....a brief history of...
In 1993 an informal group of scientists, conservationists and environmentalists was formed to put together an action plan to save the Black Poplar from extinction.
English Nature, the Forestry Authority, the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, BSBI, Plantlife, the Tree Council, local authorities and universities were all involved in the first meetings at the Linneaen Society offices in London.
Their 20-page action plan -drafted by English Nature's Jonathan Spencer - set out a series of steps for safeguarding the tree's future. They included:
continuing to search out and map new specimens
a proposal to take cuttings from known examples and use them to grow nursery stock
suggestions for fund-raising to finance local identification, propogation and planting leaflets for distribution to tree wardens, parish councils and other local community organisations