A 9,400-acre estate in Northumberland, home to wading birds, red squirrels and rare species, has been bought by the Wildlife Trusts after a funding appeal drew donations from supporters in 50 countries. The land will become part of a 40-mile nature corridor across Northern England, with nature recovery placed at the heart of its future management.
A record number of sightings have been made of the Affric Twitcher moth, which is found almost only in Glen Affric in the Highlands. Surveys also recorded a large number of its silk larval spinnings, and its range is believed to have doubled in two years.
A rare crown-tipped coral fungus, once thought extinct in Britain, has been found growing on a fallen log at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury. Visitors can now see it near the rabbit enclosure, where staff have added signs and protective barriers, and staff hope it will return next year.
New research from the University of Liverpool suggests beavers help keep water levels steady, making wetland areas more resistant to drought. Beavers at the Hatchmere enclosure in Cheshire kept the area wet during the 2022 drought, supporting plants and local wildlife.
