Dr Tony Whitbread, Chief Executive of the Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT), is calling for more wildlife friendly gardens in the county, after the inclusion of hedgehogs on an updated list of species and habitats in need of protection.

Compiled by a coalition of government organisations, wildlife and conservation charities including input from The Wildlife Trusts (TWT), the new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is considered to be one of the most authoritative reference sources for the state of the UK’s wildlife.

The new BAP identifies 1,149 species and 65 habitats in need of protection, twice as many as when the first list was published in 1997. Approved by Defra, common and familiar species such as the house sparrow, grass snake, starling and hedgehog have now been added to the list.

“The overall trend of increasing decline in our wildlife is of great concern” says Dr Tony Whitbread, Chief Executive of SWT. “Now that the lists are published it’s time for action. We need bold policy change in agriculture, planning and land management to re-create and reconnect habitats and provide wildlife with a better chance of adapting to climate change.”

The addition of such common species as the hedgehog to the list, is blamed on increased urbanisation and tidier gardens. To make your garden or green space more wildlife friendly call the Trust’s wildlife information service - WildCall on 01273 494777 – for free advice and factsheets.

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Notes to Editors:
The new UK BAP list is an important reference source, bringing all the scientific information on UK BAP species and habitats together in one place. For more information visit www.ukbap.org.uk