Narrow-leaved lungwort
This is one of the New Forest’s specialities.
It is very rare in the UK and is only found in the New Forest, a few areas of east Dorset and the northern half of the Isle of Wight. The New Forest National Park holds the majority of the UK’s population of narrow-leaved lungwort.
It is only found in grassy rides or path sides in the ancient deciduous woodlands on fairly fertile, clayey soils. It is important that rides and small glades are kept open for this plant, but the deer do a good job at maintaining the small open areas in woods.
Narrow-leaved lungwort flowers early and the best time to see it is in April, often in the company of other stunning woodland flowers such as wood anemone or bluebell. Many of the old deciduous woods in the Beaulieu area are worth searching for this flower. A good site is along the footpath from Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard: lungwort grows in the first woodland glade you walk through.
