Service-tree (Sorbus domestica)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Vascular plant > flowering plant > Tree |
| Red List Status: | Critically Endangered (Not Relevant) [CR(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 domestica |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | L. |
| 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: | Long term project to create viable populations required for this Critically Endangered species. Native in SW England (4/5 sites) and S Wales (3 sites) with total population 100-120 flowering or immature trees in tiny, isolated populations on cliffs, often comprising one genotype maintained vegetatively, some populations with only 1-2 trees and in danger of being lost. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Proposed conservation plan is to cross-pollinate populations and enhance genetic diversity in each population (with planting if necessary) to increase population resilience in longer term under conditions of climate change. |
| 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: | Main dispersal agent (wild boar) absent, so will not colonise new sites. |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 5. Remedial action identified |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Low - Relict or natural rarity |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Opportunistic - sufficient |
| Species Comments: | Self-incompatible so fruit set very poor/none unless cross-pollinated. Action needs coordinating with conservation of Welsh populations. |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Cross-pollinate local populations (either in situ or in grafts) and grow on seeds and translocate progeny back to sites to enhance genetic diversity within sites and thus fruit production, to give long term diversity. George et al. (2016) also recommend creation of ex situ seed orchards and the planting of offspring individuals as ‘stepping stones’ to connect sites genetically which could be incorporated as part of this work.
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Special (in situ) measure
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 5 sites
High priority sites: Sedbury (2 places), Lancaut, Blakeney, Shirehampton
Comments:
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Coordinate with Network Rail to manage Blakeny and Shirehampton railway sites appropriately.
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Habitat management
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 5 sites
High priority sites: Shirehampton and Blakeny
Comments:
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Promote awareness of the group amongst landowners, understanding of conservation requirements amongst conservation professionals and identification skills amongst field botanists e.g. via BSBI training resources and workshops
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Advice & support
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 100 sites
High priority sites:
Comments: generic action
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.