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Meet the politicians who are working with Plantlife as Species and Nature Champions to see plants and fungi better represented in policy and action.
Species Champions are Members of Parliament (MP) and Members of the Senedd (MS), while Nature Champions are Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) from across political parties. These Champions are partnered with wildlife organisations to provide political support for specific species and habitats.
In England, this project is run by the Rethink Nature Partnership, made up of 5 wildlife organisations including Plantlife. In Wales and Scotland, it is led by Wales Environment Link and Scottish Environment Link respectively.
Each Species or Nature Champion works with one of the wildlife organisations to promote and support their chosen species or habitat throughout their parliamentary session.
Each MP, MS or MSP becomes a Species or Nature Champion by ‘adopting’ their own species or habitat. These are often underrepresented, but important, species such as Burnt-tip Orchid, or habitats such as road verges. MPs, MSs and MSPs work with their partner organisation to raise awareness of their species or habitat and its causes of decline. They do this both within parliament and their own constituencies. The Champions can also support the development of public policy and legislation that will help their species or habitat.
Species make up the biodiversity that supports the richness of life on earth. They are the building blocks of functioning ecosystems, on which our way of life depends. However, many species are overlooked and not properly considered in conservation efforts or legislation that could affect or potentially protect them.
Having Species Champions to represent the species that get left out is key for working towards a world richer in nature, where all species are thriving.
In Scotland, Plantlife and its partners decided to extend this idea to having Nature Champions who could speak up for habitats which need more political attention, such as temperate rainforests and road verges.
These are some of the politicians that we work with as a Species or Nature Champions.
John is the Conservative Party MP for Salisbury and the Species Champion for Burnt-tip Orchid, a rare chalk grassland species. His constituency consists of the city of Salisbury, surrounding agricultural land and various natural areas including the Cranborne Chase National Landscape.
“I am proud to be a Plantlife Species Champion for the rare burnt tip orchid – Wiltshire’s County Flower”
Ellie is the Green Party MP for North Herefordshire and the species champion of Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort. She has been the MP for North Herefordshire since 2024. Our Lugg Meadow Nature Reserve sits within her constituency and is one of the few places where Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort can be found in England.
“It was a Joy to visit Lugg Meadow with Plantlife and officially become the Species champion for the rare and beautiful narrow-leaved water-dropwort. This remarkable plant is now only found in a handful of places in England, and its Herefordshire stronghold is right here at Lugg Meadow – one of the UK’s most historic and precious floodplain meadows”
Carolyn has been a Welsh Labour Party MS representing North Wales since 2021. She is the Species Champion for Butterfly-orchids. Butterfly-orchids resembles a butterfly and is found in grasslands and ancient woodlands.
“It has been great working with Plantlife advocating for the better management of our roadside verges, community grasslands, gardens and meadows for the benefit of wildlife and biodiversity. I have many favourite flowers, but I particularly love Bee and Butterfly-orchids. I’m fortunate to be the species champion for Butterfly Orchid.”
Wales is home to two species of Butterfly-orchids. The Greater Butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha is now classified as ‘Near Threatened’ on the Vascular Plant Red Data List for Great Britain, while the Lesser Butterfly-orchid Platanthera bifolia is more threatened and classified as ‘Vulnerable’.
Mercedes has been a Scottish Labour Party MSP for North East Scotland since 2021. She is the Nature Champion for road verges, which can be havens for wildlife and plants and host a wealth of biodiversity.
“I’ve pledged to champion nature! With 1 in 9 species in Scotland at risk of extinction. We need urgent action to drive nature’s recovery and tackle climate breakdown”
Jenni has been the Scottish National Party MSP for Argyll and Bute since 2021. She is the Nature Champion for Scotland’s Rainforest, shared with Woodland Trust Scotland. Scotland’s Rainforests are a globally rare habitat and are some of the most intact rainforests in Europe. In 2022, Jenni accepted joint MSP Nature Champion of the Year award, based on her public awareness-raising efforts and her broader advocacy impact.
“I am so enjoying being Nature Champion for Scotland’s Rainforest and am learning so much from the organisations and community groups I have met with.”
Liam has been a Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for the Orkney Islands since 2007. He is the Nature Champion for Scottish Primrose, a species endemic to only Orkney, Caithness and Sutherland.
“I’m proud to have been a Nature Champion for Scottish Primrose for over 10 years. It’s a lovely, but rare, flower that’s only found in coastal grasslands in Scotland.”
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