New Forest habitat restoration gets funding boost

The New Forest is regarded as one of the most important wildlife sites in Europe

Projects to restore wildlife habitats in the New Forest have been given more than £1m of government funding.

The Species Survival Fund grant is to help halt species decline and restore habitats in the national park.

It will allow work to enhance 250 hectares (600 acres) of land across 25 sites to benefit species, including pine marten and great crested newt.

National Park Authority (NPA) chair David Bence said the forest was the "last stronghold" for some species.

Woodland, boggy mires, heathland, meadow, wetlands and streams are expected to be improved, while new ponds, wetlands and meadows will be created.

As well as practical work, teams will also carry out surveys, advise landowners and run guided walks.

The conservation work is aimed at improving the connections between the New Forest's protected central core with the areas around it so species can spread out further.

'Serious threat'

The programme also aims to help New Forest habitats become more resilient to climate change.

The projects will be run in partnership with conservation groups - Freshwater Habitats Trust, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, New Forest Commoners Defence Association and Wild New Forest.

Among the organisations, 14 jobs will be created or retained, five interns will develop green skills with the aim of going on to work in the environment sector and 50 new volunteers will be recruited.

Mr Bence said the forest was of "international importance" for wildlife.

"This combination of habitats is hard to find anywhere else in western Europe," he said.

"Yet, like elsewhere, nature is under serious threat here and the New Forest is the last stronghold for some species.

"This programme represents a major step forward in the urgent conservation work we and our partners need to do for the New Forest, particularly in and around the National Park boundary."

Environment minister, Rebecca Pow, said the funding would help "restore nature at scale".

"Only by creating bigger and better habitats for wildlife will we be able to halt the alarming decline in species loss," she added.