The National Trust has a great responsibility for a variety of wildlife and habitats, for the environment on which they depend, and for the underlying soils, landforms and geology.
Ancient woodlands, historic parklands and pasture woodlands, seacliffs and salt-marsh, heathlands, chalk and limestone grasslands are just some of the habitats in the care of the Trust along with significant bats, butterflies, rare plants, and a whole host of other biodiversity.
Habitats
'Key habitats' are identified in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan as particularly important within a European or World context. They include (all figures approximate):
| Habitat
| Extent in UK
| Extent on Trust land
(approx. estimates)
| % owned by Trust (approx.)
|
| Parkland |
20-30,000 ha |
7,940 ha |
40 - 26% |
| Broadleaved woodland |
302,000 ha (GB) |
13,375 ha |
4 % |
| Chalk / limestone grasslands |
33-41,000 ha |
4,420 ha |
12% |
| Acid grassland |
1,324,000 ha |
28,060 ha |
2% |
| Neutral grasslands |
15,000 ha |
4,310 ha |
29% |
| Upland heathland |
2-3M |
18,840 ha |
1 - 0.6 % |
| Lowland heathland |
58,000 ha |
4,324 ha |
7.5% |
| Peatlands (blanket bog) |
1,500,000 ha |
9,710 ha |
0.6% |
| Sand dunes |
56,000 ha |
555 ha |
1% |
| salt-marsh |
45,500 ha |
1,485 ha |
3 % |
*Source: Central Habitats Database, NT Cirencester, October 2004.
Due to human activities semi-natural habitats occupy only a small part of the land cover of the UK. Arable and fertilised grassland together account for 63%, and urban land 9%, of England and Wales. The Trust owns over 141,800 ha of farmland let to tenants on 685 farms. Much of this is arable and fertilised grassland.
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Species
There are at least 88,000 species found in the UK.
The international agreement to conserve biodiversity (the variety of life) puts emphasis on native species in their natural ranges. Native species have arrived in the UK naturally, without the agency of humans.
As with habitats, many species are rare or scarce. Overall some 20% of species are very rare (i.e. occur in less than 15km² in the UK), vulnerable or threatened with extinction. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan lists 1,250 species which are rare, scarce, or in need of special conservation action. Of these 511 (41%) occur on Trust maintained property. These include:
- 10 ENDEMIC SPECIES, e.g. early gentian, and Lundy cabbage.
- 16 GLOBALLY THREATENED SPECIES, e.g. white-clawed crayfish, northern wood ant, and shore dock.
- MANY INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT SPECIES, e.g. bluebell, western gorse, and grey seal.
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Threats and National Trust action
Despite legislation to protect wildlife and earth science, many habitats and species have been lost. Protection and restoration of the remaining sites are urgent tasks.
| Between 1947 and the 1980s
| In the 1980s and 1990s
|
| Ancient woodland 50% |
76% species-rich grassland in the Peak District |
| Chalk and limestone grassland 80% |
62% ‘Culm Measures’ grassland in Devon |
| Hay meadows 99% |
74,500 miles of hedgerow lost |
| Lowland heathland 45% |
80% of lowland rivers had been straightened by 1997 |
Many habitats are now represented by small fragments. Small sites are more susceptible to damage than large ones. With others, the Trust is looking for opportunities to link habitat patches e.g. along sea cliffs and between woodland.
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Species Losses in the UK
- More than 100 species became extinct in the UK in the last century.
- Many have declined in range and numbers of populations, e.g. High brown fritillary butterfly by 94%, Wild chamomile by 42%.
- Decline in breeding populations of farmland birds 1969-1991: tree sparrow 85%, corn bunting 76%, grey partridge 73%, lapwing 47%, skylark 56%, linnet 56%
Many native species have poor powers of dispersal, including those that can fly. They cannot cross unsuitable land between the fragments of habitat. Small populations are more prone to extinction than larger ones.
The Trust has policies for reintroducing species using IUCN/SSC criteria but this is regarded as a last resort.
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