![]() Smooth snakes are an incredibly rare, shy, and secretive species and can only be found at a few sites in the UK. The New Forest is home to all six UK native reptiles Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis), Adders (Vipera berus), Slow worms (Anguis fragilis), Grass snakes (Natrix helvetica), Common lizards (Zootoca vivipara) and Smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca). An incredible 75% of all species of dragonflies and damselflies are found here including the extremely rare Southern damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale), Great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) - a protected and priority species across Europe, and the mighty Medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis). The network of ponds and waterways in the New Forest are ideal habitats for wildlife. The New Forest’s mix of habitats makes it a haven for wildlife with many species long since disappeared from many other parts of the UK still thriving here. The New Forest is home to over 2,500 types of fungi, including many rare and endangered species.Its long spikey stems are a distinctive bright, lime green in colour and grow up to 20cms long. Marsh clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata) is an endangered plant that has already been lost from much of Europe with the UK now holding a large part of the global population.In decline across Western Europe and lost from nearly half of its known locations in the UK, it is widespread in the New Forest making it one of the most important populations in Europe. Pillwort (Pilularia globulifera) is a small creeping fern with grass-like leaves with tiny round spore cases or ‘pills’ at its base.With the widespread loss of heathlands across the UK it is now only found in a few areas including here in the New Forest. Coral necklace (Illecebrum verticillatum) is a rare flowering plant with long trailing red stems and clusters of white flowers resembling beads threaded along a necklace.The New Forest is one of its last strongholds. It is unable to compete with other plants and so favours grazed short grasslands. It is small with bright yellow flower heads and hairy, multi-branched, reddish-brown stems. Small fleabane (Pulicaria vulgaris) is a very rare flowering plant and one of Britain’s most endangered plant species.Its leaves are reddish purple and green, and habitats include shallow pools and streams. ![]() ![]() Hampshire purslane (Ludwigia palustris) is an extremely rare aquatic plant only found in the New Forest.The New Forest landscape is home to many rare species of plantlife. ![]()
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