Why are black poplar trees being planted in Wiltshire?

Cuttings of the rare black poplar tree are being planted in Wiltshire as part of an effort to save the species from extinction, as fewer than 7,000 are believed to remain.

What is the historical significance of the black poplar tree?

The black poplar is a native tree that has been in the British Isles long before humans and is deeply connected to British history and culture, once thriving in the wetlands of medieval Britain.

What is being done to conserve the black poplar tree?

Conservation efforts include propagating cuttings from existing trees and planting them in areas like St Andrews, Swindon, to promote native woodlands and recreate lost habitats for wildlife.

Home / Environment / Wiltshire Plants Rare Black Poplars to Fight Extinction

Wiltshire Plants Rare Black Poplars to Fight Extinction

28 Jan

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Summary

Rare black poplar cuttings are being planted in Wiltshire.
Fewer than 7,000 of these native trees are believed to remain.
Conservation efforts aim to protect the species for wildlife and history.

Wiltshire Plants Rare Black Poplars to Fight Extinction

Cuttings from Britain's critically endangered black poplar tree are being planted in Wiltshire as part of a vital conservation effort. Once widespread across ancient floodplains, fewer than 7,000 of these native trees are thought to survive. Councillor Jake Chandler has successfully propagated dozens of cuttings from a Dorset tree and is now planting them in the St Andrews area of Swindon.

Chandler emphasized the trees' deep historical roots in the British Isles and their importance for various insect, bird, and mammal species. He noted the cultural significance of losing a tree so intertwined with British history. The initiative addresses the lack of black poplars in north Swindon and aims to promote local, native woodlands.

Conservationist Alex Atkinson explained that the black poplar's habitat diminished as land was cleared for farming and rivers were straightened. He described the tree as a crucial element of Britain's lost landscape, fitting into broader conservation goals of reconnecting rivers with their floodplains and recreating these historical environments.