Rare species recorded in New Forest restoration project
PUBLISHED ON: 3 FEBRUARY 2025Nearly 40 rare species have been recorded in the New Forest during a project to restore areas for nature.
The species were identified during surveys undertaken by Wild New Forest last year as part of the Species Survival Fund, which is restoring and creating habitats to halt species decline.
The surveys were completed at 10 sites, mostly around the northern and southern fringes of the New Forest National Park.
‘In total, about 860 species were recorded during the surveys, including 370 animals, 265 plants, and 225 fungi,’ explained Prof Russell Wynn, Director of Wild New Forest.
‘This might sound like a lot of species, but it only represents about five per cent of the total number of animal, plant, and fungi species estimated to occur in the New Forest, which is recognised as an international biodiversity hotspot.
‘Encouragingly, there were 150 records of 36 priority species that are classified as nationally rare or scarce.
‘Many of these are relatively familiar and widespread here in the New Forest, such as goshawk, raft spider, and wood cricket.
‘But there were some surprising discoveries, including a new species of fungus for Hampshire, a new pine marten hotspot revealed using trail cameras, and a pond full of Hampshire purslane – a nationally rare aquatic plant that is almost wholly restricted to the New Forest.’
The £1.3m project is hosted by the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA), alongside partners Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC), Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT), Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT), New Forest Commoners Defence Association (CDA), and Wild New Forest.
“This project is a great example of partners working together for the good of the New Forest” said Paul Walton, the NPA’s Head of Environment and Rural Economy. “The New Forest is one of the most biodiverse areas in England but requires continued investment to support the protection and expansion of wildlife rich habitats.
“Thanks to Defra via the Species Survival Fund this has been realised and it will allow habitats to thrive into the future and be more resilient to the impacts of climate change.”
Overall, the project team is working with landowners across 25 sites to enhance 250 hectares of land (the equivalent of 350 football pitches) for nature in the New Forest.
The surveys will help to ensure habitat works on site are targeted to increase biodiversity, including helping to ensure the priority species already present can continue to be successful in the New Forest for years to come.
Russell added: ‘It was encouraging to find that several of the survey sites already contain pockets of high-quality wetland, woodland, heathland, and grassland habitat that host a wide variety of priority species.
‘However, there was also evidence for habitat degradation due to excessive growth of non-native species like rhododendron and changes in the way land is grazed by livestock.
‘At some sites, there is concern that vulnerable habitats – and the species that rely on them – will be lost within a few years if we don’t act now to restore them.’
Project partners and landowners are now working together to deliver habitat creation and restoration work across several sites and repeat surveys will be conducted later this year to assess the impact of these works.
The project is funded by the Government’s Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.
An illustrated blog featuring images of many of the priority species discovered in 2024 can be viewed on the Wild New Forest website here.
Pictured above: Cortinarius lacustris – a damp woodland fungus that was recently confirmed as new to Hampshire using DNA analysis (credit: Russell Wynn)
For further information about the Species Survival Fund, check out the page here