Natural England

Natural England is calling for a new approach to managing the East Midlands’ natural environment if it is to stand any chance of adapting to the next 50 years of unavoidable climate change and the modern pressures of development.

The State of the Natural Environment 2008 report, which is being launched today (Monday 19 May), is the first report of its type to bring together evidence about the current state of England’s natural environment.

The report, available in national and region editions, acts as a snapshot which organisations, agencies and authorities can use to help form policies, priorities and decisions affecting the natural environment. Natural England has already used the report to base its Manifesto for the Natural Environment on, which is also being launched today. The Manifesto is an action plan which outlines what needs to be done to set the nation on a greener path by tackling difficult questions to help protect our future natural assets.

All editions of the State of the Natural Environment 2008 highlight the strengths and benefits that the natural environment brings, as well as the challenges its faces.

Key findings for England include:

• The natural environment in England is much less rich than 50 years ago and remains under pressure from a significant range of threats: more intense use of the land and sea; continuing economic development and climate change.
• Although we are broadly maintaining the character of England’s landscapes, 20% still show signs of neglect but within our landscapes there are significant problems. For instance, lack of woodland management is causing a 50% decline of our native woodland butterflies – the wood is still there but the butterflies aren’t.
• Other habitats are also deteriorating – only 3% of our grasslands remain rich in native plants. We are seeing signs of stress from climate change, both on the coast, where habitats are being squeezed between our sea walls and the rising sea (25% saltmarsh loss from the south east of England), and on land, with a range of species moving northwards and upwards such as the mountain ringlet butterfly.
• Where we target action we can make a difference. The long-term decline in many of our farmland birds is slowing thanks to more environmentally friendly farming.
• The overall condition of our most important wildlife sites (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) has improved dramatically in the last 10 years.

For the East Midlands the report shows that:

• The East Midlands has some of the most productive agricultural systems and soils in the country. Despite this, 66% of all available agricultural land is now in environmental land management agreements – an outstanding result.
• The Peak District National Park receives 22 million visits each year, almost one third of all visits to national parks in England.
• Outside the designated landscapes, the character of much of the region’s landscape is classified as changing or in a neglected state.
• The region has 392 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), covering an area of 165,000ha. Close to 40% (62,046ha) is located in the Wash which is largely marine. In every county but Derbyshire less than 2% of the land is designated as terrestrial SSSI.
• 89% of the region’s SSSI land is in favourable condition. Major contributions have been made by the implementation of a sustainable shellfish management policy in the Wash and by working with water companies and tenant farmers in the Peak District to address overgrazing and drainage and improve the condition of blanket bogs. We are also working on the restoration of bare peat, the degradation of which contributes to carbon emissions and climate change.

Geoff Sansome, Natural England Regional Director, said: “To meet the challenges we face, we will continue to work in partnership with land managers to ensure that we continue to achieve high levels of sustainable land management in changing economic circumstances.

“More urban growth is planned in the East Midlands than in any other English region, with 175,000 new homes planned across Northamptonshire and around Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Newark, Lincoln and Grantham. We will work through the planning system and with stakeholders to ensure that green infrastructure strategies are developed to recreate biodiversity. We will also help provide new opportunities for people to access the natural environment close to where they live, which will also help combat low levels of physical activity and high levels of obesity.

“In Lincolnshire, the low-lying nature of the coast makes it vulnerable to flooding and a climate change-induced rise in the sea level threatens the squeezing of coastal habitats against sea defences and developed land. We will work with regional partners to develop a plan for the Lincolnshire coast that sustains its internationally important coastal habitats for wildlife and people in the face of sea level rise.”

Countrywide, Natural England has also today committed to:

• Helping find areas in England for renewable energy by publishing a map of suitable locations for onshore wind energy developments.
• Using its statutory position to protect the natural environment at risk from planning and transport proposals.
• Better targeting of the £2.9 billion of taxpayers’ money it manages through green land management schemes to help people and nature adapt to climate change by: storing carbon in peat; soaking up excess rainwater to prevent flooding and connecting existing wildlife sites by creating ‘wildlife super highways’.
• Transforming selected National Nature Reserves into first class visitor destinations to reconnect the public with nature.
• Demonstrating that significant cuts in carbon are achievable over the short-term by reducing the carbon footprint of Natural England estates and business travel by 50% by the end of 2010. It will do this without relying on carbon offsetting, passing on emissions to staff, suppliers or customers or compromising customer service.
• Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England, said: “England needs a new approach to conservation if we are to effectively tackle the modern pressures on land created by climate change and development. The natural environment is increasingly under threat, both within and especially away from protected areas.
• “We need to find ways to manage our landscape to create a mosaic of uses so that we can help wildlife survive – be it through a new ‘national park’ around the length of England’s coastline, better use of the green belt or improved use of public funding for farmers to deliver a better natural environment.
• “If we don’t act, there’s a real danger some of our most precious wildlife will be lost forever and our lives will be poorer for it,” concluded Helen Phillips.
• Over the next few months, Natural England in the East Midlands will hold stakeholder events on the themes of the ‘natural health service’ and Green infrastructure , with a larger event scheduled for the autumn. For more information please contact: eastmidlands@naturalengland.org.uk
ENDS

Issued on behalf of Natural England by COI News & PR East Midlands. Media enquiries to Gaby Hateley on 0115 971 2797 or gaby.hateley@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Notes to editors

• A full list of the key findings for both the East Midlands and England can be found in Annex A.
• For interviews with Natural England’s experts, copies of the report and accompanying photographs, please contact the Natural England Press Office on 0845 603 9953, press@naturalengland.org.uk, out of hours 07970 098005. For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk
• Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

ANNEX A

Key findings from the State of the Natural Environment for the East Midlands include:

Landscape

• In the Peak District National Park and Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the East Midlands has two attractive designated landscapes.
• The internationally renowned Peak District National Park bestrides three regions. The 89,519 hectares in the East Midlands accounts for 6% of the region’s land area.
• The Lincolnshire Wolds AONB is the only designated AONB in the region, accounting for 3% of the land area in the East Midlands, compared with a national average of 15%.
• Outside the designated landscapes, the character of much of the region’s landscape is classified as changing or in a neglected state.
• The landscape has been enhanced across the Fens, Melbourne Parklands and the Leicestershire & Derbyshire coalfields.
• The East Midlands region has just 0.3% of England’s common land.

Biodiversity

• The region has 392 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), covering an area of 165,000ha. Close to 40% (62,046ha) is located in the Wash which is largely marine. In every county but Derbyshire less than 2% of the land is designated as terrestrial SSSI.
• 89% of the region’s SSSI land is in favourable condition. Major contributions have been made by:
• the implementation of a sustainable shellfish management policy in the Wash
• working with water companies and tenant farmers in the Peak District to address overgrazing and drainage and improve the condition of blanket bogs. We are also working on the restoration of bare peat, the degradation of which contributes to carbon emissions and climate change
• The Wash is the largest SSSI in England, containing 14% of England’s coastal SSSI habitat - 60,678ha, 99.9% of which is in favourable or recovering condition. It is also a Special Protection Area (SPA) for its internationally important bird populations.
• We also have nationally significant heathlands in Nottinghamshire, Sherwood and the Lincolnshire Cover Sands (10,536ha in SSSI) and the most northerly population of Pasque flowers in England.
• The region has 7,982ha of woodland in SSSI. There are important semi-natural woodland complexes in the ancient forests of:
• Sherwood (Nottinghamshire);
• the Bardney Limewoods (Lincolnshire);
• Rockingham Forest (Northamptonshire); and
• Leighfield Forest (Leicestershire).
• The East Midlands has some of the most productive agricultural systems and soils in the country. Despite this, 66% of all available agricultural land is now in environmental land management agreements – an outstanding result.

Enjoying the natural environment

• The Peak District National Park receives 22 million visits each year, almost one third of all visits to national parks in England.
• The region has 14 National Nature Reserves (NNRs) covering an area of 4,000ha. Between them, they received 1.6 million visits in 2005/6.
• Over 200,000 people visit our Derbyshire Dales NNRs, including a “spotlight” NNR in Lathkill Dale; our “spotlight” NNRs at Sherwood allow visitors to experience the area’s ancient trees and heaths.
• The bracing sea air and dunes of Saltfleetby, Donna Nook and Gibraltar Point NNRs receive over 665,000 visits annually, and Saltfleetby is the third most visited Natural England-managed NNR in England.
• The East Midlands has 18,000km of public rights of way, 625 km of navigable waterway and 121 Local Nature Reserves, many around built-up areas.
• Of the 7,158ha of permissive access under the agri-environment schemes nationally, 1,253ha or 17.5% can be found in the East Midlands.

Key findings from the report for England include:

• The natural environment in England is much less rich than 50 years ago and remains under pressure from a significant range of threats: more intense use of the land and sea; continuing economic development and climate change.
• Although we are broadly maintaining the character of England’s landscapes, 20% still show signs of neglect but within our landscapes there are significant problems. For instance, lack of woodland management is causing a 50% decline of our native woodland butterflies – the wood is still there but the butterflies aren’t.
• Other habitats are also deteriorating – only 3% of our grasslands remain rich in native plants. We are seeing signs of stress from climate change, both on the coast, where habitats are being squeezed between our sea walls and the rising sea (25% saltmarsh loss from the south east of England), and on land, with a range of species moving northwards and upwards such as the mountain ringlet butterfly.
• There have been major declines in populations of breeding wading birds on unprotected lowland wetland grasslands, notably the snipe which is down by 90% in some regions.
• Where we target action we can make a difference. The long-term decline in many of our farmland birds is slowing thanks to more environmentally friendly farming.
• The overall condition of our most important wildlife sites (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) has improved dramatically in the last 10 years.
• Species such as the red kite are recolonising their former range after successful reintroduction, and heathland birds such as nightjars and woodlarks are increasing thanks to better management of our heathland.