Double Trouble for Cornwall’s wildlife

Cornwall Wildlife Trust is launching their most important appeal yet – to help the wildlife on your doorstep to adapt to the changing climate in Cornwall. 

The Trust urgently requires funds to ensure that wildlife is protected over the coming years.  Whether it is responding to the many planning applications for developments such as housing and new roads, or working on landscape-scale conservation projects to join up important pieces of habitats or campaigning for Marine Protected Areas to be included in a Marine Bill, these measures must be put in place now to ensure that our wildlife is protected for future generations to enjoy – and we must all take responsibility for making sure this happens before it is too late.

Cheryl Marriott, Assistant Conservation Manager for the Trust said, “Our changing climate is now the biggest threat facing Cornwall’s wildlife both on land and in the sea.  Some species will simply not survive the direct effects of hotter drier summers, wetter spring and autumn periods and increased storminess.  When you add in the indirect effects, like nature’s complicated clock being thrown out of time, and the impact of invasive alien species competing with native species, Cornwall’s wildlife is in double trouble.”

This appeal has been sponsored by the Trust’s Corporate Member and Pension Advisor, Worldwide Financial Planning.  The money from this appeal will be used for many projects including monitoring the impacts of climate change on our natural environment.  The Trust believes that the distribution of dolphins, basking sharks and sunfish is changing with rising sea temperatures.  It is vital that we monitor these changes as these species are potential indicators of climate change and could tell us more about what is happening in our oceans. 

Cheryl continued, “The impact that warmer, wetter winters will have on hibernating dormice is currently unknown.  There is concern that milder winters will mean that dormice will come out of hibernation earlier in spring before there is enough food available.  This could be disastrous news for one of our most loved animals and we urgently need to collect more information so we focus on habitat management to ensure that good supplies of flowers and berries are available for dormice to eat.” 

If the Trust is able to monitor species and habitats across the county, they can then work with others, including the general public, to plan ahead and put appropriate measures in place to ensure that we continue to enjoy the beautiful and diverse countryside in Cornwall.

Marie Preece, Marketing and Fundraising Manager for the Trust said, “There are lots of national campaigns happening at the moment but it is more important than ever that we don’t forget the work of our local charities.  Due to cuts in funding, it is now much harder for local wildlife charities to obtain grants as we have done in the past.  Therefore we are now more reliant than ever on the good nature and community spirit of everyone in Cornwall.”

Please make you donation today – just £8 covers the cost of installing a dormouse box, whereas £60 would cover the cost of responding to a major planning application.  Please send cheques made payable to Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Five Acres, Allet, Truro, TR4 9DJ or telephone Marie Preece on 01872 273939 ext 205.