A pioneering conservation project in the New Forest, South England, has uncovered nearly 40 rare species as part of a large-scale effort to restore vital habitats and halt species decline.
Surveys carried out by Wild New Forest last year recorded an impressive array of wildlife across ten sites on the fringes of the New Forest National Park.
"In total, about 860 species were recorded during the surveys, including 370 animals, 265 plants and 225 fungi,” explains Prof Russell Wynn, Director of Wild New Forest.
"This might sound like a lot of species, but it only represents about five per cent of the total number of animal, plant and fungi species estimated to occur in the New Forest, which is recognised as an international biodiversity hotspot.
"Encouragingly, there were 150 records of 36 priority species that are classified as nationally rare or scarce.
"Many of these are relatively familiar and widespread here in the New Forest, such as goshawk, raft spider and wood cricket."
"But there were some surprising discoveries," says Wynn, "including a new species of fungus for Hampshire, a new pine marten hotspot revealed using trail cameras, and a pond full of Hampshire purslane - a nationally rare aquatic plant that is almost wholly restricted to the New Forest."
With a budget of £1.3 million, the ambitious project is spearheaded by the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) alongside key conservation partners, including Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC), Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT), Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT), New Forest Commoners Defence Association (CDA), and Wild New Forest.
"This project is a great example of partners working together for the good of the New Forest,” says Paul Walton, the NPA’s Head of Environment and Rural Economy. "The New Forest is one of the most biodiverse areas in England but requires continued investment to support the protection and expansion of wildlife-rich habitats.
"Thanks to Defra via the Species Survival Fund this has been realised and it will allow habitats to thrive into the future and be more resilient to the impacts of climate change.”
In total, the project team is collaborating with landowners to enhance 250 hectares (the equivalent of 350 football pitches) across 25 sites. These efforts will focus on bolstering biodiversity by improving existing habitats and creating new ones, ensuring rare and endangered species continue to thrive.
Russell adds: "It was encouraging to find that several of the survey sites already contain pockets of high-quality wetland, woodland, heathland and grassland habitat that host a wide variety of priority species.
"However, there was also evidence for habitat degradation due to excessive growth of non-native species like rhododendron and changes in the way land is grazed by livestock.
“At some sites, there is concern that vulnerable habitats - and the species that rely on them - will be lost within a few years if we don’t act now to restore them.”
With the surveys complete, project partners and landowners are now implementing targeted habitat restoration and creation work across the region. Follow-up surveys later this year will assess the impact of these interventions, ensuring the New Forest remains a sanctuary for wildlife for generations to come, says the team.
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