, Plant Diversity Challenge, the UK’s response to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. Plantlife announces the results of County Flowers for the United Kingdom and the story appears in every national newspaper
The opening of Ranscombe Farm Reserve in Kent, a 560-acre site of mixed woodland, improved pasture and, botanically, one of the most important arable fields in the UK. Plantlife announce the completion of the project to identify 800 Important Plant Areas in central and eastern Europe.
