Biodiversity in the UK brings so many benefits – stunning landscapes, iconic wildlife, and clean air and water, not to mention the carbon sequestration capabilities of healthy habitats that help us to limit climate change. But the UK’s biodiversity is under immense pressure. In fact, 50% of the UK’s biodiversity has been lost. Consequently, the UK ranks in the bottom 10% of all countries when it comes to biodiversity intactness. The main factors contributing to this shocking decline, according the the latest State of Nature report published by a group of 50 conservation organisations in 2019, are intensive agricultural management, climate change, hydrological changes by humans, urbanisation, invasive non-native species, pests and pathogens, pollution, and woodland management.

This project is protecting ancient woodlands, including the species-rich Atlantic rainforest on the wild west coast of Scotland and remnant gorge woodlands, and all the iconic native wildlife that lives within them. These special places are vital habitats for lots of wildlife, especially rare lichens, such as the Norwegian specklebelly, and fungi, such as Hazel Gloves. Conserving these areas also helps protect healthy soils. This helps to improve the ability of the land to capture and store carbon.

Removal of invasive Rhododendron, protection from too many grazing animals, careful tree planting are necessary to protect mature alder, oak and hazel woodlands, and the native species these trees support, including rare species of bats, lichens, fungi, and birds, as well as red squirrels.