Species on the verge of extinction have been handed a lifeline as £7.4million from The National Lottery is awarded for nature projects across the UK.
Plans to help stop the disappearance of eight species of moth, native oysters, Twinflowers and Surrey’s hedgerow wildlife can now go ahead thanks to the funding.
Drew Bennellick, Head of Land and Nature Policy at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Urgent action is needed to help nature recover. National Lottery funding is creating incredible opportunities for people to take such action for species under threat and, crucially, equipping a new generation with the skills and passion to make a real difference for the future of our natural world.”
Moths in Kent
Community groups in Kent will work with Butterfly Conservation to help save eight species of moth at risk of imminent extinction. Five of these species are now only found in Kent.
Oysters in Essex
Volunteers will help the Zoological Society of London build a habitat for oysters in Essex known as ‘mother oyster sanctuary’. This will kickstart a self-sustaining population of the species which, without urgent intervention, is at risk of extinction.
Twinflowers in the Cairngorms
Citizen scientists and Plantlife will take action to save the Twinflower from extinction and help many other rare wild plants flourish in the Cairngorms National Park.
Hedgerows in Surrey
A third of Surrey’s wildlife is extinct or on the verge of extinction, largely due to habitat loss including hedgerows.
Surrey Wildlife Trust will equip people with traditional hedgelaying skills to try and turn around the fortunes of the county’s natural heritage.
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Posted On: 09/01/2020