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Find out everything you need to know about managing Twinflower, whether you already have this endangered Arctic-Alpine plant on your site, or you are considering translocating it.
Twinflower Linnaea borealis is an Arctic-Alpine plant that is a relic of the Ice Age. When the ice disappeared, this beautiful wildflower clung on in the native, open, pine woods of Scotland. Find out more about Twinflower here.
Sadly the clearance of these native woodlands before the 1930s resulted in severe losses of the species. Continued habitat destruction and changes in woodland management have also lead to declines in populations.
Over the last few centuries Twinflower experienced a drastic decline, and today, it is classed as endangered and mainly found in the Cairngorms.
Remaining patches of Twinflower survive in fragmented habitats, which means that the plants are unable to cross-pollinate.
Without intervention, the delicate pink blooms of the rare Twinflower could disappear from Scotland.
There are around 500 Twinflower patches remaining in the country and as few as 725 genetically distinct individuals, making each patch a precious and crucial resource.
The species which pollinate Twinflower do not travel far. Patches more than 100m apart will not be cross-pollinated, particularly when suitable woodland is not contiguous. Nearly all wild Twinflower patches have no neighbours within 100m, and so they do not produce viable seed.
This means across most of Scotland there is no new generation, and what remains are declining remnants.
Along with our partners, Nature Scot and the Cairngorms National Park, we are working on Twinflower translocations across sites in Scotland, as well as restoring pine woodland for Twinflower.
The Translocation process involves taking cuttings, growing them in captivity and then planting them out at optimal sites, allowing cross-pollination to occur, and healthy genetically mixed seed to spread.
These have been successful, but translocation is needed at a much larger scale to ensure long term Twinflower persistence in Scotland.
Thankfully, many different conservation organisations, professionals, and landowners have a keen interest in protecting Twinflower. There’s a hope to see it return to recovering native Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris woodlands across Scotland.
We are continuing our work with this amazing species, as part of our Resilience and Recovery, Helping Rare Species Adapt to a Changing World Project. You can find out more about the other plants we are protecting in Scotland, through the project here.
Now, we need more practitioners and land owners to get involved in conservation efforts and work towards long term and sustainable Twinflower recovery.
Mature Twinflower is resilient and may survive in most pine woods without clear fell.
However, for Twinflower to thrive and for seeds to establish, a native woodland of varied age structure, with moderate levels of shade, and ideally some grazing or other disturbance is needed.
Connectivity between patches and woodlands is also key to encouraging natural restoration of Twinflower.
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An incredible story of returning one of England’s rarest lichens to its historic home – more than 350 miles away.
The peat-rich Flow Country, which our Munsary Peatlands are part of, has been given the same standing as the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon.
Whether it’s your back garden, local park, community field or lawn, wildflower meadows are amazing spaces with so much to offer.
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