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Commons Chamber
Public Access to Nature - Thu 18 May 2023
Scotland Office

Mentions:
1: Bob Seely (CON - Isle of Wight) Importantly, being an island, we have not had the invasion of non-native species such as deer, grey squirrels - Speech Link
2: Trudy Harrison (CON - Copeland) Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Bob Seely) hosts red squirrels. - Speech Link

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Written Question

Wildlife: Conservation

Friday 24th March 2023

Asked by: Dean Russell (Conservative - Watford)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect the (a) populations and (b) habitats of (i) hedgehogs, (ii) red squirrels and (iii) rare species of wildlife in the UK.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Government remains committed to taking action to recover our threatened native species, that is why we have set four legally binding targets to drive and measure improvements in nature recovery in England. These targets are: to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030; then to reverse declines by 2042; to reduce the risk of species extinction by 2042; and restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, also by 2042. We have set out our plan and policies to deliver against our species biodiversity targets in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23) published 31 January 2023. The EIP23 revises the 25-Year Environment Plan as part of our obligations under the Environment Act.

Measures introduced in the Environment Act such as biodiversity net gain and Local Nature Recovery Strategies will help deliver actions to recover species such as the hedgehog. Additionally, our new environmental land management schemes will pay for sustainable farming practices, creating and preserving habitat such as such as woodland, heathland and species-rich grassland, as well as making landscape-scale environmental changes, all of which could benefit species such as hedgehog.

Defra, Natural England and the Forestry Commission are signatories to the United Kingdom Squirrel Accord. This partnership, of over 40 organisations seeks, to secure and expand red squirrel populations through the delivery of actions set out in the England Red Squirrel Action Plan. Additionally, Defra has provided £300k, to support research and development of fertility control methods to reduce numbers of grey squirrels and impacts on red squirrels, tree health and forestry. Work to reduce grey squirrel impacts will be supported by Defra’s commitment in the EIP to update the 2014 Grey Squirrel Action Plan, detailing commitments to support landowners to manage the numbers of grey squirrels.

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Departmental Publication (Guidance and Regulation)
Ministry of Justice

Sep. 25 2023

Source Page: Ministry of Justice Climate Change and Sustainability
Document: Biennial ecology update 2016 to 2018 (PDF)

Found: delivered The custodial estate • Barn owl project • Biological surveys • SSSIs • Protecting our red squirrels

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Non-Departmental Publication (News and Communications)
Forestry Commission

Mar. 21 2023

Source Page: eAlert: 1 March 2023
Document: eAlert: 1 March 2023 (webpage)

Found: Sign up to our new mailing list, find out about the tree supply report and a guidance note on red squirrels

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Departmental Publication (Guidance and Regulation)
Department for Education

Jun. 12 2024

Source Page: Funding for national professional qualifications (NPQs)
Document: Early years settings (Excel)

Found: Mansfield558408601630Goodinge Early Years CentreEY408887620238Manchester Settlement2656064685950Little Squirrels

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Select Committee

Natural England

UGS0067 - Urban Green Spaces

Written Evidence Jan. 09 2024

Inquiry: Urban Green Spaces
Inquiry Status: Closed
Committee: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Found: index of the seven most commonly recorded mammal species (hedgehogs, foxes, badgers, bats, grey squirrels

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Select Committee

First Special Report - Seeing the wood for the trees: the contribution of the forestry and timber sectors to biodiversity and net zero goals: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2022–23

Special Report Dec. 15 2023

Committee: Environmental Audit Committee

Found: Climate change, pests, diseases, deer and squirrels are the biggest challenges our woodlands (existing

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