Isle of Man Cabbage

ISLE OF MAN CABBAGE (COINCYA MONENSIS SSP. MONENSIS)

LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Links to associated HAPs

Coastal Sand Dune

Current Status

Occurring in at least 22 coastal localities in the Isle of Man and western Britain from central Scotland to south-west England, the Isle of Man Cabbage is a nationally scarce British endemic. The Atlas of the British Flora (1962) maps its occurrence in 37 10km grid squares; however, only 18 of these are post-1930 records.

Isle of Man Cabbage is a Priority Species within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan because of its endemic status.

This species has always been locally frequent on the sand dunes between Wallasey and Leasowe, with records going back to de Tabley's Flora of Cheshire in 1875. The population currently spreads from Leasowe Gunsite over the tall dunes of Wallasey Golf Course.

The most recent counts are:

* 1995 - at least 22 plants at Leasowe Gunsite (H J Ash) SJ 277925.
* 1997 - around 6 plants just inside Leasowe Golf Course, separated from the Gunsite merely by a chain-link fence (C Clarke & H J Ash).
* 1999 - at least 30 plants scattered over the tall dunes in the roughs of Wallasey Golf Course SJ284928 (EM Gilmour & H J Ash).

Other than by the general provisions of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, the Isle of Man Cabbage is not specially protected under European or British legislation.

Threats

* Leasowe Gun Site - excessive recreational pressure, fire
* Golf courses - lack of sufficient disturbance

How are we helping to conserve the Isle of Man Cabbage in the Cheshire region?

* The BSBI Atlas 2000 clarifies the national distribution of Isle of Man Cabbage.
* Occasional monitoring of population by Wirral Wildlife and Wirral Rangers.

Objectives, Targets and Actions

Objectives, targets and actions to help conserve isle of man cabbage in the Cheshire region can be found on the Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) along with full details of our progress so far.

How to find out more about the Isle of Man Cabbage

Contact Chester Zoo on 01244 389 448

Contact details
LBAP Chair Hilary Ash
Phone: 0151 327 5923

References & Glossary
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2: Action Plans, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.