A RARE plant has been rescued from the brink of extinction by a local farmer.
The Cotswold Pennycress had nearly disappeared from a secret location near Malvern, which now has the UK's largest population of around 10,000 plants.
When 5,000 plants of the delicate white flowers were discovered there in 1999, it was immediately recognised as being one of the best locations in the country.
Cotswold Pennycress typically grows on limestone pastures, making the Malvern crop on arable farmland particularly unusual.
Unfortunately, this was nearly its downfall, as the flower was inadvertently sprayed with herbicide, causing the population to plummet by 97 per cent.
Conservation charity Plantlife stepped in to help rescue the population, working alongside the landowner, English Nature and the local Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.
Tim Wilkins, Plantlife's Co-ordinator for this project said: "Several years of negotiations have paid off and we are absolutely delighted with the results.
"The site near Great Malvern is now home to probably the largest population of Cotswold Pennycress anywhere in Britain."
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