One of the country’s rarest plants is set to return to Dorset in an impressive comeback. 

Starved wood-sedge, typically found in woodland glades, is famed for being one of the rarest sedges in the UK and was feared extinct in the early 1980s when its British population fell to just one plant. 

Another population reappeared in Surrey shortly after the 1986 storms, and conservationists have worked tirelessly ever since to bring its population up to more than 100 plants. 

The final piece of this project is set to happen this month when plants reared at Kew Gardens are set to be re-introduced to their former site in Dorset. Starved wood-sedge was last seen in Cranborne Chase in the 1920s. 

Dominic Price, director at the Species Recovery Trust, said: “Despite our success with increasing the numbers of this plant in recent years it still remains at perilously low levels, and bringing it back to Dorset represents a key step in saving the species in the long-term.

“It will still take a lot of work to ensure this re-introduction works, but we are getting a lot better at looking after this species and are optimistic for success.” 

Starved wood-sedge was given its name due to the few seeds it produces, despite being the largest seed of any native sedge. Its decline is linked with high levels of commercial forestation and neglect of woodland areas. 

Julia Smith, owner of the Edmondsham Estate where the plants are to be released, said: “We are delighted to play a role in saving this remarkable plant and we hope to see it thriving once again in its new woodland home.”

The site has been chosen due to its valuable combination of light and soil conditions. It is also one of Dorset Wildlife Trust’s (DWT) Sites of Nature Conservation Importance, which recognises areas in the county with high nature conservation value. DWT will offer extra resources to look after the plants once they are released. 

Sharon Abbott, from DWT, said: “We are very excited at the prospect of the return of this rare plant to Dorset, and particularly that its new home will be on one of our recognised SNCIs.

"These sites are valuable areas of semi-natural habitats and often hold populations of important plants and the insects and other wildlife which those support.

The woodland SNCIs on the Edmondsham Estate have been sympathetically managed to produce some wonderfully species-rich wildlife havens, and we hope that the starved wood-sedge will thrive here.”

Visit speciesrecoverytrust.org.uk to find out more.