Conservationists rescue thousands of rare wildflowers from eroding Scottish coastline

Conservationists in Scotland recently relocated 3,400 one-flowered wintergreen plants from Culbin Forest in Moray after noticing that land was actively collapsing into the sea. The tiny, star-shaped wildflower is among Britain's rarest plants and is found only in specific pine woods in north-east Scotland, surviving in just seven sites. The rescue operation required volunteers to carefully uproot sections of soil containing the plants along with their vital underground fungal networks, which are crucial for their survival and germination. This species has faced severe decline over the past 50 years due to changes in forest management and the impacts of climate change on soil moisture. By moving these plants and introducing some to a new woodland area, experts hope to strengthen the species' resilience against environmental pressures and prevent further population loss.