Page 10 - August 2016 WN complete final version
P. 10
recoverytoNature’s path HereglpgrioanuignnnldoasttureOBBxuefcorkkridsnhsghirhieraemshire
Recent decades have been dire for wildlife, with many species Thames-side Chimney
becoming marginalised or even disappearing. Our new Strategic Meadows are a fine
Plan doesn’t stop at halting the decline – it wants to reverse it, as
Head of Conservation Policy and Strategy Matt Jackson explains but sadly all-too-rare
example of a flower-rich
grassland.
(Andy Fairbairn)
Most of the wildlife in examples, particularly of of our rare orchids hanging of crops grown, or cope with
our three counties has floodplain meadows alongside on in ever-smaller areas of intensive grazing supported by
gone. That’s a stark the River Thames and its suitable countryside. Of imported fertilisers.
statement but one that is tributaries, the flower-rich course other, more ‘generalist’
undeniably true. We know, for grasslands that were once a species have spread out – When the gradual
example, that more than 80% major feature of our clay vales those that can survive in the disappearance of wildlife-rich
of the heathland in Berkshire have all but vanished. rough grassland that grows habitats was recognised the
has been ploughed up or along roadside verges for reaction was to protect the best
built on, while nationally just Animal and plant species example. But for specialist sites, either through formal
4% of our meadows survive. have declined more slowly species associated with the Government protection or
Although we have some large than habitats, with some like more complex ecosystems by creating nature reserves.
our native dormouse or some of ancient forests or chalk Indeed, BBOWT’s very
grasslands, the picture over existence, from its foundation
Planting true fox-sedge at Gallows Bridge Farm to restore habitat. (BBOWT) the last century was largely in 1959, is a reaction to the
one of decline. decline of our countryside, and
Going or gone? The once common wall butterfly is now a rare sight. (Jim Asher) our 88 nature reserves have
Looking at butterflies played a huge part in slowing
alone, the pearl-bordered the decline of some of our
fritillary and its close relative rarer species.
the small pearl-bordered
fritillary have disappeared For our new Strategic Plan
within the last 20 years, and it 2016–2021: Be part of nature’s
looks likely that over the next recovery BBOWT’s staff and
decade the marsh fritillary trustees wanted to recognise
and the once common wall the difficulty of the challenge
butterfly will join them on the of reversing recent declines. We
list of local extinctions. believed that the Trust should
be clear that what is needed
Losing ground in our local countryside isn’t
just about stopping things
The local picture broadly getting worse. Much of our
reflects national changes. special wildlife is now reliant on
Increasing efficiency in farming smaller and smaller patches of
has inevitably marginalised suitable habitat. We know that
species that can’t survive this can be reversed – our own
within the limited number habitat creation work on sites
10 Wildlife news
