Arable Plants Group

The Arable Plants Group will act as an independent sub-group co-ordinating a work programme to implement actions identified in the Biodiversity Action Plans of the 12 species listed below. Recognising that in some cases action will be most effectively implemented through actions of the Cereal Field Margins Habitat Steering Group (CFMSG), the Arable Plants Group will keep the CFMSG informed of progress and pass lead responsibility for implementing actions for the CFMSG where this is appropriate.

The Arable Plants group:

• Co-ordinate implementation of the species action plans for arable plants listed below.
• Develop strategic framework to implement actions to meet published targets through preparation of a work programme.
• Ensure participation from partner organisations, empowering them to lead on initiatives where best placed to do so.
• Monitor and report on progress to the Cereal Field Margins Habitat Steering Group and the Biodiversity Group Secretariat on a regular basis.
• Seek to collate data to measure achievement against published targets (in liaison with the targeting data sub-group).

Species for which the Arable Plants Group have responsibility are shown below:

- Interrupted Brome (Bromus interruptus)***
- Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)*
- Red-tipped Cudweed (Filago lutescens)*
- Broad-leaved Cudweed (Filago pyramidata)*
- Western Ramping-fumitory (Fumaria occidentalis)**
- Purple Ramping-fumitory (Fumaria purpurea)**
- Red Hemp-nettle (Galeopsis angustifolia)*
- Corn Cleavers (Galium tricornutum)*
- Shepherd’s-needle (Scandix pecten-veneris)*
- Small-flowered Catchfly (Silene gallica)*
- Cotswold Penny-cress (Thlaspi perfoliatum)*
- Spreading Hedge-parsley (Torilis arvensis)*
- Broad-fruited Cornsalad (Valerianella rimosa)*

Also the five UK BAP bryophyte species that are found on arable land:

- Sausage Beard-moss (Didymodon tomaculosus)*
- Starry Earth-moss (Ephemerum stallatum)*
- A beardless moss (Weissia multicapsularis)**
- Beaked Beardless-moss (Weissia rostellata)*
- Spreading-leaved Beardless-moss (Weissia squarrosa)**

* Lead partner: Plantlife;
**Lead partner: Natural England;

Defra is the contact point for both partners.

***Lead partner: RBG Kew, Contact point: Natural England