Botanist Resurrects Extinct York Groundsel After 20 Years
Andrew Shaw, a dedicated botanist, has achieved an extraordinary feat in plant conservation. He has resurrected the York groundsel (Senecio eboracensis), a species thought to be extinct since 2003, by germinating 20-year-old seeds from Kew's Millennium Seed Bank.
Shaw's success is a testament to his unique techniques for propagating plants. He focuses on sowing seeds for annuals and introducing plants for perennials, always ensuring the right location for each species. This approach has not only brought back the York groundsel but also led to the successful propagation and growth of back-up plants of the Beacons hawkweed (Hieracium breconicola), one of the rarest plants on Earth.
Based in Wales, Shaw runs the Rare British Plants Nursery near Builth Wells. Here, he cultivates endangered native plants, driven by a passion for their genetic variations and the potential for new types to spontaneously emerge. His work is not limited to the UK; Shaw was involved in a species reintroduction project in 2023, contributing to ecological restoration efforts in a North American tallgrass prairie.
Andrew Shaw's dedication to native plants has resulted in a remarkable collection of rare British species, many of which are obscure or no longer exist in the wild. His nursery, a beacon for plant conservation, has not failed in any of its restoration projects. More information about Shaw's work can be found at rarebritishplants.com.
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