Wildlife protection in England not up to scratch

The measures put in place to protect native English species are not strong enough, it has been claimed.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), a new survey shows that the areas set aside for protecting wildlife are often too small and isolated to have any great effect.

The government-backed Space for Nature study noted that more species could die out as a result of the inadequate measures.

It called for a change in the UK’s approach to conservation, noting that the small wildlife reserves and even national parks are not enough to protect vulnerable habitats.

The report noted that "wildlife corridors such as hedgerows, ponds and rivers have also disappeared or are in poor condition".

It suggested the creation of "ecological restoration zones", which would help build a network of protected sites.

The UK also needs to provide urban wildlife with better natural habitats and invest in animal-friendly measures in city green spaces.

In other news, the RHS recently revealed that the latest study from the Countryside Survey Partnership has shown that human behaviour could be responsible for the decline of bee populations in the UK.