country life
Island Life - April/May 2010
Photo: Farmland - Hampshire Wildlife Trust
huge variety of other animals and plants,
semi-natural habitats, and the greatest
get involved by checking our website
the places they live and the surrounding
species diversity of any county in England.
volunteering pages to search for current
environments. Yet this rich diversity
Our own Biodiversity team at Hampshire
opportunities near you.
is being lost at a greatly accelerated
and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust works to
rate because of human activities. This
protect and enhance wildlife wherever
appreciate and help conserve biodiversity
impoverishes us all and weakens the
it is found by positively engaging those
from learning about your local wildlife or
ability of the living systems on which we
involved in managing land, or making
encouraging wildlife into your garden, to
depend to resist growing threats such as
decisions about land use. The team
taking part in a wildlife project or giving a
climate change.
works with a range of partners including
donation to a conservation charity.
The threats to species and ecosystems
private landowners, public bodies and
There are many ways that you can
During the International Year of
include habitat destruction,
local communities, and also ensures the
Biodiversity 2010, the Wildlife Trust is
over-exploitation of natural resources,
Trust's work is based on sound science
running a wide range of events to help
pollution, introduction of alien species,
by gathering necessary information to
you understand the biodiversity that
climate change and increasing demands
monitor the status, set priorities and
surrounds us in our region. Guided
on nature from rising human populations.
support the case for wildlife conservation.
walks with an expert are a great way of
We need to act now to halt the current
The Biodiversity Information Team is
loss of biodiversity and to ensure a quality
responsible for co-ordinating ecological
habitats. You can find an event taking
of life for future generations.
surveys on the Trust's reserves and
place near you in our free Events Diary, or
throughout the counties to ensure that
by looking at the website hwt.org.uk.
Hampshire has a wealth of wildlife
habitats including heathland, ancient
we have an accurate and up to date
woodland, rivers, old meadows, chalk
account of the species found in the area.
streams, wetlands and coastal habitats.
It also has an incredible variety of
Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com
learning more about our local wildlife and
The team's biodiversity projects often
require volunteer surveyors, so you
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