Species Champions MPs standing up for our most threatened wildlife

Newsletter Issue 2 | Winter 2017 Project Update As it enters its second year, the With the Government’s MP Species Champions Westminster species champion draft 25 year plan for project is going from strength to the Environment soon are invited to strength. Eight MPs have signed to be released for up since last summer’s newsletter, consultation, and the The Annual Awards Reception bringing the total to 38. opportunities and Wednesday 22 March 2017, challenges for nature 6.30 p.m. It’s been fantastic to see MPs such posed by , now Macmillan Room, Portcullis House as Rachael Maskell, Therese Coffey, is a key time for MPs RSVP: Kerry McCarthy and Angela Smith to speak out for [email protected] speaking up for their species in their species. Parliament. In December the Fishing Industry debate heard Scott Mann In March, we’re looking forward to raise the critical level of bass stocks. celebrating those champions who And of course Oliver Colvile has been have made a real impact (for more a regular champion in Parliament – details, see overleaf). mentioning hedgehogs on at least 7 occasions!

Targeted species conservation pays dividends:

Fen orchid (Norman Lamb) Last year there was cause for south Devon. Twenty five years ago a celebration when it was revealed that ground-breaking conservation project and Cirl bunting (Sarah collaborative conservation work had began which saw RSPB working in Wollaston) lifted the UK cirl bunting population partnership with local farmers and to over 1,000 pairs, bucking the overall Natural to encourage land 2016 was a great year for the fen downward trend for most farmland management practices that would orchid. More than 12,000 specimens birds. Once widespread, declines in benefit cirl buntings. With the support were recorded in the East of England food and nest site availability meant of the farming community we hope – a dramatic increase from around that by the late 1980s just 118 pairs that numbers will continue to grow. 1,000 in 2012. Plantlife’s trial move remained, confined to an area of of plants to new sites was a success, with many flowering in the summer, paving the way for future relocations. These gains were boosted when the Planning Inspectorate upheld the Environment Agency’s decision to stop local water abstraction near Catfield Fen – thereby safeguarding one of only three remaining fen orchid sites in England. Although the species remains vulnerable, targeted funding and direct intervention by Plantlife, in association with Butterfly Conservation and the RSPB, offers a bright future for this species.  Cirl bunting and fen orchid Species Champions MP Newsletter Issue 2 | Winter 2017

Who are the Do your bit for Invasive Species Week Species Champion MPs so far? • • Richard Benyon When humans move species into areas • Jake Berry • where they are not naturally found, • Neil Carmichael • Therese Coffey the introduction of new predators, • Oliver Colvile • competitors and novel diseases to • Jon Cruddas • an ecosystem can be devastating • Peter Heaton-Jones for local wildlife, so much so that • Kevin Hollinrake • Norman Lamb invasive non-native species are • Charlotte Leslie • Caroline Lucas now considered one of the principal • Scott Mann • Rachael Maskell drivers of global biodiversity loss, • Kerry McCarthy • second only to habitat loss. • • • • Jess Phillips In the UK ‘variegated yellow archangel’ • Rebecca Pow •John Pugh is a popular garden plant, but if • Angela Smith • Caroline Spelman introduced to the wider countryside it • • spreads rapidly, outcompeting native • Derek Thomas • plants. This invasive species is often  Variegated yellow archangel • Anna Turley • Charles Walker found at sites where native spreading • Matt Warman • • • Sarah Wollaston bellflower, championed by Bill Wiggin, Why not get involved and make a • Daniel Zeichner also grows. biosecurity pledge to do what you can to prevent the spread of invasive Want more information? From 27-31 March over 150 species, and then tweet about it using For more information on the organisations will come together #InvasivesWeek. For more information Species Champions project visit to raise awareness of invasive non- visit the GB non-native species our microsite at: native species as part of Defra’s secretariat website at www.buglife.org.uk/ third annual Invasive Species Week. www.nonnativespecies.org. specieschampions

Annual Reception Fun Fact While we struggle to help the for Species Champions survival of the most threatened species, it’s worth remembering MP species champions, along with more about what needs doing to how long they might live – if they special guests, are invited to a improve their prospects. were given the chance. reception and award ceremony to mark the first year of the species There will be a presentation of awards The Natterjack toad for instance champions project. MPs will receive for best species champion in several could happily live to 40, while the an update on their species and hear categories: the Best Parliamentary maximum age of a Manx shearwater Champion, that is the MP who has recovered by ringers is almost 51. done the most to raise the profile of The greater horseshoe bat would their species in Parliament, a Species rest content with 30 candles on Award for the MP whose species fared his birthday cake. But the most best in the past year, and the Muddy impressive of all is the European Eel, Welly award for actions in the field! which has reached 85.

The reception is to be held in the Macmillan Room, Portcullis House, Westminster at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday 22 March.

Species Champions in England is coordinated by:

Working in partnership with: The Angling Trust, The People’s Trust for Endangered Species and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society

Cirl bunting by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com), fen orchid (Andrew Jeffery-Plantlife), variegated yellow archangel by GBNNSS, hedgehogs by Paul Hudson/Hedgehog Street, eel by Alamy Stock Photo Design by: rjpdesign.co.uk