Threatened species receive £14.5m funding boost

Nature projects to help a range of England's most threatened species have been awarded £14.5 million of funding by Natural England.

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said previous recovery schemes have shown they do work.

"Nature is in drastic decline all around us. It's a dire situation, but can still be turned around. We know this because we've seen the population of the once-endangered Eurasian Bittern rise dramatically, the recovery of Fen Raft Spider and Water Voles successfully reintroduced to areas from where they had previously been lost," he said.

Projects to support Northern Lapwing will receive funding from Natural England (Nick Clayton).

One of the projects to be awarded funding is the Wiltshire Chalk Partnership which is looking to restore 2,000 ha of flower-rich grasslands – a crucial habitat for insects including butterflies. 

White-clawed Crayfish – one of the other species to be supported through the scheme – is considered endangered worldwide and has seen a decline of up to 70% in the UK. The Claws for Thought project will use the grant to establish a new rearing facility to help support crayfish in their vulnerable early years.

Other species that will be supported through the two-year programme include Large Marsh Grasshopper, Northern Lapwing and Grey Long-eared Bat.