The beautiful blue Spring Gentian and other special wild plants in Upper Teesdale are declining in extent. This magnificent landscape is one of the country's top five botanical hotspots for rare flowers and sedges, many of them relics of the last Ice Age. Upper Teesdale has long been famous for its array of rare plants, drawing admirers from all over the world. Can you help us to protect these tiny treasures?

Eminent botanist Dr Margaret Bradshaw MBE, has recorded plants here since the 1960s and she is still pursuing her passion. Approaching 98, Margaret continues her work, enthusing experts and amateurs alike by sharing her extensive knowledge.

Starting on her 98th birthday, 4 January 2024, Margaret is embarking on a new fund-raising trek.

In one mile walks around her home village of Eggleston, she plans to cover 55 miles - the equivalent of the circumference of the Teesdale special flora survey area. Sponsorship raised will go towards helping pay for further recording.

Margaret's persistence has created an extraordinary legacy of records going back six decades, which can be used as a comparison to show what has changed to the plant community over time. In 2017 Margaret founded her Teesdale Special Flora Research & Conservation Trust, to continue her work and attract support, Recent surveys for the Trust show a severe decline in the extent of some of our rarest species: including Spring Gentian, Yellow Saxifrage and Alpine Cinquefoil.

To try and slow this loss we need to measure exactly what is happening and take action to conserve these special plants. This means a meticulous search of the area to identify what is growing (and what's missing) and testing conservation methods. These are difficult times but looking to the future, you can help to protect this ancient treasure-house of plants. Surveys and conservation trials will provide vital data to guide decisions on the way the land is managed, for example decisions on grazing and cutting practices. It will also help us to understand the effects of climate change on this unique habitat.

It costs roughly £10 to survey a 10 metre x 10 metre plot. Can you help us to continue surveying and trialling methods of improving the habitat, so that these rare beauties are conserved for future generations?

For more information, please visit: www.teesdalespecialflora.uk

Facebook page: Dr ME Bradshaws Teesdale Special Flora Research & Conservation Trust

Facebook group: Friends of Teesdale Flora https://www.facebook.com/groups/TeesdaleFlora

And see Margaret's new book 'Teesdale's Special Flora. Places, plants and people' (published by Princeton University Press and Natural England)