Charity flags up decline of rare woodland birds in Surrey

Conservationists are highlighting the plight of another rare bird in Surrey to raise awareness of the scale of decline in the county's woodland wildlife species. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says that the willow tit Parus montanus, which was once widespread across the UK, has plummeted in number over the last 30 years. The charity said now recorded sightings have all but ceased in Surrey. And it pointed to the plight of the country's smallest woodpecker, the lesser spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos minor, too, saying it is also an increasingly rare sound in the South-east and the rest of the UK. Previously, the RSPB has drawn attention to arguably Surrey's rarest bird, the Dartford Warbler, which was once regularly spotted in the region's heathland areas, including Reigate Heath, but is now a very rare sight since a crash in its numbers in recent years.
The RSPB was presenting the findings in the wake of last month's State of Nature report.

The report drawn up by a coalition of conservation groups and experts revealed that 60% of our woodland species have decreased, and 34% have decreased strongly, over recent decades.

The report stated that of 262 woodland flowering plants assessed, 30 of them – or 11% - are on the national “Red List.” Some are considered Critically Endangered, including green hound’s-tongue, which prefers open glades and rides in woodland.
Within our woodlands, butterflies have declined by 43% since 1990. The loss has been particularly severe for wood white and Duke of Burgundy butterflies, amongst others. Most declining species are now restricted to actively managed woodlands and habitats such as rides, glades and clearings.

Source: Redhill and Reigate Life, 16 June 2013
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