Hampshire’s nature and wildlife is in decline reflecting the findings of a national report published today (May 22) by a coalition of leading conservation and research organisations.
Dartford Warblers such as this are finding it increasingly hard in our natural landscape
The State of Nature report which is due to be launched by Sir David Attenborough and UK conservation charities at the Natural History Museum in London today includes the first ever stock take of native UK species.
The report reveals that 60 per cent of the species studied have declined over recent decades. More than one in 10 of all the species assessed are under threat of disappearing from our shores altogether; and this trend is worryingly mirrored in Hampshire and across the south east of England.
The native white clawed crayfish has declined by 95 per cent since the 1970s and Hampshire now has just one viable population left. The marsh fritillary butterfly, which was once found in wet meadows across north Hampshire, is now extinct.
Chris Corrigan, RSPB South East Regional Director, said: “The south east’s wildlife reflects the declines that this new report highlights. The region has consistently shown the greatest declines in both the farmland and woodland bird indicator lists and there is nothing to suggest that these declines are slowing.
“This may not be a new message but it is as important as ever and now there is compelling new evidence that it is even more urgent and that concerted efforts will be needed if our wildlife and our countryside are to be properly protected.”
Debbie Tann, Chief Executive of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “Hampshire is one of the richest counties for wildlife in the region – the New Forest, the Solent coast, the iconic chalk rivers Test and Itchen, the chalk grassland of the South Downs and the heathland of the Thames Basin all give the county its varied landscape character.
“But despite almost seven per cent of the land surface being protected, we are still suffering serious wildlife declines locally. Breeding waders such as lapwing and redshank were lost from the Itchen Valley more than a decade ago and despite efforts to clean up our chalk rivers, phosphate levels remain dangerously high.”
Hedgehogs are fast disappearing from our natural environment
A large proportion of land in the south east is farmland, which supports a wide range of animals and plants. However, some farmland species are among the fastest declining.
While there is no single reason for the declines some of the main factors include: the loss of mixed farming, increased use and effectiveness of pesticides, changes in crops grown and increased field sizes.
Declines are happening across all habitats and species groups, although it is probably greatest among insects, such as moths, butterflies and beetles. Other once common species like the lesser spotted woodpecker, barbastelle bat and hedgehog are also vanishing.
There is some good news – goldfinches have increased by 64 per cent since 1970, and some bat species have benefited from conservation action, particularly through wildlife-friendly farming and agri-environment funding.