What’s the Damage? Why HS2 Will Cost Nature Too Much draws on data from 14 wildlife trusts affected by the current plans, other charities and some land owners along the route.
It says HS2 will divide and destroy huge swathes of irreplaceable natural habitat and important protected wildlife sites, like Broadwater Lake in Harefield.
The report finds that HS2’s current plans will risk the loss of, or significantly impact barn owls and endangered wildlife such as white-clawed crayfish, willow tit and lizard orchid. Rarities like dingy skipper may become locally extinct.
Nikki Williams, the Wildlife Trusts’ director of campaigns and policy, said: “The figures are grim and the reality is worse.
“The potential loss of so many really important wild places and the wildlife that depends on them has never been revealed before – nor has the damage that will be done to taxpayer-funded, nature recovery projects.”
www.wildlifetrusts.org/HS2-report.
The Wildlife Trusts are urging people to send a message to the Prime Minister – stop and rethink!
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