By Karen Shelley-Jones, Species Recovery Programme Manager and James Phillips, Principal Adviser for Species Recovery and Species Re-introductions
England’s species are amazing. They can charm, intrigue, amaze, inspire and frighten us. They spark our interest and concern. They are also critical components and indicators of, healthy, thriving and resilient ecosystems on land, freshwater and at sea.
However, many of England’s native species are threatened and in serious decline and need our help. Once common species have all but disappeared from England, for example the Duke of Burgundy butterfly has declined by some 50% over the last 20 years, limited now to isolated scattered colonies.
Natural England (NE) leads the way in species recovery action and has been delivering its flagship Species Recovery Programme (SRP) for over 30 years, focussing on bespoke conservation action to reverse the fortunes of our most threatened native species.
In April 2023, we launched a new Species Recovery Programme Capital Grant Scheme. The scheme offers grants of up to half a million pounds to projects across England aiming to halt and reverse declines in populations of our most threatened species. Over 100 applications were received for projects targeting more than 200 species.
Today, on the 14th September, we are excited to announce the recipients of those grant awards. Sixty three projects are being awarded grants totalling £14.5m.
Between now and March 2025, 74 different organisations across the country, many in partnership, will be working to help restore populations of rare species including the critically endangered European eel, Greater Mouse-eared bat; endangered Sand lizard, Atlantic salmon and Eurasian curlew and the vulnerable Pasqueflower, Grizzled skipper and Northern lapwing.
Projects range in size from those covering several counties to bolster water vole populations across river catchments in East Anglia and the Midlands, to securing the future of species found on just one or two sites like the scarce Tufted-sedge in Hertfordshire.
The Species Recovery Programme Grant targets action to benefit species which often have very specialist life cycle requirements. For instance, the Pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly requires violets growing in short sparse vegetation for its caterpillars to feed on, funding through the grant scheme will ensure that the right habitat management is in place so that the violets remain and butterflies can thrive. While some of our rarest plant species such as the Lady’s Slipper orchid require specialist laboratory propagation to increase numbers and bolster the species population.
The Species Recovery Grant scheme will fund all of the key elements that are needed to help restore populations of our rarest species. The funding will help also create and restore the habitats across England that are essential for our native species, including lowland heathland, wetlands, streams, upland habitats, woodlands, scrubby flower rich and insect rich grasslands, wildlife ponds and linear habitats such as hedgerows.
All of these projects will contribute to the government’s goals of reducing the risk of species extinction by 2042 and increasing species abundance by 2030 and help put in place a Nature Recovery Network across England where wildlife can recover, move freely and thrive.
Ultimately, the success of our nature recovery efforts will be reflected in the conservation status of our species. Natural England’s new Species Recovery Programme Grant scheme is making an important contribution to doing this.
A summary of all the projects funded is listed below:
| Lead Organisation | Project Name | Target species | Short Summary |
Avon Wildlife Trust |
Wilder Woodlands-North Somerset |
Greater horseshoe bat, Lesser horseshoe bat, Dormouse, Western barbastelle |
This project centres on a large woodland complex in North Somerset and will establish a better cycle of management, through capital works delivering enhanced, better-connected habitat with broader range of native plants, offering improved foraging and nesting opportunities to create a dynamic landscape that is resilient to flooding, erosion and extreme weather. |
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust |
Joining the Dots: Creating mink free counties for water vole conservation |
Water vole |
The project would work to link up the existing mink raft schemes and to extend mink control along other main waterways through the three counties. Additional resources and intensive focus on mink control over a 2-year period will facilitate the local eradication of mink and help to safeguard water vole populations so that they may expand beyond their current Local Key Areas to form larger, more robust metapopulations. |
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust |
Adder Connections |
Adder |
Through the creation of 2 snake tunnels, together with targeted habitat interventions to encourage tunnel usage, this project aims to connect the different populations of snakes on the Commons to create a functioning metapopulation. Thereby increasing genetic variability and furthering the sustainability of the populations, and conservation of the species on this important site now and into the future. |
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust |
Cam and Wellow Eel Project |
European Eel, Brown Trout, River Lamprey/Brook Lamprey |
This project will take action on the ground to improve access to high-quality freshwater habitat for populations of several BAP and IUCN-listed species, including European eels, Brown trout and river / brook lamprey. The initiative will implement a set of "quick win" measures on the ground to promote connectivity of these species and provide access to high-quality habitat. |
Butterfly Conservation |
Reviving Heddon Valleys Fritillaries |
High Brown Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary |
This project will enhance the habitat resource of both grassland/bracken slopes and woodland for two target fritillary butterfly species, the High Brown Fritillary (currently extant) and the Pearl-bordered Fritillary (currently extinct in the landscape); by increasing food plants and creating flight corridors. |
Butterfly Conservation |
Threatened Species Recovery for Northamptonshire's Woodlands |
Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Wood white, Concolorous, Liquorice Piercer, Adder |
This project will create ‘stepping stones’ in the Rockingham and South Northants landscape for three butterflies (Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Wood White), two moths (Concolorous, Liquorice Piercer) and one reptile (Adder), via targeted woodland enhancement and habitat creation. |
Cheshire Wildlife Trust |
Riverthrive: enhancing habitat and restoring connectivity in Cheshire's rivers to help European Eel and Water Vole thrive |
European Eel, Water vole |
The project will create a network of interconnected wetland habitats at a landscape scale, including ponds, reedbeds, riparian habitats and reprofiling canalized river sections. It will also remove barriers to European Eel and other freshwater fish migration by removing weir and penstock structures and reconnecting the river to its historic channel. |
Citizen Zoo |
Hop of Hope - Reintroducing the Large Marsh Grasshopper in East Anglia |
Large Marsh Grasshopper |
This project aims to restore the Large Marsh Grasshopper within its historical range in East Anglian through home-rearing and release. Last seen here in 1968, it suffered a decline resulting from drainage and degradation of its preferred bog and fen habitats. This is one of our rarest grasshoppers and is classified as Near Threatened. |
Devon Wildlife Trust |
Devon Fritillary Recovery Project |
High Brown Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary |
This project will introduce specialist machinery to restore and re-create another 121.5 hectares of fritillary habitat to raise butterfly populations at 12 nature reserves, to levels previously impossible to attain. |
Dorset Wildlife Trust |
Dorset Species Recovery Project |
Pillwort. Marsh Clubmoss, Sand Lizard, Heath Tiger Beetle, Lapwing, Dingy Mocha, Great Crested Newt, Ladybird Spider, Fly Orchid, Greater Horseshoe Bat |
Interventions proposed through this project include: dry and wet heathland scrapes, wetland creation, willow coppicing, creation and restoration of ponds, reintroductions of Ladybird spider, Sand lizard and Marsh clubmoss, woodland ride and glade creation, and the construction of a bat roost. |
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust |
Gravelly Shores |
Ringed Plover, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Roseate Tern, Little Tern |
This is a habitat enhancement project to restore 1.7ha of relict vegetated coastal shingle on the North Solent NNR. It will be resilient to coastal erosion and sea-level rise and provide a more secure nesting area for Ringed Plover, for which the site holds ca. 50% of the entire Solent Region’s breeding population, and sympatric Oystercatcher. It will attract Common, Sandwich, Little and Roseate Terns which no longer breed here. |
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust |
Black Grouse Range Expansion |
Black grouse |
This project aims to help safeguard against negative impacts of climate change through instigating measures to increase breeding success and by expanding the current range into the formerly occupied North York Moors by a series of conservation translocations, particularly of sedentary males. |
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust |
Recovering Adders on the Cotswold Escarpment |
Adder |
This project will focus on retaining and enhancing existing populations of adders and encouraging distributional expansion. This will be achieved through improving habitat suitability for adders on existing populated sites, including within-site movements to connect isolated habitat patches. |
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust |
River Frome Native Crayfish Recovery Project |
White-clawed crayfish |
This project aims to improve the long-term survival chances of white-clawed crayfish in the River Frome catchment in Gloucestershire combining conservation translocations with natural flood management. |
Groundwork South |
Increasing the resilience of rare bee species in Hastings |
Oak Mining Bee, Tormentil Mining Bee, Long Horned Bee, Brown-banded Carder Bee |
This project will create specialised habitat appropriate to each of these bee species, by: creating new areas and improving the diversity of wildflower meadows; improving woodland edge habitat, restoring and planting new hedgerows and making improvements to amenity grassland to increase their scope for foraging. |
Hampshire County Council |
Conserving Hampshire's Helleborines |
Red helleborine, Long-leaved helleborine |
This project will reinstate Red Helleborine to a flowering state at its single locality, through a fine-tuned programme of selective tree felling, erection of an enclosure to protect the colony from trampling and browsing, and leaf-litter removal; and undertake effective ‘wood meadow’ management at six sites for Long-leaved Helleborine, through reinstatement of grazing, installation of protective temporary fencing, selective tree removal and volunteer-led meadow cutting & raking. |
Hardwick Estate (BMTS Forestry) |
Conserving woodlanders in the Goring Gap |
Mezereon, Narrow-lipped Helleborine, Fly Orchid, Lady Orchid |
This project will recover populations of four threatened species in Bottom Wood, on the Hardwick Estate in the south Chilterns, historically one of the five richest orchid sites in Britain, through bespoke works to improve the habitat and increase pollination. |
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust |
Floodplain Plants into Recovery |
Narrow-Leaved Water-Dropwort, Mousetail |
The project aims to recover populations of two rare floodplain meadow plant species - Oenanthe silaifolia (Narrow-Leaved Water-Dropwort) and Myosurus minimus (Mousetail) - through habitat enhancement and sowing/planting at the Lugg Meadows on the edge of Hereford in the River Wye Catchment. |
Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust |
Securing the future of critically endangered Scarce Tufted-sedge |
Scarce Tufted-sedge |
This project aims to save a critically endangered plant, the Carex cespitosa L. (Scarce Tufted-sedge), from extinction in the UK. Currently, Carex cespitosa is only found on one site in the whole of the UK. Through a programme of surveying, habitat preparation and then assisted colonisation, the project will deliver four distinct populations of Carex cespitosa across Hertfordshire. |
Knepp Wildland Foundation |
Weald to Waves: Scrubland Superheroes |
Red-backed shrike |
This project aims to enhance and create suitable habitat for the reintroduction of the red-backed shrike to southeast England. Working through a partner network along the 100-mile Weald to Waves corridor partners will ensure natural regeneration of scrubland at strategically selected sites. |
Leicestershire County Council |
Swift Action for Swifts-Leicestershire |
Swift |
This project seeks to assess 364 sites for installation, purchase long life durable Swift boxes, and install boxes throughout Leicestershire as identified by existing verified Swift alert maps which have recorded nest sites and ‘screaming’ sites. |
Lincolnshire County Council |
Crystal Moss-animal (Lophopus crystallinus) Recovery on Greater Lincolnshire’s Blow Wells |
Crystal Moss-animal |
This project aims to identify the ecological requirements of this bryozoan species in order to support the successful translocation of colonies of statoblasts from a Blow Well donor site to establish new populations at equally suitable Blow Well receptor sites. |
MEAS (Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service) |
Liverpool City Region Farmland Species Recovery Project |
Brown hare, grey partridge, tree sparrow, lapwing, skylark, purple ramping fumitory, corn bunting, yellowhammer, water vole, reed bunting |
This project seeks to work collaboratively with farmers encouraging sustainable and regenerative practices for the benefit of wildlife and people targeting marginal, underused and less productive land to trial and deliver species recovery interventions. |
Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust |
Mersey Coastal Breeding Birds |
Lapwing, skylark, oystercatcher, ringed plover |
This project aims to increase the amount of suitable habitat for ground nesting birds with a particular focus on lapwing, skylark, ringed plover and oystercatcher. New breeding habitat for these species will be created by enhancing habitat at three locations within the Mersey estuary. |
National Trust |
Wiltshire Chalk Partnership - Chalk Species Revival |
Marsh Fritillary, Large Blue, Adonis Blue, Duke of Burgundy, Wart-biter |
This project will halt the collapse and support the recovery of the: Marsh Fritillary, Large Blue, Adonis Blue, and Duke of Burgundy butterflies, and the Wart-biter Bush Cricket, across multiple sites in Wiltshire, through a mix of habitat enhancement and creation. |
National Trust |
The Lizard Rarities Project |
Serpentine Solenopsora, Heath Pouchwort, Lizard Crystalwort, Black Crystalwort, Wild Asparagus, Yellow Centaury, Fringed Rupturewort, Land Quillwort, Dwarf Rush, Pygmy Rush, Twin-headed clover, Upright clover, Grayling |
This project will deliver tried and tested habitat solutions for each species: targeted work on botanical hotspots; large scale heathland and coastal habitat enhancement; pond and scrape creation; scrub clearance; heathland burning; improved grazing, and invasive species removal. |
National Trust |
Stepping Stones species recovery |
Otter, Hazel dormouse, Willow tit, Small pearl-bordered fritillary |
This project will deliver tailored and targeted capital investments including 700m fencing and 7500m of hedgerow planting to benefit the target species as part of a larger programme of species recovery work to improve habitat quality, extent and connectivity. |
National Trust |
Eels in the Bure |
European Eel |
This project will include improvements to the river channel and floodplain corridor. In-channel habitats will be improved through the introduction of large wood and cleaned/new gravel areas and the floodplain corridor will be enhanced through the creation of floodplain ponds, improvements to backwater habitats and floodplain ditches. |
National Trust |
White Cliffs & White Chalk Species Recovery |
Early Gentian, Oxtongue Broomrape, Yarrow Broomrape, Glanville Fritillary, Potter Flower Bee, Cliff Furrow Bee, Rest Harrow, Straw Belle, White Spot, Dew Footman |
This project will create bespoke solutions for our more specialist flora and fauna in two iconic landscapes: White Cliffs at Dover and Isle of Wight. The focus is on a diverse range of invertebrates and plants which share a number of similar requirements for targeted chalk grassland management, with individual nuanced approaches. |
National Trust |
WF: Reach for Turtle Doves |
Turtle dove, corn bunting, grey partridge, yellowhammer, linnet, reed bunting, skylark, water vole |
This project is part of the ‘Connected Fens – Wicken Fen Vision’ area in Cambridgeshire and looks to build on a community led scrub planting project, to deliver targeted species recovery work by creating and improving habitat quality and connectivity across Wicken Fen and the surrounding fenland. |
National Trust |
Recovering Fringed Gentian and Juniper in the Chilterns |
Fringed Gentian, Common juniper |
This project will extend fringed gentian germination and propagation trials; collect, propagate and germinate juniper seed; and plant out seedlings. |
Norfolk Wildlife Trust |
Pool Frogs and Pingos |
Pool Frog |
The northern pool frog is Critically Endangered in England, it is confined to limited areas of only two sites in the UK. To ensure resilience and to enhance species status, this partnership project will expand the extent of occupied habitat to new adjoining sites. |
North York Moors National Park Authority |
REStore |
Freshwater pearl mussel, Atlantic salmon |
This project will address two concrete road fords currently acting as major barriers to fish migration and re-instate natural gravel beds. Each ford will be replaced with a single span bridge, creating a naturally functioning river to open-up and enhance 18.49km of river, enabling free passage to new habitat and important spawning grounds. These interventions will restore the river’s sediment regime, enhancing aquatic habitat by reducing fine silt accumulation. By improving conditions for Atlantic salmon, the project will directly benefit the Freshwater pearl mussel, a species which relies on salmonids for early stages of its lifecycle. |
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust |
Nottinghamshire Water Vole Recovery Project |
Water vole |
This project aims to secure a thriving future for water voles in Nottinghamshire by tackling the causes of decline through effective mink control, using lessons from successes in other projects, and through habitat creation and enhancement at a landscape-scale in at least three catchments. |
Plantlife International |
Rainforest Lichen Recovery (South-West) |
Large Atlantic Pocket-moss + 20 lichens & mosses |
This project will address threats to populations of 21 species of lichens and mosses in rainforest habitats across South West England by creating habitat conditions to improve species prospects. |
Plantlife International |
Saving England's Juniper and Pasqueflower |
Juniper, Pasqueflower |
This project will expand on proven and tested species translocations and habitat enhancements for two species - Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) and Juniper (Juniperus communis subsp. communis) at 11 calcareous grassland sites ranging from Yorkshire to the Chilterns, Cotswolds and North Wessex Downs. |
RSPB |
Protecting Lowland Breeding Waders |
Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Lapwing |
This project will support the recovery of three key lowland breeding wader species: Lapwing, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit. By installing four predator-exclusion fences at three priority lowland wet grassland sites, Burton Mere Wetlands, Nene Washes and Higham Marshes. |
RSPB |
Species Recovery Blackwater & Colne Estuary |
Redshank, Lapwing, Common Tern |
The project will mprove the recovery of Lapwing, Redshank and Common Tern across five sites totalling 781ha by delivering conservation action on wet grassland habitat, situated within the Blackwater and Colne Estuaries, a priority location for breeding waders, and integral to the Greater Thames Estuary Breeding Wader Strategy. |
RSPB |
Terning It Up (RSPB) |
Roseate Tern, Little Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Natterjack Toad, Marsh Mallow Moth, Medicinal Leech |
This project aims to establish new safe nesting areas for seabirds particularly Roseate, Common, Arctic and Little Terns within 4 priority SPAs around the English coast. Actions involve the creation/enhancement of nesting islands with associated habitat and predator management which will act as exemplars to influence wider management across England. Additional work will improve conditions at key sites for other priority species, Natterjack Toad at Hodbarrow, and Marsh Mallow Moth and Medicinal Leech at RSPB Dungeness. |
RSPB |
Dunwich Forest Restoration |
Nightjar, Silver Studded Blue, Woodlark, Adder |
This project represents the next phase of the restoration of acid grassland, heathland and scrub in Dunwich Forest, part of the Suffolk Sandlings, formerly a vast stretch of heathland on the Suffolk Coast. The area holds important populations of several high priority heathland species, including heathland birds, reptiles and invertebrates, and represents one of the best opportunities for large-scale heathland restoration in England. |
South East Rivers Trust |
WET Hogsmill (Water Vole, Eel & Trout) |
Brown Trout, Brown/Sea Trout, European Eel, Water Vole |
This project will return locally extinct populations of brown trout, sea trout and water vole to the Hogsmill chalk stream and enhance its very low eel population. |
Species Recovery Trust |
Protecting England's Rarest Invertebrates |
New Forest Cicada, Cosnard’s Net-winged Beetle |
This project aims to initiate a reintroduction project for the New Forest Cicada, which is sadly now extinct in England; and to develop novel survey techniques for an extremely rare and elusive insect, Cosnard’s Net-winged Beetle. |
The Froglife Trust |
London Blue Chain |
Common toad, Great Crested Newt, Slow worm, Grass snake |
This project will support the recovery of Bufo bufo and a wide range of freshwater species, through the creation of a chain of large and small ponds along the Green Chain Walking Route in urban and multi-ethnic south east London. It will both connect a corridor of freshwater habitats and connect disadvantaged communities with their local natural heritage. |
The Otter Trust |
Suffolk Lungwort Recovery Program |
Suffolk Lungwort |
This project will research and improve understanding of the ecology of the Suffolk lungwort, propagate plants and extend the natural range by planting at new sites. |
The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire |
Nene Valley Water Vole Reintroduction |
Water vole |
This project will deliver American mink control and habitat improvements alongside a water vole translocation to a nature reserve in the Nene Valley. |
Tyne Rivers Trust |
MAST (Magaritifera, Salar, Trutta) Flying the Flag for Rare Species in the Rede |
Freshwater pearl mussel, Atlantic salmon, brown/sea trout |
This project will take a catchment-based approach to address the mutual challenges these species face including excessive input of nutrients and fine sediment, habitat loss and exposure to extreme flows and temperatures. This will include woodland and wetland creation, in-river habitat improvements and green engineering techniques to address major sources of fine sediment and agricultural pollution. |
University of Hull |
Returning Lamprey To The River Trent |
River Lamprey, Sea Lamprey |
This project aims to facilitate the conservation translocation of both species to the upper Trent catchments of the Derbyshire Derwent and the River Dove by bypassing barriers and increasing numbers at spawning grounds. |
Vincent Wildlife Trust |
Horseshoes Heading East - Sussex |
Greater Horseshoe Bat, Greater mouse-eared bat |
This project will facilitate range recovery and establish a viable population of greater horseshoe bats in suitable areas of south-east England, through a combination of roost creation, habitat enhancement and improved landscape connectivity to enable their dispersal, link maternity sites, hibernation sites and increase breeding success. |
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust |
Reviving Our Wetlands |
Water vole, Willow tit, White-clawed crayfish, Eurasion Bittern |
This project will enhance over 20km of watercourses for 4 target species. For Water vole: create new marginal habitat along canals and restoring hedgerows with native plants. For White-clawed crayfish: create 2 ark sites. For Willow tit: install numerous dead log nesting sites, and fit trackers to fledglings to discover their dispersal. For Bittern: 1.5 ha of reedbed will be enhanced on a SSSI with deeper water and better design. |
Waterlife Recovery Trust |
Landscape scale water vole recovery |
Water vole |
This project will aid the recovery of the water vole over 9.5% of England by bringing about the removal of the most important driver of its decline; predation by the invasive American mink. |
Wessex Rivers Trust |
Wild Figheldean |
Atlantic Salmon |
This project will restore 1 km of currently degraded chalk stream habitat into prime salmon spawning and juvenile nursery grounds, benefiting a wide range of chalk stream flora and fauna. |
West Cumbria Rivers Trust |
Resilience for Margaritifera margaritifera (ReForM) |
Freshwater Pearl Mussel |
This project will deploy proven habitat creation and enhancement techniques together with population reinforcements to move populations of freshwater pearl mussel towards sustainable management. The project will also work with local communities including land managers to raise awareness. |
Westcountry Rivers Trust |
Strategic Exe Weirs |
Atlantic salmon, Sea/Brown trout, European eel |
The project specifically targets obligate migratory fish by improving fish passage in both upstream and downstream directions and by restoring or enhancing identified life-stage habitat to maximise populations’ recovery. |
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust |
Godwit Futures |
Black-tailed Godwit |
This project will transform the future of Black-tailed godwit in England by establishing a captive breeding population which will then be used to supply birds for future translocation projects. It will also bolster the current UK population by rearing and releasing 20 fledglings into the Fens in 2024. |
Wildwood Trust |
Kentish Chough Reintroduction |
Red-billed Chough |
This project aims to re-establish a core population of 20-35 Chough in Kent through the reintroduction of captive-bred birds to the White Cliffs of Dover. This project will build on more than four decades of work which has provided suitable habitat to support Choughs in Kent. |
Wildwood Trust |
Saving Devons Native Crayfish |
White-clawed Crayfish |
This project aims to safeguard the survival of native white clawed crayfish (WCC) in Devon by creating a sustainable hatchery and captive breeding programme including construction of a new protected ark site, and a public education display at Wildwood Devon. |
Woodland Trust |
Improving habitat for and our understanding of Cosnards Net Winged Beetle and saproxylic invertebrates |
Cosnard's Net Winged Beetle |
This project will undertake extensive flight interception trapping research survey of Cosnards Net Winged Beetle to further improve understanding of its ecology, as well as targeted woodland works to provide suitable habitat. |
Woolston Eyes Conservation Group |
Woolston Eyes SSSI - Willow Tit Recovery |
Willow tit, woodcock, great crested newt, soprano pipistrelle, brown long-eared bat |
This project will support a breeding Willow Tit population and demonstrate that by carrying out appropriate habitat enhancement at scale that population declines can be reversed. Additional species will also benefit from the planned works. |
Worcestershire Wildlife Trust |
Upton Warren Wetland Reserve Ecological Enhancement |
Mallard, Black Headed Gull, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Common Coot, Curlew, Common Snipe. Bittern, Common Toad, Great Crested Newt |
Upton Warren flashes and moors pools are significant SSSI wetlands that provide crucial breeding habitats for a range of regionally important wetland birds, associated amphibians, invertebrates and plants. This project will enhance the site with works to: restore and protect degraded islands, create a new island, reduce silt, and create deeper channels. |
York St John University |
Foss River Restoration and Pond and Tansy Trail Creation |
Great crested newt, Tansy beetle, Water vole |
This project seeks to provide habitat for water voles, tansy beetles and great crested newt through the creation of a pond and tansy trail and through restoration of a stretch of the Foss River. |
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust |
Lady's-slipper Recovery Programme |
Lady's slipper orchid |
This project will be delivered by a group of partners working together to protect the sole remaining wild plant, propagate new plants using skilfully-developed and state-of-the-art scientific techniques and a supportive volunteer growers network, and then the reintroduction of the plant to suitable new sites within the species’ former range and replenishment of existing reintroduction sites. |
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust |
Claws for Thought: Saving North Yorkshire's Native Crayfish |
White-clawed crayfish |
This partnership project will be delivered by members of the North Yorkshire Crayfish Forum and aims to create and maintain resilient, white-clawed crayfish populations in North Yorkshire through the creation and enhancement of ark sites and establishment of a crayfish rearing facility. |
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust |
Dragons in the Dales |
White-faced darter (small whiteface) |
This project will enhance habitat for the white-face darter dragonfly on Swarth Moor and trial assisted colonisation to increase the population. |
3 comments
Comment by Geoffrey Peter East posted on
Some wonderful projects here. It would be great to get a 'joined -up', approach, as there are several similar projects. For example: eradication of mink would be far more effective if all regions had funds to work effectively on a long term solutions. Or am I being unrealistic that this species has now spread too far in th UK?
Comment by Barry Carter posted on
Yes, Geoffrey, I have seen mink traps in various places so it's not too late for long term solutions. Some of the wildlife trusts seem very good at gathering and linking comments and solutions, others not so which is odd. Then again, it depends on the size and location of existing wildlife corridors as to whether they can be joined up and protected as a whole, of course.
Comment by Laura Hollis posted on
Hi Geoffrey
One of the projects above is working on joining up the approach to mink eradication - the Waterlife Recovery Trust. Take a look here for more information: https://www.thecrt.co.uk/blog/ground-breaking-project-expands
This article was earlier this year - now this funding will enable them to expand their work again, outwards from East Anglia to cover an area from the Thames to mid Lincolnshire. They're also sharing knowledge with many similar projects across the UK, all exciting collaboration.
Best wishes, Laura