Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust

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Species Action Plans

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Biodiversity Action Plan (LLRBAP) includes sixteen Species Action Plans.

In many instances these are selected because they are species representative of specific habitats or because they are flagship species recognisable by the general public.

In addition, the Habitat Action Plans in the LLRBAP identify characteristic species associated with each of the habitats. All are included in Space for Wildlife, the latest revision of the LLRBAP, to help promote habitat management and creation.

Species of local importance:

• Barn owl
• Bats
• Black hairstreak butterfly
• Black poplar
• Dingy and grizzled skipper
• Dormouse
• Nightingale
• Otter
• Purple small-reed
• Redstart
• Sand martin
• Violet helleborine
• Water vole
• White-clawed crayfish
• Wood vetch

Species conservation is best addressed through habitat restoration and creation. Species do not live in isolation; they live in habitats and require functioning ecosystems. If the habitat isn’t right the species will decline. Habitat degradation and loss are key drivers of species loss.

The whole thrust of Space for Wildlife, the latest revision of the LLRBAP, is to increase the amount of habitat available for wildlife across the wider countryside irrespective of its exact nature. This will benefit not only BAP species but also a wide variety of other wildlife. It is recognised that some species will continue to decline, with habitat specialists being under particular threat.

Click here to download further information on Species Action Plans and objectives.