ISLE OF MAN CABBAGE (COINCYA MONENSIS SSP. MONENSIS)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! ACTION COMPLETED IN 2005

There was a long-term plan to introduce the Isle of Man Cabbage to the dunes that run from Red Rocks South to West Kirby. During botanical survey work in 2005 6 Isle of Man Cabbage plants were found towards the south end of those dunes around the boardwalk. So the plant has introduced itself - possibly with some unintentional help from a walker's boot!

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed!

OBJECTIVES

Maintain and, ideally, extend current local range and distribution of Isle of Man Cabbage.

LOCAL TARGETS

1. Maintain existing populations
2. When suitable habitat develops at Red Rocks, consider establishing a population there.

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.

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

CURRENT ACTION

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

ACTION REQUIRED IN 2005+

• Continue to ensure no further loss of dunes to development or recreation
• Continue to pursue SSSI status for Leasowe Gunsite
• Investigate possibility of starting a further colony on Royal Liverpool Golf Course and/or the new dune line forming at Red Rocks, once this is sufficiently mature.
• Try to promote protection of existing dunes and formation of new dunes at Red Rocks as a positive good.
• Continue to work with Golf Courses, especially Wallasey, to safeguard populations

ACTION COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY

• In 2004 Chester Zoo established plants from seed from the Leasowe Gunsite to use in their Sand Lizard exhibit, with suitable interpretation.
• In 2004 it was ensured that Wallasey Golf Course is aware of the value of its dune habitats to IoMC and its other uncommon dune plants.

ACTUAL LBAP IMPLEMENTERS

OTHER POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTERS

CONTACT

Hilary Ash
0151 327 5923

REFERENCES

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.

Date compiled - 2001
Date reviewed - 2002, 2004, 2005

This plan is part of the Wirral Biodiversity Action Plan which can be viewed at www.wirral.gov.uk/ed/biodiversity/home.htm

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