Friends of the River Wye launch the Big Ranunculus Watch

Angela Jones with ranunculus, or water crowfoot, in the Wye.

The Wye was once well known for its extensive ranunculus beds, and standing on any bridge in summer, you'd likely be greeted by a sea of small white flowers floating on the river's surface. The Wye's status as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is largely due to the presence of this keystone species and it provides a rich habitat for many fresh water species to flourish. Today such sights are rare, but we don't have the data to show just how many of the Wye's ranunculus beds have disappeared. This is where you can help! 

Friends of the River Wye are asking everyone to share any photos they have of ranunculus from across the Wye catchment - both current and historical. We will use this data to map the presence of ranunculus through time so we can better understand if and where it is recovering or if it is still in decline.