Sidmouth: Rare plants saved from rising sea levels in Otter Estuary

Rare plants in the Otter Estuary threatened by rising sea levels and the deterioration of embankments have now been moved to new sites.

It comes as part of the £15m Lower Otter Restoration Project to restore the Lower Otter river valley to a more natural state.

A scarce yellow-tipped grass-like plant known as divided sedge (carex divisa), together with some populations of galingale (cyperus longus), were moved to three sites with similar ecological characteristics.

Their progress will be monitored over the next 12 months.

The Lower Otter is currently the only known place in Devon where divided sedge can be found.

It is also one of only a few sites in the South West where it grows.

Galingale is also scarce nationally, but will be able to continue to survive in some areas of the lower Otter valley.

400 southern marsh orchids that grew on the Lower Otter being were also relocated last year.

Dr Sam Bridgewater, Head of Wildlife and Conservation for landowners, Clinton Devon Estates, said: "The divided sedge is an unassuming little plant which you could be forgiven for overlooking, but it's the rarest living thing that the LORP scheme will provide help to.

"We hope it will thrive in the new sites it is to be moved to."

The planting of hedgerows to the north of Little Bank has also begun, with native species including hawthorn, blackthorn and dog rose planted among gaps in existing hedgerows.

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