Current status
This orchid is endemic to the UK, occurring only on derelict spoil heaps where deciduous trees have colonised. It is known from only six sites in the UK - five in Scotland and one in northern England - but may also occur on a site in South Wales. However, one site in England was destroyed in 1986, and one in Scotland will be destroyed when mineral extraction occurs under an extant planning permission. Young`s helleborine probably recently evolved as a stable hybrid of the broad-leaved and narrow-lipped varieties, and was first described in 1978.
The species is listed as Endangered on the GB Red List, and is protected under Schedule 8 of the WCA 1981.
Current factors causing loss or decline
Lack of management leading to canopy closure.
Extraction of spoil for use as ballast.
Destruction of spoil heaps.
Current action
Plantlife carried out a survey of the central Scottish sites during 1993/94.
Action plan objectives and targets
Maintain a minimum of seven populations across its range
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Seek to ensure that all planning proposals, including those for mineral extraction and the destruction of spoil heaps, take into account the needs of this species. (ACTION: NE, LAs, SNH)
Site safeguard and management
Consider the need for management works, including canopy thinning and scrub clearance at the three known sites. (ACTION: NE, SNH)
Pending confirmation of the Welsh site, consider notifying it as a SSSI if this is necessary to secure appropriate management. (ACTION: CCW)
Species management and protection
No action proposed.
Advisory
Provide advice on taxonomic problems and management to site managers. (ACTION: NE, SNH)
Future Research and Monitoring
Promote investigation of the status of the populations at the known sites, and the possible fourth site in south Wales. (ACTION: CCW, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Consider the feasibility of translocating plants from the threatened Scottish site to a suitable receptor site. (ACTION: SNH)
Establish long-term monitoring programmes for each population. (ACTION: NE, JNCC, SNH)
Promote investigation of the ecological requirements of this species and the relationship with canopy density. (ACTION: NE, JNCC, SNH)
Subject to confidentiality and data ownership, pass information gathered during survey and monitoring of this species to JNCC or BRC so that it can be incorporated in national databases. (ACTION: CCW, NE, SNH)
Provide information annually to the World Conservation Monitoring Centre on the UK status of the species to contribute to maintenance of an up-to-date global Red Data List. (ACTION: JNCC)
Communications and Publicity
None proposed.
Links with other action plans
None given.
Local implementation
The following LBAPs are working on Epipactis youngiana:
Publication details
Originally published in: Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report - Volume II: Action Plans (December 1995, Tranche 1, Vol 2, p182)
Related links
ARKive Visit the ARKive website to view images and further information relating to this species