Major UK landowner assesses climate risk across 400 square miles

Wildlife Trusts’ report outlines radical steps required to help nature adapt to climate change

• Projected impacts on The Wildlife Trusts’ huge estate show the scale of climate crisis in an era of dramatic nature decline
• Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is increasing action to cope with climate change-induced floods, fires, low river flows, high temperatures, erosion, and drought
• Innovative projects help nature adapt to change such as rewetting peatlands in the Staffordshire Moorlands, and restoring and better connecting entire landscapes across the county

A new report published today by the UK’s sixth-largest landowner reveals that society must help nature adapt to the climate crisis and be prepared to see wild places change in order to survive.

The Wildlife Trusts’ first climate risk assessment, Changing Nature, examines the impacts of the changing climate across their estate, which covers nearly 400 square miles. It assesses the risks and looks ahead at what is needed to help nature adapt and survive in the future. The findings come at a time when the UK is already one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.

The research finds that, by the 2050s, under a future warming trajectory that reaches 3°C warming by 2100:

• Half of The Wildlife Trusts’ nature reserves will have 30+ days of very high fire risk yearly
• Almost all reserves will see more than a 1°C increase on hot summer days by 2050
• 55% of reserves will see nearby river flows drop by more than 30% during times of low flow

The report shows how extreme weather is already affecting many Wildlife Trust reserves, including:

• Wildfires – like those at The Roaches and Gentleshaw Common have destroyed valuable and rare habitats, affecting the availability of food for wildlife, and costing huge amounts of time and money
• Flooding – which we have seen throughout Staffordshire has impacted wildlife, damaged infrastructure, and increased river pollution
• Droughts – have lowered the water table on wetland nature reserves, dried-out peat bogs, and concentrated pollution in rivers.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust wants to see increased effort from governments, businesses, and other landowners on climate adaptation, including greater investment in nature-based solutions and a specific focus on resilience.

Jeff Sim, Head of Reserves and Nature Recovery for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, says:

“Climate change is contributing more and more to nature’s decline with devastating consequences for people and wildlife. In Staffordshire, we are already stepping up our efforts to restore habitats so that they benefit wildlife and are better able to store carbon. Our report also shows the range of actions we are taking to help nature adapt to climate change and what’s needed in the future – from further rewetting of peatlands to backing community-led rewilding projects.

“The projected impact of climate change on our nature reserves is just the tip of the iceberg. We need people to join us in creating a new national vision for our landscapes because we can no longer focus only on restoring nature to a historical state; change is inevitable.

“A concerted effort is required to create more space for nature everywhere, enabling natural ecosystems to function properly, creating habitats for wildlife, and building diversity and flexibility for the future.”

Restoring nature at scale is the solution

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is already providing innovative solutions to help wildlife adapt to the changing climate. Projects include improving and rerouting rivers to regulate water flows, connecting key habitats to allow nature to move freely, and restoring peatlands and wetlands to help them cope with hotter, drier conditions.

Projects started in the past year include:

• On Monday 4^th July, National Highways, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Stafford Borough Council, and the Environment Agency announced the launch of a £4.1 million project to start in autumn this year. This major investment from National Highways will benefit 25 riverway sites across Stafford; helping to improve biodiversity in habitats, create a nature recovery network across the town, improve access for local community wellbeing, and reduce the risk of flooding.
   
• In April 2022, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and The Peak District National Park Authority began work across county borders with Cheshire Wildlife Trust to improve habitats for Curlew and other wading birds on important wetland sites. A key part of this project is working with the community members to identify and care for key sites for wetland birds.
   
• The Wilder River Churnet project launched on the 10^th of March 2022 and will continue to run into 2023 focusing on improving water quality and reducing flood risk on multiple sites in The Churnet River valley through grip blocking, pond digging, and creating peat dams. This is a Green Recovery Challenge-funded project in partnership with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and The Environment Agency.
   
• Wilder Stoke, Wilder Newcastle is another Green Recovery Challenge Fund project that continues the work done previously in the EDRF SUNRISE project across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. The emphasis is on empowering the community to carry on the conservation work which has taken place and to improve urban wildlife sites across both cities.
   
• Transforming the Trent Valley began in 2018. This £4.7 million project is match funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and combined the work of 18 organisations to revitalise landscapes in The Trent Valley, also empowering communities to engage with nature.
   

Changing Nature, a report from The Wildlife Trusts can be downloaded here.