West of England’s wildlife faces urgent threats according to new report
A £5 million fund aims to tackle alarming species decline
A new report has revealed alarming declines in the West of England’s wildlife, with urgent work needed to reverse the trend.
Since 2000, 15% of species in the region are declining, according to The State of Nature report, with fish and bird populations particularly impacted.
An astonishing 62% of fish species and 44% of birds are seeing numbers drop.
These figures are part of over 33,000 records collected by volunteers and local recorders, forming the first Wildlife Index for the region.
In response to these threats, a £5 million Nature Fund has been approved to support projects targeting biodiversity decline.
The fund will assist initiatives within the region’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), focusing on connecting habitats and communities.
The approach includes the establishment of the Western Forest, with 22,000 new trees planted in Pucklechurch Wood, marking the first new national forest in decades.
"The West of England is exceptionally well-placed to lead on the environment," said Mayor Helen Godwin.
"Climate and nature are threaded through our regional Growth Strategy as real priorities.
“The State of Nature report can make for difficult reading, but it also highlights the opportunities where everyone can protect and restore our biodiversity.
"Our new £5 million Nature Fund will help make a real difference that people – and wildlife – here in the West Country can see and feel.”
Sumita Hutchison, Chair of the West of England Nature Partnership, said:
“The threats to nature are becoming clearer to all of us — we’ve felt them in the recent heatwave and the unpredictability of this year’s weather. The State of Nature report is a call to action, and on the back of it we are galvanised to bring even more people together for nature.
“Yet I feel real hope, because this is the work of an extraordinary partnership of inspired and forward-thinking leaders, including the Mayor. The Nature Fund will be a catalyst for genuine growth — for nature, and for the resilience of our region.”
The West of England's local leaders said in a joint statement:
“From the Severn Estuary and the Avon Gorge to the North Somerset levels and moors, to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and the Mendips, our landscapes are nationally acclaimed – but also facing significant challenges.
“The State of Nature report gives the clearest picture ever for our region of where the priorities lie and where action can be most effectively taken to address decline.
"Whether an organisation, a community or an individual, there are opportunities for all of us to play our part in nature recovery across the West of England.”
The report is released amid the Natural History Consortium's annual Festival of Nature, an event designed to engage communities with the natural world.
Running from 6th to 14th June 2026, it features over 160 events that encourage participation in wildlife surveys and nature actions.