A new joint project has launched a fundraiser to protect one of Britain’s rarest native trees, with only 50 native Black Poplars recorded as surviving in Oxfordshire.
The Swindon to Oxford: Regenerating the Thames and Tributaries partnership (Sw~Ox) is aiming to raise £20,000 to identify the area’s remaining trees through DNA analysis, propagate genetically diverse cuttings and plant a new generation of Black Poplars along the River Thames and its floodplain.
The Black Poplar is a distinctive part of the Thames landscape, but its numbers have declined dramatically as traditional floodplain management has changed and remaining trees have become increasingly isolated. With fewer trees growing close enough together to reproduce naturally, the population is ageing and becoming increasingly fragmented.
Across Britain, the native population is estimated at only around 7,000 trees. Without intervention, Oxfordshire’s remaining Black Poplars could become the last of their kind. Through DNA analysis we can ensure the best opportunity to grow the genetic diversity and secure the species future.
The campaign will work with landowners and local communities to identify suitable sites for Black Poplar cultivation and planting, and will create a connected network of new trees along the Thames, helping restore a species that has been part of the landscape for centuries.
Jack Knott, Trust Manager at Cotswolds Rivers Trust and Sw~Ox steering group member, said: “The Black Poplar is a tree that belongs in the Thames landscape. It is part of our natural heritage, but without action we risk losing it altogether.
“We want to make sure that future generations can still see these remarkable trees. With funds going towards, surveying, genetic analysis, propagation and planting out, we can begin rebuilding the population.”
The campaign has already secured funding from West Oxfordshire District Council and the Vale of White Horse Council to kickstart the project, and this fundraiser has been match funded by funded by the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Aviva Communities Fund, meaning for every £1 donated the project will receive £3. To learn more and donate please visit the Crowdfunder.
