England has lost many of its native species over the past few centuries. Some disappeared because their habitats came under threat, others because of changes in land use, pollution or persecution.
Today, wildlife is decline and ecosystems are under increasing pressure from a changing climate and invasive species. At Forestry England we're playing an active role in helping nature recover, and this includes carefully reintroducing species where it's right to do so.
In this blog, we talk to Andrew Stringer, our Head of Environment & Nature Recovery, about why we carry out wildlife reintroductions and look at some key projects.
Why are wildlife reintroductions important?
In the face of a global climate and ecological crisis, the job of looking after the nation’s forests has never been so important. Our staff and volunteers do extraordinary conservation work every day to support the wildlife that already lives within our forests.
But we do more than just conserve what's left; we’re supporting wildlife for the future and encouraging it to flourish. Reintroducing lost species is a key part of this. By returning creatures from where they’ve been lost, we’re supporting nature’s recovery. Andrew Stringer explains:
"Restoring these missing pieces of an ecosystem is not only valuable for the conservation of the species themselves, but also for the impacts they can have on other wildlife.
For instance, predators have an essential role in naturally balancing prey populations, so that single species don’t dominate a forest. It’s because we manage the nation’s forests well, because of the superb and extensive habitats they hold, that Forestry England sites are often identified as release sites."
The importance of research and planning
Returning a species to the wild should be carefully considered and planned. Andrew continues:
"Any project needs to fundamentally understand why a species was lost in the first place, and show that the benefits of a reintroduction will clearly outweigh the potential risks."
Often reintroductions come down to three key considerations. For the best chance of success there needs to be:
- enough good habitat for a viable population to survive over the long term.
- a good understanding and evidence of the impacts on other wildlife.
- clear support and engagement from local communities.
Reintroduction projects in progress
White-tailed eagles on the Isle of Wight
2019 was an exciting year for wildlife in the nation’s forests. Working with Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, we reintroduced white-tailed eagles on the Isle of Wight. It was the first time the birds had graced the skies of southern England for over 200 years.
Pine martens in the Forest of Dean
We also released 18 pine martens in the Forest of Dean in 2019, with Vincent Wildlife Trust and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Previously their numbers were thought too low to survive in England.
Water voles in Kielder Forest
In 2021 we continued the largest water vole reintroduction ever attempted in Northumberland. Working with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, we released more water voles onto the banks of Kielder’s watercourses, taking the total to over 2,000 voles since the project began in 2017. Before then, ‘Ratty’ hadn’t been seen in Kielder for over 30 years.
Beaver projects across the country
In 2018 we introduced a pair of Eurasian beavers in a trial in the Forest of Dean, after a 400-year absence. The following year, with support from Forest Holidays, we released another two beavers at Cropton Forest in North Yorkshire. Two kits were born to the pair that summer, with more born in the years after.
"Beavers improve water quality by filtering sediments and pollutants, and naturally coppice trees along streams and rivers, increasing levels of light and deadwood. All this provides habitats for other species to thrive in, boosting waterside plants, insect numbers and amphibian populations."
As Andrew says, beavers are important ecosystem engineers. Their dams increase water storage in the surrounding area, slowing the flow of water and potentially reducing the impact of flooding downstream.
Butterflies, bugs and bogs
It’s not all about cute and furry mammals or impressive birds of prey. From bees, beetles and butterflies to spiders, woodlice and worms, England's smallest animals are a crucial part of the forest ecosystem. Andrew continues:
"Potentially our most exciting project, to an ecology geek like me, is the reintroduction of the chequered skipper butterfly to Rockingham Forest. The butterfly had been extinct in England since 1976. By creating habitat, adapting woodland management, and working with Butterfly Conservation, we were able to successfully reintroduce the species."
White-faced darter dragonflies
Another insect success story is the reintroduction of the rare white-faced darter. This dragonfly lives in shallow, peaty pools, and as part of bog restoration work in Delamere Forest, we worked with Cheshire Wildlife Trust to reintroduce this locally extinct insect back to the forest. It was only the third time that dragonflies had been the focus of a reintroduction scheme anywhere in Britain.
Understanding risks and monitoring success
Wildlife reintroductions are not easy, and even the best planned projects have failed in the past. Andrew explains:
"Sadly, we have to expect to lose animals. In the case of white-tailed eagles, survival rates from similar schemes in Ireland were 75% for their first year. Adult survival rates for pine martens range from 49% to 88% per year. But these reintroduction projects are for the long-term and, crucially, the focus is on establishing a robust population over time. This is how we judge success."
Monitoring reintroduced animals is essential to judging success. The survival rates of released animals, the impacts they’re having on their environment and other species, and how local communities are reacting are all things that are recorded.
Working beyond wildlife reintroductions
Nature recovery is not all about exciting reintroductions and releases. Other work we're doing to continue providing diverse habitats for wildlife include:
- creating the right combination of wooded and open areas.
- restoring wetlands and cleaning watercourses.
- safeguarding veteran trees and deadwood habitats.
We will be following the progress of these wildlife reintroduction projects and continue to work with partners and other landowners. Together, we can create more wildlife-rich forests for generations to come.
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