Letter

Donate to Save Endangered Wild Plants and Fungi

We’re at risk of losing some species forever. Will you donate to help save endangered wild plants and fungi?

Some of the UK’s most remarkable wild plants and fungi are on the brink of extinction. Without urgent action, we risk losing them forever. Will you donate today to help save them?

Wild plants and fungi give our landscapes their distinctive charm, support our native wildlife and make the UK’s scenery so remarkable. From Scottish Primrose to Snowdonia Hawkweed to Pasqueflower, these species are part of our heritage. Yet over 25% of Britain’s native plants are threatened with extinction [1] – your gift today could change that.

Changes in land management have left many species isolated and stuck in shrinking habitats. Compared to animals, plants and fungi are far less able to move around, and without focused and specialised care, their numbers will continue to dwindle. Act now and you’ll help create pathways to their survival – before we lose them forever. A gift of £25 could help train land managers to protect rare species.

Take the Mythical Pasqueflower for Example

Once linked to Viking legends, today it survives at only 20 sites. Air pollution, changes in land management and loss of habitat have pushed it to the edge. The impact is especially high because the feather-like seeds of Pasqueflower require very specific conditions to grow.

Sadly, this vibrant wildflower is Endangered in Britain [1] – even more threatened than when it was last assessed 20 years ago.

Plantlife is restoring populations across the Chilterns, Cotswolds, Berkshire Downs and Yorkshire. We’re trialling new techniques to better understand how to help this struggling plant. Tens of thousands of seeds were collected and hand-sown into scarified patches on carefully selected sites. Early results are really promising but this work can only continue with your support. A donation of £15 could help hand-sow Pasqueflower seeds.

Unfortunately, there are many species that need our help and, to be effective, this work requires a long-term commitment, innovative research and a laser focus. And that’s where you come in.

By giving a gift today, you will help save more endangered species like Pasqueflower. Your donation will fund expert research, habitat restoration and partnerships with landowners across the UK to create targeted recovery plans to secure their future.

The time to act is now, or we risk losing them forever. Will you help?

Donate to help save species.

By donating today you’ll be helping to save the wild plants and fungi that shape our landscapes. Thank you in advance for your support.

Best wishes,

Alan Sumnall, Species Recovery Programme Manager

PS By giving a gift today, you can help save endangered species like Pasqueflower. Act now and you’ll help create the pathways to their survival – before we lose them forever.

Over 25% of Britain’s native plants are threatened with extinction – your gift today could change that.

Here’s how your donation could make a difference:

• £5 could aid the microscopic identification of fungi
• £15 could help hand-sow Pasqueflower seeds
• £25 could help train land managers to protect rare species
• £50 could help translocate rare lichens

Reference: [1] IUCN. 2025. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Leaflet

Which Other Wild Plants and Fungi Are You Helping?

Our wild plants and fungi are a crucial part of biodiversity – the more species there are in a habitat, the more diverse that habitat is. It is this diversity that allows ecosystems to function healthily and be more resilient.

When we lose species to extinction it undermines our ecosystem’s ability to adapt and respond to climate change and other threats. This is the primary reason why conserving species is one of our priorities at Plantlife.

With partners, we plan to conserve 100 rare and threatened species and move them into lower risk categories. You can help make this possible.

It’s All Connected…

Wild plants and fungi are part of a wider ecosystem where a loss of one species could have detrimental impacts on another. Sometimes we don’t know the role a particular plant or fungus plays until it’s too late. This is why our work to save endangered plants and fungi is so vital.

Here are some examples of the relationships between different species:

• Field Wormwood – Sole food source for adult Wormwood Moonshiner beetle
• Juniper Sole – foodplant for Juniper Pug moth
• Cowslip and Primrose – Caterpillar food source for the Duke of Burgundy butterfly
• Sea Aster – Preferred food source for Sea Aster Mining Bee
• Kidney Vetch – Small Blue butterfly lays its eggs solely on Kidney Vetch
• King Alfred’s Cakes – Scarce Fungus Weevil lays its eggs inside the fungus

Saving Endangered Plants and Fungi

We’re working to actively conserve 100 rare and threatened species across the UK. Take a look at some examples of the work you could be supporting. By donating today you’ll help protect remaining species, restore habitats and create targeted recovery plans.

Future work in Northern Ireland

We’re developing exciting plans to protect nine species in Northern Ireland, in a range of habitats.

Dark-purple Earthtongue, Irish Lady’s-tresses and Pyramidal Bugle are all grassland species impacted by land management changes. Freshwater species Marsh Stitchwort, Slender Tufted-Sedge and Rugged Stonewort have been impacted by poor water quality. We also hope to help Oysterplant, Slender Thread-moss and a Pixie Cup Lichen.

Oak Polypore Buglossoporus quercinus

The mighty Oak tree can support over 2,000 species, including one of only four fully protected fungus species in the UK, the Oak Polypore. To help it recover, we’re trialling introducing it to Oak plantation sites alongside Beefsteak Fungus to help create the conditions many Oak-associated species need to thrive.

One-Flowered Wintergreen Moneses uniflora

This unusual and complex pine woodland specialist has heavily declined in Scotland in recent years. Alongside trial translocations, we are researching the genetics of this species. We’ll combine this with fungal research and innovative land management advice to create a plan of action to restore both One-flowered Wintergreen and the wider pinewood soil fungus community.

Scottish Primrose Primula scotica

Endemic to the north coast of Scotland and Orkney, Scottish Primrose is particularly vulnerable as it struggles to adapt to environmental change, making our work even more vital so we’re working with landowners to improve grazing at key sites.

Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans

Now largely confined to the limestone dales of the Peak District and on the south coast of England. We’re working in the Peak District to reintroduce it to a former site, connect remaining populations and support germination through habitat management.

Fen Orchid Liparis loeselii 

After decades of brilliant conservation work, the rare and eye-catching Fen Orchid is officially no longer considered Threatened in Great Britain, thanks to work led by Plantlife. We worked with partners to understand its ecology, how to protect existing plants and then how to boost its numbers. This fantastic result relied on long-term commitment to make a real difference.

Cornish Path Moss Ditrichum cornubicum

Now only found in the UK at two former mining sites, we worked in partnership to assess the remaining populations and identify its ecological requirements. We then carried out habitat management which has resulted in new scrapes being successfully colonised by Cornish Path Moss.

Pheasant’s-eye Adonis annua

Almost lost to intensive agriculture, we reintroduced this spectacular plant to our Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve in 2019. Since, we have carried out ongoing management and monitoring to track its success and to increase evidence of how to help this species.