Rare moss discovered at Selworthy site

12:49 22nd November 2010

A shop in Selworthy can now boast having the largest population of Leptodontium gemmascens (thatch moss) in the world.

Garden and greenhouse enthusiasts have been urged to keep their eyes peeled for the moss, which mainly grows in thatched roofs.

The discovery of the case in Selworthy was made during a Natural England survey that found ten new sites boasting the moss across Dorset, Cornwall, Somerset, Devon and Gloucestershire.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), it is a significant find, as just eight new cases have been recorded in recent years.

It had been thought that the number of sites with thatch moss was dwindling, but the new evidence suggests that it may be more common than initially believed.

Many of the new sites discovered were on National Trust buildings and the body has asked garden and greenhouse fans to keep an eye out for more sightings of Leptodontium gemmascens to help establish whether it is as rare as is believed.

In other news, the RHS has reported that sudden oak death has been discovered at a number of new sites, which could suggest that the problem is more widespread than initially thought.