PRESS RELEASE

5 December 2006
Cheshire Wildlife Trust adds voice to Climate Change Campaign

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is making a stance regarding the issue of climate change as it seeks to inform people that climate change is not just a global concern; but also a local problem that will affect wildlife across Cheshire.

The Trust is backing a report launched at the House of Commons by The Wildlife Trusts, which calls for urgent Government action to prepare wildlife for climate change. The report – A Living Landscape – has a four-point plan, which maps the way forward in countering climate change and restoring the UK’s battered ecosystems, for both wildlife and people; from inner cities to rural communities.

At one end of the scale prolonged drought periods could lead to the loss of many of Cheshire’s famous and internationally important ponds and marshes, whereas on the other hand increased rainfall would result in serious flooding across the Cheshire plains. Disrupted climate patterns would change conventional behaviour of wildlife, affecting the thousands of migratory birds, which arrive and depart from Cheshire each year. On an extreme scale long-term temperature changes could encourage the spread of invasive species, and bring a rise in pests and diseases associated with much warmer climes.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is already actively involved in educating people about climate change and global warming. In order to slow down climate change, the Trust has embarked upon several projects, for instance conserving carbon sinks such as peat bogs. However they are also looking at the following ways of tackling the issue.

• Developing more natural flood alleviation schemes, such as the one at Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s Gowy Meadows nature reserve, which currently protects the Stanlow oil refinery.
• Setting up tree planting schemes to absorb carbon dioxide, protect soils and avoid erosion, like the joint project between Cheshire Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust at Dutton Park Farm near Frodsham.
• Re-creating large areas of nature to reinforce ecological life-support systems and networks enabling species to migrate north from areas in the south where they might be under climate change pressure. The proposed Weaver Valley Regional Park and Sandstone Ridge Econet Project are examples of potential large scale projects in Cheshire.

Chris Mahon, Chief Executive of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, recently attended the Stop Climate Chaos rally in London. He joined 25,000 demonstrators, including the Right Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, the band Razorlight and singer KT Tunstall, in Trafalgar Square. In a show of support thousands more joined in at home by signing up online and texting.

Chris Mahon comments, “Climate Change is an important concern and as people are now beginning to fully understand some of the implications of climate change it is real opportunity to take things one stage further. This is an important matter for everyone and we can each help to do something about it, although good leadership by local and national decision-makers will be crucial.”

Sir David Attenborough, vice president of The Wildlife Trusts, says in the report: “The last time the UK’s wildlife faced a challenge on this scale was at the end of the last ice age. We need to find ways to help our wildlife become more resilient to the trials it faces in the 21st century. We must now work on a landscape scale if we are to give wildlife a chance and allow future generations to enjoy nature as we have.”

To find out how you can help please contact Cheshire Wildlife Trust on 01270 610180.

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