Purple milk vetch receives priority species status in the Tees Valley
The purple milk vetch has recently been added to the list of priority species in the Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).
This beautiful of the pea family has dense flower heads of purple flowers and distinctive rounded seedbeds that are covered in long white hairs. The plant was widespread in the 1930’s growing on unimproved calcareous grassland and fixed sand dunes. It has experienced a widespread decline in range and abundance believed to be because of agricultural improvement and lack of grazing. The species is doing best on the east coast of Britain in dune grasslands where it is where it is found in the Tees Valley. However due to coastal squeeze and natural succession, sand dunes and dune grasslands is a fragile habitat.
The Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership is revisiting sites in the Tees Valley where purple milk vetch is known to occur or has in the past. This information will then be used to formulate plans to protect this attractive but vulnerable wild flower.
The best places to see purple milk vetch are North and South Gare. If flowers in July. If you know a location where the species currently grows please contact Sue Antrobus.
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