Londoners to grow rare plant to save species

VOLUNTEERS in London will grow tower mustard before replanting it around the city as part of efforts to save the threatened species.

- Rebecca Speare-Cole, PA

Conservation group Citizen Zoo has launched the programme to protect and restore one of the capital's rarest plants, which is currently thought to survive at just two sites in London and only 30 across England.

The London-wide initiative will involve citizen scientists growing the herb in their homes before it is then replanted at carefully selected locations across Greater London.

Native to the UK, tower mustard - or turritis glabra - features small white flowers and grows to around one metre high.

It plays an important ecosystem role by supporting pollinators such as bees, butterflies and rare moths.

While it was once widespread in England, it is now assessed as near threatened on the “red list” of conservation concern, after suffering steep declines because of habitat destruction and land management.