English Whitebeam (Sorbus anglica)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Vascular plant > flowering plant > Tree |
| Red List Status: | Near Threatened (Not Relevant) [NT(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | Included in the baseline Red List Index for England (Wilkins, Wilson & Brown, 2022) |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Sorbus anglica |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | Hedl. |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | in Stroh et al., 2014 |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | The small isolated population in Kingskerswell, South Devon has declined from 9-16 shrubs to perhaps 2 shrubs (Smith 2005) whose loss would represent a marked decline in range. This Kingskerswell population has also been described as a separate species S. waltersii on the basis of less-lobed leaves which may or may not represent a distinct local genotype, so a project is required to assess this genetically as to whether it merits species status. Also widely scattered in W and SW England and S. Wales - the other English (e.g. Cheddar, Avon Gorge, Wye Valley, Shropshire) are stable. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Microsatellite DNA analysis of S. anglica populations throughout range to determine taxonomy validity of S. waltersii and genetic relationships between populations. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | General reduction in grazing (including deer) would benefit S. anglica across whole range |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 1. Taxonomy established |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Low - Relict or natural rarity |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Opportunistic - insufficient |
| Species Comments: | As a tree, recovery should be viewed in the long term |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Microsatellite DNA analysis of range of S. anglica populations in England, Wales and Ireland to establish relationship of S. waltersii to S. anglica
Action targets: 1. Taxonomy established
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: 2 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 20 sites
High priority sites: Kingskerswell
Comments: Collaborative with Wales and Republic of Ireland required
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Collect seed from Kingskerswell for Millennium Seed Bank
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Ex situ conservation
Duration: 2 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 5 sites
High priority sites: Kingskerswell area
Comments: Material already in cultivation at Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.