UK WILD LIFE VANISHES

An absolute shocking news was revealed about UK’s vanishing wild life.

The Species Recovery Trust announced, last year, 421 species of mammals, birds and plants had become extinct in the UK over the last 200 years.

The main reason is the natural habitats are cut down. It is unbelievable and shocking but true.

An even bigger surprise and shock is the fact that 50million birds had been lost since the early 1970. The main reason is the loss of hedgerows due to mechanising farming. 90 per cent of flowering meadows had been lost and cutting down whole woodlands has a devastating effect.

Species which have been hit mostly are yellowhammers, larks and wading birds.

Species which show some recovery are pheasants, crows and wood pigeons.

The blame does not only lie with the farmers alone. They are forced to produce more and cheaper food. Therefore to achieve this and to survive they use chemicals and machineries.

The woodland birds are even worse off. Species like the wood warblers, the lesser spotted woodpecker and willow tit.

According to records woodlands were better managed in the past. Only big trees were felled and the younger trees could grow even better. Now they go in with big juggernauts and cut down the whole area.  The soil which is light will erode and the damage is far greater for decades to come. It diminishes birds, mammals, insects and plants.

A group of wild beavers had been spotted in Devon two years ago. It was the last wild beavers in the UK. This week it had been reported that they were missing for the last six weeks. It is supposed that their habitat was disturbed.

Great news comes from the Caerlaverock Wildlife and Wetland Trust. At first there were 500 barnacle geese migrating there in 1948. Now they estimated that 40,000are coming there to spend the winter months. The reason is mainly that hunting had stopped and farmers are paid to keep the grass growing.

We also can help to preserve and protect the wildlife in our gardens. All the UK gardens put together would be as big as Suffolk and covers a bigger area than all the nature reserves put together.

To help the wildlife is to sow more flowers, hanging up nest boxes, feed the birds all year round and have a dish of water for them to bath and drink of it. It does not cost the earth and brings so much joy watching the birds and butterflies.