Walkers help map Britain’s bluebells
[10 April 2007]
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) is calling on walkers to help
identify bluebells this spring as part of a Natural History
Museum project to find out how climate change and hybrids are
affecting Britain’s favourite wild flower.
The Natural History Museum,
working in partnership with the RA and
Plantlife, is hoping
the public will help scientists build a clearer picture of the
bluebell in Britain by taking part in an online survey.
The findings will not only inform scientists of the extent of
our native bluebell population; it will also help them to
understand whether our bluebell woods are under threat from
Spanish and hybrid counterparts.
There are two species of bluebell in Britain – the familiar
native bluebell or wild hyacinth (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and
the cultivated Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica). But a
recent survey by wild plant conservation charity Plantlife
showed that our native species is hybridising with cultivated
bluebells, creating a third hybrid type. Hybridisation can alter
species genetic make up and make it harder for them to survive.
Climate change may also affect the future of our native
bluebells. Early growth and flowering gives bluebells a head
start over later developing plants, but warmer winters may mean
they are losing their advantage as other plants start growing
earlier.
Mariusz Wilczynski, membership development officer for the
Ramblers’ Association, said: “Bluebells bring joy to walkers
everywhere in springtime, bursting into life in woodlands and
hedgerows. Now as well as enjoying the sight of this lovely
flower in the countryside, we can help scientists understand how
they are responding to a changing environment. We urge everyone
out walking this spring to look out for bluebells and take part
in the Natural History Museum’s online survey.”
The Natural History Museum’s
web-based survey,
called Bluebells: Exploring British Wildlife, provides an online
identification guide and simple forms to record sightings. The
survey will be ongoing and it is hoped people will take part
each spring, helping scientists monitor and understand what is
happening to bluebells in response to changes to their
environment.