Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth.  It includes the rich variation to be found in living organisms, the variety within a species, between species, from one habitat to another and between whole ecosystems.

Newark and Sherwood District has its own unique biodiversity.  From the ancient oaks of Sherwood Forest to the spectacle of flocks of thousands of golden plover wintering on the wet grasslands of the Trent Valley, Newark and Sherwood's natural inheritance is one of its more precious and valued assets.

The District lies within the East Midlands which has probably lost more wildlife than any other region in England - an average of one species per year has become extinct in the East Midlands over the last century.

Despite this, Newark and Sherwood District possesses very important sites for nature conservation and has great potential to support more - this has been recognised by the numerous organisations, partnerships and individuals who are working to replace recent losses.

Biodiversity conservation is an increasingly important area of work for the District Council.  The Council (both alone and in partnership) has an important role in ensuring that it makes a full contribution to meeting local, county and national biodiversity targets.

Nottinghamshire has lost 90% of its heathland since the 1920s

97% of flower rich meadows have been lost since 1930

20% of UK hedgerows were lost between 1984 & 1990

As habitats go, so too do the plants and animals that depend on them………

Song thrushes have declined by over 50% in the last 25 years

Water voles are gone from more than 70% of their former sites, and are heading for extinction

In the last 100 years, over 100 species have become extinct in the UK