Natural England announces a £1 million boost for the South West’s threatened biodiversity

Cornflowers, crayfish and cirl buntings are some of the species due to benefit from major funding announced today (Monday 6 October). Eight projects run by voluntary conservation organisations in the region will receive over £1m under Natural England’s Countdown 2010 Biodiversity Action Fund. This aims to help some of England’s most threatened species and habitats highlighted in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).

Natural England's regional director, Jeanette Ward said:
"Cornflowers, crayfish and cirl buntings together with a wide range of other species and habitats including our marine environment will benefit from this extra funding. We’ve already seen major biodiversity successes in the south west such as the increase in numbers of bitterns and this money will help a number of our conservation partners to meet the challenge of improving regional biodiversity”.

Regional recipients of the grants are:

• Plantlife International which receives almost £76,000 to secure the future of important wild plant species in arable areas
• Devon Wildlife Trust which receives almost £341,000 for its Working Wetlands project in Devon’s Culm grasslands
• The Farming Wildlife and Advisory Group which receives almost £65,000 for its Dorset Arable Project
• Avon Wildlife Trust which receives £113,000 for restoring Avon’s wildflower rich grasslands
• The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust which receives £107,000 for its Isles of Scilly Marine Biodiversity Project.
• Cornwall Wildlife Trust which receives over £129,000 for its West Cornwall Wetland Networks
• The RSPB which receives almost £154,000 for its cirl bunting re-introduction project
• Bristol Zoo which receives over £105,000 for the conservation of white-clawed crayfish

Victoria Whitehouse, Conservation Manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: "We are thrilled with the funding as it will enable us to start work on our vision of creating a Living Landscape for wildlife and people across the Penwith peninsula in West Cornwall."
Kate Still, Plantlife's Farmland Officer said; "The Natural England funds provide a fantastic opportunity for us to conserve hotspot sites for important arable plants by providing targeted advice and training for farmers and advisors."
Charlie Taylor, Devon Wildlife Trust's Acting Deputy Director of Programmes said: "This new funding from Natural England has given us a much needed boost. Our new five year Working Wetlands project aims to restore, re-create and re-connect important wildlife rich landscapes of north Devon including the threatened Culm Grasslands which support nationally important species such as the marsh fritillary butterfly”.

All grants have been made for three years from 2008 to the end of March 2011

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Countdown 2010 – regional project summaries

Plantlife International – Securing the Future of Priority Species in Important Arable Plant Areas
This project aims to secure the effective and sustainable conservation of England’s most threatened group of plant species – arable plants. Currently 61 species are threatened and 7 are already extinct due to the pressures of intensive arable farm practices. A comprehensive programme of survey and monitoring by a network of Plantlife volunteers will assess habitat and species condition, targeted expert advice to farmers in hotspot areas will encourage conservation management and training events and use of demonstration farms will share best practice with arable farmers and advisors. In the South West the targeted project areas cover Severn and Avon Vales, Cotswolds and South Wessex Downs.
For further information contact: Kate Still on 01722 342741

Devon Wildlife Trust - Working Wetlands in Devon’s Culm Grasslands
Culm grassland has been described as arguably Devon’s most important habitat and the county hosts 80% of the remaining habitat in England. During the 20th century 95% of Devon’s Culm grassland was lost, and fragmentation has exacerbated the decline of many species that depend on it. The project aims to re-connect habitat to form larger swathes and this priority is becoming more urgent with the onset of climate change. The Trust are working with landowners to help them find ways to manage existing sites, create new sites and overcome the obstacles to management such as shortage of stock or access to machinery.
For further information contact: Peter Burgess on 01409 221823

The Farming Wildlife and Advisory Group - Dorset Arable Project
Dorset is a stronghold for arable biodiversity. 5 of the 6 key farmland birds identified by Natural England (NE) are confirmed as breeding in parts of the county and Dorset is 9th in the Plantlife list of richest counties for arable plants. The 'Dorset Arable Group', a county partnership of conservation organisations aims to provide free on-farm advice to landowners and farmers on arable biodiversity, specifically management to encourage the key farmland bird and rare arable plants species. These include corn bunting, yellow wagtail, lapwing, grey partridge, turtle dove, tree sparrow, pheasant's-eye, cornflower, corn buttercup, shepherd's needle and small flowered catchfly.
For further information contact: Clare Buckerfield on 01305 251742

Avon Wildlife Trust - Restoring Avon’s Wildflower Rich Grasslands
This project is part of the South West Wildlife Trusts 'Living Landscapes' Initiative, which aims to restore and connect areas of UK Priority Habitat throughout the South West Region using the South West Nature Map. This map identifies the best areas in our region to conserve, create and connect wildlife habitats. This project will review priority grassland habitats to ensure they are accurately mapped and being actively maintained. This information will allow the Trust to target land for management advice and restoration work. Habitat creation techniques will be used, where appropriate, to increase the amount of species-rich grassland
For further information contact: Dr Lucy Rogers on 0117 9177274

Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust – Marine biodiversity project
The Isles of Scilly support internationally significant marine biodiversity. The over-arching aim of the project is to further the conservation of marine Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats and species through developing the evidence base and working in partnership to engage local stakeholders in marine conservation. The Audit of the Biodiversity of the Isles of Scilly produced in March 1998, identifies 138 marine BAP priority species and 4 sub-tidal marine BAP habitats.
For further information contact: Zoe Julian on 01720 422153

Cornwall Wildlife Trust - West Cornwall Wetland Networks
The Penwith Peninsula is exceptionally rich in plant and animal species. It is a traditionally farmed landscape of small fields in a mosaic pattern containing diverse habitats.. Granite moors and medieval field systems stretch to the north coast and to the south there are a number of gently sloping river-valleys. These areas are fragmented and neglected so no longer link the lowland heathland on the moors to the south coast slopes. This project aims to reconnect these areas to provide new habitat for a variety of birds, mammals, fish and plant life including nightjar, linnet, trout, otter and greater horseshoe bat. The project will achieve this by delivering programmes of habitat and species assessment, specialist landowner advice and practical habitat enhancement and will be run in partnership with the Farming Wildlife and Advisory Group.
For further information contact: Victoria Whitehouse on 01872 240777 ext 211

RSPB – Cirl bunting reintroduction project
The project will take and rear birds from south Devon and release a minimum of 60 in 2008/09 and 2009/10 at a release site in south Cornwall. Further suitable habitat within the release area will be secured through targeted advisory work, promoting take-up of Environmental Stewardship agreements to deliver suitable land management for cirl buntings. This is the latest stage in a drive to re-establish the cirl bunting as a sustainable breeding bird in the UK.
For further information contact: Cath Jeffs on 01392 432691

Bristol Zoo Gardens - Conservation of White-clawed crayfish in the South West
The white-clawed crayfish are found in still and running waters and are considered by some as a 'flagship species' for the health of rivers in the UK priority habitat. The species is subject to a range of pressures, notably those arising from the introduction of non indigenous crayfish species and their pathogens since the 1970s. In the last decade many of the most important native crayfish populations in the South West have been lost including three of the four most abundant in the Bristol Avon catchment alone. The project aims to identify remaining populations in the South West and implement a programme of intervention for those at the highest threat of extinction. While some crayfish will be taken to refuge sites across the region, Bristol Zoo Gardens will also establish and maintain viable captive breeding populations. The issues affecting conservation of crayfish and their habitat will also form part of a targeted education campaign.
For further information contact: Neil Maddison on 0117 974 7310

Notes for editors

For more information please contact Martin Gershon on 07900 608364

Countdown 2010
Countdown 2010 galvanises European Union member countries to take specific steps to save biodiversity in its realm by supporting governments and other stakeholders to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target. Countdown 2010 combines efforts to save biodiversity within a powerful network of active partners, including governments, cities and regions, and civil society organisations. National platforms assess performance, create awareness and demand action. For more information visit the website www.countdown2010.org

Natural England
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. For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk