New report highlights importance of Peak District

Produced by Nature Peak District - the Local Nature Partnership for the area - the report sets out what is known about recent trends in the key habitats and species in the Peak District.

It covers moorlands, grassland, woodlands, wetlands, birds, and other species including some plants, insects and mammals.

The report is designed to help inform nature conservation and land management and highlights future actions needed to support wildlife in the Peak District.

Report author Penny Anderson said: “Nature is important in its own right, but the ‘wow’ factor also enriches and inspires the lives of the millions of people who live in and visit the Peak District.

“The report shows both successes in protecting and improving habitats but also losses and declines of much loved vistas and species like lapwing and hay meadow flowers.

“It’s vital that we have a better understanding of local wildlife so that we can appreciate, value and enhance the natural environment for everyone’s benefit.

“Healthy habitats and species populations indicate when we’re getting things right when things are not going so well, they also show where there’s still more to be done.”

Work by the United Utilities’ SCaMP project, Moors for Future Partnership and National Trust on revegetating and rewetting the Dark Peak moorlands damaged by wildfire and past industrial pollution are given in the report as good examples of wildlife restoration, benefiting birds such as golden plover, dunlin and curlew, as well as enhancing the landscape and improving water quality.