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Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage is a £25 million-plus,
10-year, programme that is helping to restore and re-create
lowland heathland in local communities around the United
Kingdom. With up to 26 separate projects and over 140 partner
organisations, the programme is making a substantial contribution
to the delivery of the Government's Biodiversity Action
Plan targets for this rare and beautiful habitat. Improved
interpretation and access will also allow more people to
enjoy and appreciate our lowland heathland sites.
Lowland heathland is one of the most valuable, yet severely
threatened, wildlife habitats in Europe. It is rare throughout
the world. Delightful native wild species like the marsh
gentian, Dartford warbler, natterjack toad and silver studded
blue butterfly depend on it for survival. More than that,
it has inspired great artists, musicians and writers - people
like Thomas Hardy - down the centuries. With an area of
58,000 ha - about the size of the Isle of Wight - the UK
holds about a fifth of all the world's lowland heathland.
Yet since 1800, more than 80% of this country's stock has
been lost. If the wildlife is to survive, and if we are
to continue to draw enjoyment and inspiration from it, then
we must stem the loss of lowland heathland and start to
re-instate it.
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