A climate of collaboration and volunteering helps UK’s threatened wildlife - Met Office

A unique collaboration between the Met Office and The Wildlife Trusts has driven a series of projects examining the impacts of weather and climate change on wildlife and their habitats across the UK.

Dr Debbie Hemming is a Met Office scientist who oversaw the projects. She said: “A couple of years ago Met Office staff voted for The Wildlife Trusts to become our corporate charity. Building on this success and popularity of this relationship many of our colleagues – including climate scientists – realised they could use their expertise and time to help understand more about the impacts of weather and climate change on threatened species. Civil servants are entitled to three volunteering days per year to help support good causes. Using these days our colleagues have developed projects which provide an insight into how our changing climate is affecting some of our most special nature reserves and landscapes.”

Nigel Doar is the Head of Science and Research at The Wildlife Trusts. He said: “These projects have been great opportunities to bring together the skills of people at the Met Office who understand climate change and those colleagues across The Wildlife Trusts who have a growing list of questions about how a changing climate will affect the UK’s native plants and animals, and the habitats and landscapes where they live.”