Warm summer evenings on the Dorset heathlands are something very special.
The ‘jewel in the crown’ of this wildlife rich landscape stretches from the RSPB’s Arne nature reserve to Studland on the Purbeck coast, along the ruins of Corfe Castle - a scene unchanged in 360 years.
Sadly, the heaths are now fragmented, with more than 80% lost to agriculture, afforestation or housing in the last two centuries. Most of the remaining areas are protected under the Natura 2000 network of the European Nature Directives, due to the presence of unique habitats like wet Heathland, or threatened species such as Dartford warbler and southern damselfly.
This is just one example of the unique places that comprise the four per cent of South-West England that is protected by this European legislation, as part of the ‘Natura 2000’ network.
These include the Severn Estuary with 70,000 wintering birds and its amazing migratory fish; Salisbury Plain - the largest area of chalk grassland in Europe; and the amazing Isles of Scilly (with 20,000 breeding seabirds) - where 80% of the island’s income comes from tourism.
Many of these are widely celebrated and visited places, highly valued by society. However, what makes these places special would be put in serious jeopardy if the Nature Directives were weakened.
How important are the directives?
We need only look at the recent public inquiry on a proposal for housing development at Talbot Heath to see how important the Directives are.
The proposal was turned down because the site was deemed to be of such international importance due to its designation as a ‘Special Protection Area’ under the Directives, that the increased disturbance resulting from the development was deemed to be unacceptable.
Despite the recognition given to the famous landscapes, large parts of coastal Devon and Cornwall had become unmanaged, resulting in the growth of impenetrable scrub at the expense of flower rich meadows. The Nature Directives played a key role in catalysing the restoration of these sites.
Likewise, funding through the LIFE programme for the Natura 2000 network has enabled rat eradication on two islands in Scilly – allowing the first successful nesting of Manx shearwaters in a generation. Many thousands of tourists visit these sites, bringing a huge boost to the local economy.
If I look ahead to a possible future without these Directives, I see degraded landscapes that are more heavily fragmented and disturbed. Still superficially attractive, they will be devoid of the wildlife that makes them special and attracts so many tourists.
There will be few opportunities to improve management or restore the special wildlife that once made them loved, and they will be failing to contribute many of the ecosystem services that we rely on - such as a clean water supply, flood relief and carbon storage.
We must not let this happen
These sites are already a tiny fragment of the wildlife wonders that we once had.
The absurdity of this situation is that there is not even a conflict.
In the past decade just a handful of major developments have been stopped as a result of these designations, and these were bad ideas that should never have happened.
Most developers have found that this protective regime does not provide a barrier to sensibly planned growth and they understand the clear processes that need to be undertaken to ensure that development takes place sustainably.
These and other wonderful natural places are what makes the South-West so special, and what drives a significant part of its rural economy.
Respond to the consultation
If you haven’t done so already, I would urge you to make your voices heard by responding to the consultation.
We’ve already had 490,000 people telling the European Commission not to weaken the Directives (the previous biggest ever response to an EU consultation was only 150,000) – but we need more, and you’ve got until 11 pm on Sunday to do so, and to get your friends and family to do so, too!
Paul BuckleySouth West England Conservation Manager