Celebrating World Nature Conservation Day
Ahead of World Nature Conservation Day, we're reflecting on the importance of protecting biodiversity and restoring the natural world. To mark the occasion, we wanted to share some recent UK conservation wins, highlighting inspiring examples of species recovery, habitat restoration and collaborative action.
Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife
130 projects covering 364 threatened species received £60 million from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme. The funding aims to reverse biodiversity decline, support species recovery and improve ecosystems for both nature and agriculture.
Initiatives include helping farmers and land managers restore habitats, boosting pollinators, and using tools such as environmental DNA and detection dogs to find rare species including ghost orchid, northern dune tiger beetle, white-clawed crayfish and field gentian.
Native Species Recovery Hubs, led by zoos, aquariums and conservation partners, will deliver breeding and reintroduction programmes for rare species, including 16 threatened invertebrates, while increasing public engagement with England’s biodiversity.
A Lifeline for Britain’s Native Crayfish
A new national recovery programme is giving the white-clawed crayfish, the UK’s only native freshwater crayfish, a vital boost as it declines due to invasive signal crayfish, crayfish plague, habitat loss and pollution. Backed by Natural England’s largest-ever species recovery investment, the programme will protect remaining populations, improve freshwater habitats and create secure refuge sites as part of wider efforts to recover 364 threatened species across England.
Rare species are making a comeback
The Dartford warbler is recovering strongly after nearing extinction in England in the 1960s. A 2025 survey found 264 breeding pairs on RSPB reserves, up 44% in five years, thanks to efforts to restore and reconnect lowland heathland, remove conifers and create gorse-rich nesting and feeding areas. The UK population is now estimated at around 4,100.
£30 million Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund
The UK Government has announced a £30 million Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund to restore nature-rich habitats across England’s key landscapes, including National Parks, National Landscapes and the Broads. Over three years, it will support thousands of hectares of restoration, helping species such as hedgehogs, hazel dormice, water voles, curlews and turtle doves, while supporting the goal to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.
Over 77,000 hectares of habitat restored
Defra and Natural England report that 77,638 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat have been created or restored across England since January 2023, nearly double the previous year’s figure. The updated metric now includes external partners such as Buglife and the Newt Conservation Partnership, underlining the role of collaboration in nature recovery. While progress towards the 500,000-hectare target by 2042 is strong, continued landscape-scale restoration and partnership working will be needed to secure long-term benefits for wildlife.
Norfolk Heath Brought Back to Life: A Decade of Nature Recovery Success
After a decade of conservation work, Massingham Heath in west Norfolk has been transformed from intensively farmed arable land into 1,200 acres of grassland, wildflower meadows and scrub. Led by Natural England and local landowners, the project has helped rare species return, including dingy skipper butterflies, skylarks, woodlarks, stonechats, wasp spiders, oil beetles and pyramidal orchids. Supported by agri-environment schemes, local wildflower seeds and conservation grazing, it shows how long-term collaboration can deliver large-scale nature recovery.
A career in the environmental and sustainability sector offers young people the chance to do work that has a meaningful impact, while developing valuable skills and gaining experience across a wide range of disciplines.
Whether supporting nature recovery, tackling climate challenges or helping create more sustainable communities, there are many opportunities to build a rewarding career while making a positive difference for the planet.
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