State of Nature report - RSPB

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URBAN With increasing development in cities, space for nature is under pressure. One solution is to create living roofs. These consist of a waterproof membrane topped with a growing medium. Vegetation is then either planted or allowed to colonise naturally, producing patches of open habitat. Not only can living roofs help a range of wildlife 13 , they also have benefits for ecosystem services such as water management, energy efficiency and pollution control. An estimated 26,000 hectares of green roofs could be created in London, an area equivalent to 28 times the size of Richmond Park 14 . Some unexpected species can flourish in urban habitats. Peregrines now breed in every UK county, using building ledges as nest sites in many cities. This offers people an unprecedented opportunity to see one of our most impressive predators. ontact with nature has many proven physical and mental benefits. Since more that 80% of the UK’s population live in urban areas, it is essential that people living there are provided with sufficient opportunities to experience nature – it may be the only chance they get. One estimate suggests that access to quality green space would save the NHS £2.1 billion pounds annually, because of the health benefits it provides 11 . It is clear that people need nature, but the reverse is also true – we need to inspire the next generation of conservationists to tackle the ongoing problems faced by wildlife. The only way to do this is to help people experience, explore and understand the natural world, because people won’t protect what they don’t know and love. Worryingly, today’s children have less contact with nature than ever before. The loss of urban green spaces, coupled with cultural changes and the rise of technology, means that many children rarely play outside. As a result, they are better at identifying Pokémon characters than common wildlife 12 . Even the most unlikely urban green spaces can provide encounters with fascinating wildlife, such as the striking lime hawkmoth caterpillar. Bearing a blue horn, it can be found wandering urban pavements in search of a suitable place to hide and pupate, eventually emerging as a beautifully-patterned moth. It is chance encounters with such creatures that can spark a lifetime’s enthusiasm for nature. Some rarities can survive in the most unlikely places. For example, one of the few remaining sites where the field wormwood can be found is on an industrial estate in Brandon, Norfolk. A few miles away, three rare speedwells grow side-by-side on a garden bank. Isleworth Ait, an island nature reserve in the Thames, managed by London Wildlife Trust, supports populations of the two-lipped door snail and the German hairy snail, both amongst our rarest molluscs. 56 STATE OF NATURE 2013
The renovation or demolition of older buildings reduces roosting opportunities for many bat species that rely on buildings as roosts, such as this rare grey long-eared bat. Hugh Clark (BCT) Grey long-eared bat
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STATE OF NATURE Foreword by Sir Dav
Page 5 and 6: UPLAND STATE OF NATURE 2013 29
Page 7 and 8: Although robust data are in short s
Page 9 and 10: ought species back from the brink o
Page 11 and 12: Wasps (175) All (5%) Moths (676) La
Page 13 and 14: MEASURING THE STATE OF NATURE Measu
Page 15 and 16: Although the evidence for the wides
Page 17 and 18: FARMLAND Farmland makes up around 7
Page 19 and 20: Why is farmland wildlife changing?
Page 21 and 22: Brown hares have benefited from hab
Page 23 and 24: lowland semi-natural grassland and
Page 25 and 26: Why is lowland semi-natural grassla
Page 27 and 28: Common lizard Steve Knell All six o
Page 29 and 30: UPLAND The UK’s uplands are the h
Page 31 and 32: o single factor is responsible for
Page 33 and 34: Golden eagles and other animals are
Page 35 and 36: WOODLAND Much of Britain was once c
Page 37 and 38: Why is woodland wildlife changing?
Page 39 and 40: Increased grazing pressure from dee
Page 41 and 42: COASTAL Wrapped in a narrow ribbon
Page 43 and 44: Why is coastal wildlife changing? T
Page 45 and 46: Genevieve Leaper Sea thrift on a cl
Page 47 and 48: FRESHWATER AND WETLANDS Freshwater
Page 49 and 50: Why is freshwater and wetland wildl
Page 51 and 52: Common frog Mark Sisson Freshwater
Page 53 and 54: URBAN There are many different ways
Page 55: Why is urban wildlife changing? A s
Page 59 and 60: URBAN Derelict, disused and unloved
Page 61 and 62: MARINE he UK is truly a maritime na
Page 63 and 64: hanges in the temperature, circulat
Page 65 and 66: Harbour seals have declined by near
Page 67 and 68: UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES The UK has
Page 69 and 70: Just one individual of St Helena’
Page 71 and 72: EXTINCTIONS AND COLONISATIONS You w
Page 73 and 74: Little egret Ernie Janes The little
Page 75 and 76: CONSERVATION HEROES Picture the sce
Page 77 and 78: Climate change Climate change is al
Page 79 and 80: A: In some datasets, both total cha
Page 81 and 82: Watchlist indicator Between 1995 an
Page 83 and 84: 11: Fuller RM (1987) Biological Con
Page 85 and 86: in urban area: implications for nat
Page 87 and 88: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements T
Page 89 and 90: Conchological Society of Great Brit
Page 92: The State of Nature report is a col
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State of Nature report - RSPB

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