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European wildlife could be heading our way

Wildlife from Europe could be calling our county home within a few years because of climate change.

That’s the finding of Brian Eversham, Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough.

Within just 50 years, the wildlife we currently have could dramatically change. The UK could lose iconic species including bluebells and dormice but new and exciting species, such as the spoonbill, could colonise.

But for this to happen we need to provide the right linked habitats now.

Brian, who voiced his concerns in the winter issue of Natural World, The Wildlife Trusts’ members’ magazine, says:

“We cannot be sure of the winners and losers in a changing climate, but a rule of thumb is that species currently found in the warmer, drier south and east of Britain are likely to try to expand their range, and those found in the cooler north, west and uplands will retreat.”

Although some species will inevitably decrease in number or be lost, The Wildlife Trusts are working to transform our area and the rest of the UK into ‘A Living Landscape’, where there are suitable habitats for new species to colonise, and to thrive.

Creating ‘A Living Landscape’ involves working with landowners, partners and businesses to achieve benefits for wildlifein urban areas and the wider countryside, creating, restoring and reconnecting habitats, as well as safeguarding protected areas like nature reserves.

The Wildlife Trusts believe this is the only way to truly secure a truly sustainable future for wildlife.

There are ten Living Landscapes in the three counties the Trust covers.

They are the East Chilterns Chalk Initiative and Flit Vale Living Landscape Initiative in Bedfordshire, the West Cambridgeshire Hundreds Project, the Gog Magog Project, the Ouse valley Living Landscape, the Great Fen Project and the John Clare Country project in Cambridgeshire and in Northamptonshire the Nene Valley Vision, Northamptonshire Boulder Clay Woodlands and the Northamptonshire Limestone Initiative.

“There’s never been a more exciting time to watch wildlife.” Says Brian, but he points out how vital it is for the UK’s landscape to be managed in the right way to see positive change. “Some species will be travelling long distances due to a changing climate. But many cannot cross hostile countryside. For these, a network of ‘wildlife highways’ may be their only hope.”

ENDS

Notes for Editor:

The Wildlife Trusts have produced a short film featuring Brian Eversham, who talks through some of the potential impacts of climate change on the UK’s wildlife. Watch it here: www.youtube.com/thewildlifetrusts

About the Trust:

Bringing people together to take action for wildlife is the Trust’s mission. We manage 129 nature reserves - all of them free to visit – and 95% of the population live within five miles of one of our reserves. We are working to make these wildlife havens bigger, better and more joined-up – vital to help wildlife to adapt to a changing climate. By gathering valuable information about wildlife and working with other landowners the Trust also monitors and safeguards wildlife beyond the boundary of its reserves.

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