Targets and legislation

Despite being the most critically threatened group of plants in Britain today, arable plants have received little attention from nature conservationists until very recently. As a result the arable community remains the least studied of any plant habitats in Britain at the present time. Fortunately the importance of arable plants and the role they play in the conservation of the British flora and fauna in being increasingly recognised by relevant groups.

Western Ramping-fumitory (Fumaria occidentalis)
©John Martin/RDS

Twelve species receive full protection under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (plus amendments), whilst a total of twelve vascular plants (one being Western Ramping-fumitory pictured here) and a further five moss species have been recognised as priority species under the UK Government’s Biodiversity Action Plan. Of equal importance is the fact that the arable habitat represents part of the Cereal Field Margins Priority Habitat, and has been subject to its own Habitat Action Plan since the mid 1990s.

In addition to individual species receiving structured conservation action, the group as a whole are included under target 6 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. It states that at least 30% of production lands should be managed in a way consistent with the conservation of plant diversity by 2010.