SEEDS of an alpine flower that has become increasingly rare in upland England and Wales are to be planted on one of the Lake District’s highest mountains as part of a wider project to support plant populations on its slopes.

The mountain avens, known for its eight-petal bloom and yellow centre, is classed as ‘vulnerable’ in England and ‘endangered’ in Wales.

The flower is, however, found more widely in the Scottish Highlands. Seeds are to be collected from an area near the town of Fort William before being propagated and planted on the slopes of Helvellyn - where the plant has a ‘marginal foothold’.

The work is being carried out by the John Muir Trust (JMT) in conjunction with Jahama Highland estates, Scottish Natural Heritage and Natural England.

A spokesman for JMT, which owns Glenridding Common, which incorporates part of Helvellyn, said other species, such as dwarf willow, had been planted on the mountain by the trust in partnership with the community to support pre-existing populations.

The spokesman said it was necessary for the seeds of the mountain avens - which is the national flower of Iceland - to be brought from elsewhere to avoid ‘inbreeding’ if the Helvellyn population declined too much. He said this could lead to ‘population collapse’.

Pete Barron, JMT land manager for Glenridding Common, said: “Without the support of Jahama and the other partners in this project, the Lakeland population of this relatively rare mountain plant species could not have been augmented and protected.

“This also illustrates the strength of partnership work in the [Ben] Nevis area.”