Reviving a Lost Beauty: York Groundsel Flower Returns from Extinction After 30 Years

A flower that was thought to be extinct for over 30 years has been brought back to life in the UK. The York groundsel, a small plant that was only found in the city of York, was declared extinct in the wild in 1986. However, a team of botanists from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh have successfully grown a new population of the flower, marking the first-ever de-extinction of a British plant. The team used seeds from the last remaining York groundsel plant, which were stored in the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew Gardens. The seeds were then germinated and grown in a greenhouse before being transplanted to a nature reserve in North Yorkshire. The successful revival of the York groundsel is an important step towards conserving and protecting endangered plant species. It also highlights the potential of seed banks as a tool for conservation, as they allow scientists to preserve plant species that are at risk of extinction. The botanists hope that the new population of York groundsels will thrive in their new home and help to restore the plant's natural habitat. This achievement is a beacon of hope for the future of biodiversity and conservation efforts and shows how science and technology can be used for the greater good of the planet.