Plantwatch: rare species flourish in Swanscombe wasteland

Swanscombe peninsula in the Thames estuary was used for quarrying chalk and aggregate, cement works, gas works and landfill.

The poor soil left behind was colonised by rare plants that could not survive on fertile land elsewhere.

The extremely rare man orchid, the scarce yellow vetchling, slender hare’s-ear, round-leaved wintergreen and divided sedge.