Published: 07 June 2006
One in the eye for Pheasants
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has significantly increased the numbers of the "Pheasant's-Eye" flower on the Salisbury Plain Training Estate - one of the last refuges for this rare native plant.
Environmental management, heavy downpours in May, military disturbance and a lack of pesticides & herbicides have all contributed to the growth of on Salisbury Plain.
Every year, Defence Estates Ecologists monitor the plants' health & dispersal and take action to encourage it to germinate.
Pheasant's-Eye plants produce very few seeds and their numbers have dramatically declined due to intensive agricultural practices. It has only been recorded in the wild on 18 sites since 1987.
Tom Watson, Defence Minister, said:
"The majority of Salisbury Plain is a designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and our work to protect the Pheasant's-eye is just one example of the overall management to ensure that this area is maintained as one of the UK's best examples chalk grassland.
As the MoD's Green Minister, it is my duty to ensure that we continue to put sustainability at the forefront of our management decisions for the defence estate.
The MoD is committed to funding the management and restoration of our estates throughout the country, and playing a full part in World Environment Day."
Dominic Ash, an Ecologist from the Defence Estates Environmental Support Team said:
"Because wild Pheasant's-eye is so rare, it is important that we manage Salisbury Plain in a way that will help to increase their numbers.
This year we have hundreds more Pheasants-Eyes than we did last year and the year before, and over the next month we should see them in full flower along with the Common Poppy and Common Fumitory.
It is hard to believe, but military disturbance significantly helps Pheasant's-eye reproduce.
Recently, tanks were forced to create a temporary parallel track across the Plain.
This disturbance has encouraged hundreds of flowers to germinate, including the Pheasants-Eye, and is now being maintained by Defence Estates' Ecologists to ensure that this unexpected reintroduction continues to flourish."
MOD Conservation Groups span the UK and amount to approximately 2,000 members. Comprising of military individuals and representatives from Statutory Bodies, NGO's, local government, environmental specialists and local volunteers, these groups are important in providing continuity and offering a breadth of site specific knowledge.
Further information
‘Pheasant's-Eye’ flower
Defence Estates
Defence Estates Estate Strategy and Policy (ES&P)
Ministry of Defence Access and Recreation Web Pages
Defence Estates Environmental Support Team
Building 21
Westdown Camp
Tilshead
Salisbury
Wilts
SP3 4RS
Tel: 0198067 4778
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