Salvia pratensis – Meadow Clary

1903

First recorded at Caldicot Monmouth

1950’s

Cattle grazing the site but populations remained healthy

1960s

Electric fence but around the site, plants declining in health and vigour

1970’s

Good recovery and 27 plants recorded in next few years into 1980’s

1983

SSSI notified by management plan elapsed in 1993

2001

Site in poor condition – only 2 plants recorded. Grass rank with nettle and creeping thistle – no bare or disturbed ground – cattle grazing flower spikes

2003

Work on site to allow germination by opening ground to expose bare soil

2003

Trevor Dines collected seed under Plantlife licence and sown at his home, one plant given to Treborth

2008

Critically endangered in Wales

2009

Treborth plant was the only surviving in Wales

2010

Reintroduction programme with Natural Resources Wales

2011

Six plants from Treborth stock taken to Bristol Zoo for cross fertilisation with plants from Gloucestershire – then to National Botanic Garden to Natasha De Vere.

2012-15

Treborth continued to grow the 24 seedlings – 9 large and 17 small plants

Oct 2015

24 plants were taken from Treborth to Rectory Meadow in Monmouthshire for reintroduction.

2016

Monthly monitoring to assess growth, grazing pressure and slug damage.