Share seasonal goodwill with our special wildlife
An appeal has been launched to help a range of threatened species found in Devon, as Charlie Elder reports
ACAMPAIGN has been launched to support rare and endangered species that call Devon home – with a plea to make a Christmas gift to help the county’s threatened wildlife.
Devon Wildlife Trust is appealing to people inspired by nature during this year’s lockdowns to think of threatened flora and fauna at this time of year and make a donation to its Special Species fundraiser.
The Devon Special Species list was first compiled in 2017, identifying wildlife that needed more focused recovery work. The species numbered over 1,600, but a shortlist of 96 demanded particular attention because their remaining footholds in Devon were of national, even international, importance – and remain so today.
They include the dormouse, lost from much of England; the rare and attractive southern damselfly; the willow tit, which has declined by more than 80% across the country over the last 25 years, and the curious-looking string of sausages lichen, found in remote areas free from pollution.
Pete Burgess, DWT director of conservation and development, said: “Many of these Devon special species find a home on Devon Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves. The number of sites the trust manages for wildlife has increased by 16% just since the start of last year. But we known that Devon’s wildlife needs larger and more connected nature-rich space.
“Most of the Devon special species are clinging on in a small number of places – they need to be able to move through good quality habitats to recolonise former sites. That is why Devon Wildlife Trust has an ambitious plan to double the amount of wildlife-rich land in Devon in coming years. But nature reserves will remain the wildlife reservoirs needed to restore life to the wider landscape. Nature reserves are where good habitat management can help species to recover and find their way to new places. And Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserves are where people can help Devon’s special species with a donation.”
Mr Burgess said that with support the trust’s 58 reserves can be maintained to benefit the range of significant species for which the county has a special responsibility. He said donations would help “maintain hedges to benefit dormice, threatened birds and rare trees; ensure heathlands, meadows and wetlands are managed to support the life cycle of declining butterflies and other insects; and manage woodland nature reserves to maintain a mosaic of habitats providing homes for rare flowers,
Most of the Devon special species are clinging on in a small number of places PETE BURGESS, DWT
lichens, butterflies and more”.
As part of its campaign the trust has highlighted the lives of 12 of its special species for the 12 days of Christmas.
Among them is the heath potter wasp, found on east Devon heathland, which constructs tiny pots of clay filled with provisions in which its offspring grow. Another is the brown hairstreak butterfly which lays its eggs on blackthorn stems and is particularly vulnerable to hedgerow flailing and clearance, but is being helped by careful conservation management in the Exeter Valley Parks.
To find out more and to make a donation to help Devon wildlife visit: www.devonwildlifetrust.org