The £6 million sum adds to the phenomenal £200 million already invested in over 1,000 biodiversity projects throughout the 11 years of HLF.

Carole Souter, HLF Director said, "This money will go a long way to help protect our natural heritage so that generations to come will enjoy the wildlife and landscapes we love today. The variety of projects we’ve been able to support shows just how rich our natural environment across the UK is, and why it’s vital to have this money available to preserve it for the future."

Naturalist and Broadcaster, Chris Packham said, "Looking after the natural environment is crucially important work. Imagine if in years to come, children had never seen a red squirrel scampering up a tree or moths dancing round a lightbulb. By developing these projects today far more people will be able to take part in and experience our natural heritage for many years to come."

Nuts about Squirrels

Endangered Red Squirrels are to benefit from a £626,000 HLF award to Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) for the excellent ‘Save our Squirrels’ campaign. Rather than buying £626,000 worth of the squirrels’ favourite nuts, the project aims to protect red squirrels in the longer-term across Northumberland, Cumbria, the Yorkshire Dales and Merseyside by raising public awareness of their plight and managing 16 red squirrel reserves in coniferous forests where these native animals can flourish.

‘Save Our Squirrels’ will get members of the public to help in spotting these shy creatures so that conservation efforts can be measured. Visitors to the selected forest sites will be able to take advantage of new viewing hides, web cams and educational displays so they can learn more about this endangered species and get involved in the project.

300 volunteers, 150 land management professionals and 500 school children will be trained in conservation techniques. Roughly 8,000 more volunteers will be involved in reporting sightings and providing support to spread the message about the importance of red squirrel conservation.

Moths have a flutter on the Lottery

Who would have thought the humble moth needed a helping hand? They’re often overlooked in favour of butterflies, yet moths are very sensitive to environments, providing insights into the health of all sorts of plants, birds and mammals. Following the recent publication of a report by Butterfly Conservation, ‘the State of Britain’s Larger Moths’* which predicted a bleak future for many species, the £800,000 HLF funding offers a timely opportunity to begin reversing the decline.

With a variety of environmental factors, including street lights and changing weather patterns thought to be possible culprits affecting numbers of even common moth species, additional research will provide clues for future conservation. The nationwide project will enlist help from and train up to 4,000 volunteers to become ‘citizen scientists’ and involve another 25,000 in recording and identifying moths in their homes and gardens, and so helping measure important changes in biodiversity patterns and creating a nationwide database for conservation plans which will be available to the public on the internet. The HLF grant will support free events at locations across the UK to encourage the public to take an interest in spotting rare macro-moth species such as the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth and Netted Mountain Moth, only two of 2,500 known species.

Wet, Wild and Worth Saving

One of the most highly designated sites in Europe and home to tens of thousands of wild birds, Castle Espie, Co Down has been allocated £2,975,000 by HLF. The unique site which suffered in the 1970’s from having an aircraft run-way built right through it, contains heritage of natural, archaeological and even industrial significance making it an ideal project for Heritage Lottery investment.

The wetland areas of Castle Espie and Strangford Lough are already home to almost the entire world population of light-bellied Brent Geese during the winter as they flock to the naturally abundant feeding habitat providing a spectacular sight for visitors. HLF’s funds will mean the historic limestone grasslands can be restored and provide a habitat perfect for a multitude of other scarce species. By restoring the salt and, freshwater areas and limestone grasslands which are typical of the 1900’s, the site should provide waterbirds with opportunities for feeding roosting and breeding. As well as attracting even more wildlife and restoring wetlands, habitats will be enhanced, new paths constructed and educational opportunities expanded as part of this exciting project giving visitors, young and old more places to explore and heritage to discover at Castle Espie.

It may be hard to believe that this wild and wonderful site used to be a hive of industry in the 1800s but the site is home to lime kilns and other overgrown relics of its varied past. The site will be returning to its industrial roots by aiming to be a model of good practice in sustainable construction by reducing, reusing and recycling not only building materials but also energy and waste. A former hide is to be converted into an observatory so that the public can watch and learn about the wetlands wildlife. Through the preservation the public will be able to learn about the archaeological and industrial heritage that sits side by side with the environmental assets the area is renowned for.

Otter-ly Amazing Wildlife

£1.5million has been awarded to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to preserve the Itchen Navigation in a five year project that will safeguard a range of wildlife in the internationally renowned chalk river system.

The money will be used to stabilise and restore the Navigation riverbanks, and improve the Public Footpath which runs along the majority of the Navigation. New trails will be created incorporating eye-catching information boards so that visitors can identify the many wildlife species and historic industrial structures around them.

Visitors will be able to use special installation boxes to look out for water voles, birds and bats in the banks along the river and otters, and a variety of fish including brown trout and southern damselfly, are expected to flourish. The Trust is also looking to train 50 volunteers from local communities to undertake surveys of a range of wildlife species including otters, bats, birds and plants so they can monitor the effects of conservation on the environment.

*‘The State of Britain’s Larger Moths’ report was published by Butterfly Conservation on February 20th. For a copy of the report contact Lester Cowling at Butterfly Conservation at lcowling@butterfly-conservation.org 

**A ‘Stage One Pass’ means that money has been earmarked by the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project in question. Competition at this stage is tough, and while a Stage One Pass does not guarantee funding, it is an indication of positive support, and money for the scheme is set aside. The applicant can then progress to Stage Two and submit a further, fully developed application to secure the full grant. On occasion, at Stage One, funding will also be awarded towards the development of the scheme.