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"·Mistletoe
held in the beaks of the phoenix is a medieval sign
of medicinal remedies·" (From a description
of the Armorial Bearings of the London Ambulance
Service) |
Download
this Action Plan in full
1. Aims
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To
ensure the conservation, enhancement and greater awareness
of London's mistletoe for current and future generations.
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To
ensure that this cultural emblem is more widely recognised
as a London species. |
2. Introduction
Mistletoe (Viscum album) was included in the London
Biodiversity Audit on the basis of its rarity, cultural
value and ease of monitoring. Though London is outside its
stronghold areas in the south-west midlands, the species
has many cultural links to the capital. It may never have
been very common here but it has a long history in herbal
medicine and seasonal traditions.
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant of deciduous trees that
produces milk-white berries. Its London sites are mostly
in open landscape habitats, such as trees in parks, gardens
and streets.
3.
Current Status
Mistletoe's status in London today is reasonably well-known,
though many sightings need further study and confirmation.
The national mistletoe survey run by Plantlife and the Botanical
Society of the British Isles (BSBI) in the 1990s provided
a lot of new data (Briggs 1995 & 1999).
The species is scarce in the Greater London area. A large
number of boroughs have good or reasonably reliable records
of the plant, but in most there are only a handful of records
· sometimes just one plant per borough. The full list includes
Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Harrow, Ealing, Enfield,
Greenwich, Haringey, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston, Lambeth,
Merton, Redbridge, Richmond, Sutton, Wandsworth and Westminster.
The most central records are in Lambeth (a single plant
on a maple tree) and in Westminster (a single plant on an
ornamental Malus tree).
Most mistletoe in London today grows in man-made habitats
· little suitable natural habitat occurs · and the vast
majority of London records are from trees in parks and gardens.
Elsewhere in the country the plant also grows on trees in
orchards, hedgerows, churchyards, cemeteries and linear
features such as watersides and roadsides. London's principle
stronghold seems to be in the Bushy Park and Hampton Court
areas of Richmond.
The main host trees for mistletoe in urban areas are cultivated
apples, hybrid Limes, hawthorn, hybrid poplars, maples,
willows and false acacia. Many other tree species can also
be hosts. The parasitic mistletoe is, in turn, host to four
species of specialist mistletoe-dependant insects. The current
status of these insects in London is unknown.
There appears to be potential for more mistletoe in London
· there are many suitable host trees in many suitable habitats
such as parks, gardens, small estates, nature reserves and
roadsides. Some of the populations in parks and estates
may be relics of populations established by herbalists.
Studies of mistletoe in other cities may help our understanding
of the plant in London. The best British city for mistletoe,
based on the findings of the national survey, is probably
Cheltenham. There has been recent research in mainland Europe.
4.
Specific Factors Affecting the Species
4.1 Management practice
Existing forestry and tree management practice in boroughs,
parks authorities etc may be unsympathetic · for example,
being a tree parasite, the species is sometimes pruned out.
There is neglect of some mistletoe colonies and possibly
a loss of management techniques. For example, traditional
'sustainable' harvesting, which controlled infestations
whilst allowing their survival, may be no longer practised.
4.2 Theft
Mistletoe 'rustling' may be on the increase because of
its seasonal value.
4.3 Omission
from habitat creation schemes
Mistletoe may be omitted from otherwise suitable habitat
creation schemes · for example community orchard schemes
5.
Current Action
5.1 Legal status
Mistletoe receives the same protection as all other wild
plants in the UK through the Wildlife and Countryside Act
(1981, as amended). Therefore, it may not be uprooted (which
would include pulling down whole plants) without the permission
of the landowner. The felling of host trees may be prevented
by Tree Preservation Orders.
5.2 Mechanisms targeting the species
These current actions are ongoing.
They need to be supported and continued in addition to the
new action listed under Section 7.
5.2.1 Survey
The national mistletoe survey in the 1990s (Briggs 1995
& 1999) raised the plant's profile significantly and
gave rise to much public interest. This survey, though complete,
still continues informally. It is largely concerned with
data gathering.
5.2.2 Indirect habitat management
Various campaigns promoting conservation of traditional
orchards (eg Common Ground's projects) or conservation of
parkland and veteran trees may be indirectly helping mistletoe.
6. Objectives,
Actions and Targets
Most of these actions are
specific to this species. However, there are other, broader
actions that apply generically to a number of habitats and
species. These are located in a separate 'Generic
Action' section
which should be read in conjunction with this document.
There are generic actions for Site Management, Habitat Protection,
Species Protection, Ecological Monitoring, Biological Records,
Communications and Funding.
Please note that the partners
identified in the tables are those that have been involved
in the process of forming the plan. It is not an exclusive
list and new partners are both welcomed and needed. The
leads identified are responsible for co-ordinating the actions
· but are not necessarily implementers.
Objective 1 Collate and maintain data on mistletoe in London
Target: Complete database covering all existing data, plus
a mechanism for recording new data, by the end of 2001
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Action
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Target Date
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Lead
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Other Partners
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Determine past and present distribution
in London · collating all existing data, validating
as needed and including in local databases
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2001
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LWT
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LNHS, BSBI
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Establish monitoring system for London
populations
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2001
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LNHS
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BRP, BSBI, LNHS, LWT,
RP
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Objective 2 To prevent loss of mistletoe plants and populations
in London
Target : No future loss of mistletoe populations in London
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Action
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Target Date
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Lead
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Other Partners
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Consider applying TPOs to unprotected
trees
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Ongoing
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LTOA
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GLA
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Provide landowners with information
about mistletoe conservation and management
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2001
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GLA
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LA, RP, LWT, CG
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Review other possible protection measures
and policies
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2002
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GLA
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EN
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Objective 3 To increase mistletoe populations in London
Target: 20 new or restored populations by 2005
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Action
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Target Date
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Lead
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Other Partners
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Select new sites for establishing
mistletoe populations and identify those sites to
make up 'first round'
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2001
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LWT
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GLA, LA, LNHS, RP,
WWT, CG, RBG
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Investigate practicality of establishing
'berry exchange' system to encourage establishment
of new populations
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2002
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LWT
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GLA, LA, RP, CG
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Establish mistletoe at first round
of sites identified
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2005
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LWT
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GLA, LA, LNHS, RP,
TFL, WWT, CG, Landowners
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Objective 4 To increase knowledge and understanding of
mistletoe and its ecology in London
Target: Several studies completed and ready for promotion
by 2003
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Action
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Target Date
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Lead
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Other Partners
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Review knowledge of mistletoe in other
UK and European cities
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2001
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National survey co-ordinator
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Establish the status of mistletoe-associated
species in London · obligate insects and berry-eating
birds
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2003
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LNHS
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Promote results of these and other
studies to increase awareness of mistletoe
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2003
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GLA
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CG
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Relevant Action Plans
London
Plans
Woodland; Private Gardens,
Wasteland; Open Landscapes with Ancient/Old Trees; Ponds,
Lakes and Reservoirs; Churchyards and Cemeteries; Railway
Linesides; Farmland; Parks; Amenity Grasslands and City
Squares; Hedgerows.
Black Poplar.
National Plans
None.
Key References
Briggs, J (1995). Mistletoe
- distribution, biology and the National Survey. British
Wildlife 7(2), 75-82.
Briggs, J (1999). Kissing
Goodbye to Mistletoe? The results of a national survey aimed
at discovering whether mistletoe in Britain is in decline.
Published by Plantlife and BSBI.
Abbreviations
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BRP · Biological Recording
Project
BSBI · Botanical Society of the British Isles
CG · Common Ground
GLA · Greater London Authority
LTOA · London Tree Officers Association
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LNHS · London Natural
History Society
LWT · London Wildlife Trust
RP · Royal Parks
TFL · Trees for London
UDP · Unitary Development Plan
WWT · Wildfowl & wetlands Trust
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Contact
The contact for this species
in the present absence of a Lead is Jonathan Briggs.
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Dr Jonathan Briggs
National Mistletoe Survey Co-ordinator
46 Arrowsmith Drive
Stonehouse
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email [email protected]
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