Cornish wildlife project receives £350k

A wildlife recovery project on the Lizard in south Cornwall has received £350,000 in funding from Natural England.

The scheme aims to help rare coastal lichens, wildflowers and butterflies across the Lizard National Nature Reserve. The conservation work is being headed up by the National Trust, which is burning heathland and cutting off firebreaks.

Chough can be found on the Lizard (Chris Teague).

Conservation collaboration

Seth Jackson, National Trust project manager, said the new funding would help protect species and microhabitats, and link the whole landscape together.

He said: "Working closely with tenants, graziers and the local community will ensure a joined-up and long-term sustainable approach to habitat management. Here on the Lizard, despite the wonderful landscape and the rich biodiversity it supports, we are not immune to the pressures that climate warming and habitat change bring, and many rare species are struggling."

Natural England species recovery programme manager, Karen Shelley-Jones, added: "We are delighted to be working with the National Trust on this project which epitomises what our species recovery programme is all about: delivering targeted bespoke action to reduce the risk of extinction for some of our most threatened and often overlooked species."