Wildlife-rich “secret spaces” are being ruined by farming, development and neglect, according to a new report, which finds that a tenth of these havens have been lost or damaged in the past five years.
England’s Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs) encompass ancient woodlands, vibrant meadows, quiet churchyards and roadsides, providing habitat for everything from butterflies and bees, to orchids and hedgerows.
Local Wildlife Sites have been identified by experts as crucial to help preserve biodiversity, either in their own right or by acting as corridors or links between other important habitats. They cover more than 5 per cent of England’s land mass, much of it as rich in wildlife as the much smaller area covered by SSSIs.
Article: Independent
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