The reptile looks a bit like an adder, but lacks the distinctive zig-zag pattern along its back. The smooth snake can only be found at a few sandy heathland sites in southern England. The project is ongoing and more monitoring studies will be required, but the anecdotal evidence from farmers is there has been an impact.įor more information see Rare reptile and amphibian species Nature doesn’t recognise farm boundaries so together farmers are supporting endangered species such as the grey partridge. Farmland birdsĪ wide range of birds can be found on farmland across the South Downs, including the grey partridge, lapwing, yellowhammer and skylark.įarmland bird species have seen widespread decline across the UK over the past half century, but the South Downs Farmland Bird Initiative was launched six years ago to help reverse this decline.Ī collaboration between the National Park Authority, Natural England, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, the RSPB and farmers and landowners, the initiative has focused on introducing nature-friendly farming and restoring priority habitats, including wildflower-rich chalk grassland. The project ticks every box for why the South Downs became a National Park – bringing volunteers, landowners and the local community together to care for landscapes and support wildlife. Over six years, a total of 2,833 water voles have been released to 30 locations along the stretch of the river. The water vole has made a remarkable comeback in the South Downs National Park, thanks to the work of the Meon Valley Partnership, of which the SDNPA is a partner. Water voles are essentially ecosystem engineers – their burrowing and feeding behaviour along the edges of watercourses creates the conditions for other animals and plants to thrive. During the 1990s, the UK population fell by almost 90 per cent. Water VolesĪ species you may be lucky enough to spot on the River Meon in Hampshire, the water vole is the fastest declining mammal in the UK. It was once found across southern England but numbers have declined so dramatically that they are now found only in five locations, three in the South Downs.Ī pioneering project has seen the rare insect reintroduced into new chalk grassland habitat around the Deep Dean Water Treatment Works in East Sussex, thanks to a collaboration between South East Water, Natural England, Buglife, and the Zoological Society of London.
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The wart-biter bush cricket is one of the UK’s most endangered insects and gets its name from the ancient Swedish medical practice of using them to eat skin warts. But a concerted effort, led by volunteers and conservation organisations, has helped to establish six colonies at heathland sites in Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. Thirty years ago the species was isolated to just one site of 100 field crickets in West Sussex. The South Downs remains the last bastion in the UK for the iconic Field Cricket, whose “cheep, cheep, cheep” is the quintessential sound of summer. This vital work is ongoing but the green shoots of recovery are evident for a number of species. Globally, 80% of lowland heath has disappeared since 1800īut the designation of the South Downs National Park 10 years ago on March 31, 2010, marked a significant step forward.Īnd, in the 10 years since, great strides have been made to help improve biodiversity.Since the Second World War, the UK has lost 80% of rare chalk grassland, a habitat that is vital for a number of plant and pollinator species.The fight to protect and enhance this beautiful sanctuary of flora and fauna is not without its challenges, not least the globally-recognised threats of climate change and human impacts. With its abundance of iconic birds, mammals, fish, plants, invertebrates and internationally-important habitats, the South Downs National Park is a haven for wildlife in the busiest part of the UK.
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