Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) is the principle mechanism for the legislative protection of wildlife in Great Britain

The act is divided into four parts:

• Part I is concerned with the protection of wildlife,
• Part II relates to the countryside and national parks (and the designation of protected areas),
• Part III covers public rights of way,
• Part IV deals with miscellaneous provisions of the Act

There are twelve arable species that are protected under the act:-

- Ground Pine (Ajuga chamaepitys)
- Hairy Mallow (Althaea hirsute)
- Small Alison (Alyssum alyssoides)
- Red-tipped Cudweed (Filago lutescens)
- Broad-leaved Cudweed (Filago pyramidata)
- Martin’s Fumitory (Fumaria reuteri)
- Grass Poly (Lythrum tricornutum)
- Field Cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense)
- Perennial Knawel (Scleranthus perennis)
- Cut-leaved Germander (Teucrium botyrys)
- Cotswold Pennycress (Thlaspi perfoliatum)
- Fingered Speedwell (Veronica triphyllos)

There is an overlap with some Schedule 8 species and UK BAP species.