MACKAYS HORSETAIL
(EQUISETUM TRACHYODON)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
Links
to associated HAPs
Coastal
Sand dunes
Current
Status
This species, a sterile
hybrid of rough horsetail and variegated horsetail, occurs in three sites in
the Cheshire region, Red Rocks Marsh Nature Reserve and Royal Liverpool Golf
Course at Hoylake, and Wallasey Golf Course, all on the Wirral peninsula. The
species has been lost from a site in Meols but a substantial population was
found a couple of years ago along a footpath south of Hoylake station. Nationally,
the species occurs locally in two dozen locations in Ireland and five in Scotland
but no other sites in England.
It thrives particularly
in sites where competition from other species is low and especially where this
state is maintained by surface erosion or continual addition of wind blown sand.
Threats
- Habitat loss
to coastal accretion – it is not clear whether this natural change
will provide new good habitat or not.
- Habitat loss
to cycleway
- Open Golf Championship
at Royal Liverpool Golf Course, 2006.
How
are we helping to conserve Mackay's Horsetail in the Cheshire region?
Objectives,
Targets and Actions
OBJECTIVES
|
LOCAL
TARGETS
|
|
To
maintain and increase the population.
|
1. Maintain
existing populations.
2. Encourage good management of habitats in which it grows. |
ACTIONS
REQUIRED
|
- Continue
working with Borough Engineers to protect Hoylake population from
damage during construction of a cycle route
|
Progress
so far
| 2006
Action Completed |
- Continued
working with Royal and Ancient Golf Club and Royal Liverpool Golf
Club to protect all populations during the Open Championship 2006
|
| 2004
Action Completed |
- Chester
Zoo successfully established plants in cultivation in 2004 for planting
in their Sand Lizard exhibit, with appropriate interpretation.
|
| 1997
- 2004 Action Completed |
- Cheshire Wildlife Trust
have carried out a detailed survey of the location and density of
the population of this species at their Red Rocks Marsh Nature Reserve.
- Initially four designated
locations were planted with stem fragments. In autumn 1999 a further
location was planted with stem fragments.
|
How
to find out more about Mackay's Horsetail
This
plan is in the Wirral Biodiversity Action Plan which can be viewed at
www.wirral.gov.uk/ed/biodiversity/home.htm
Contact
details
References
& Glossary
Page,
C. N.: The Ferns of Britain and Ireland, 2nd edition.
Page, C. N.: A Natural History of Britains Ferns, New Naturalist Series.
