Schemes to protect Cumbria’s natterjack toads are among a package of £5.5million anounced by Natural England to help some of the country’s most threatened wildlife.

Half of England's populations exist in increasingly isolated pockets along the Cumbrian coast.

The Herpetological Conservation Trust will receive £92,000 to help conservation work in the county.

Elsewhere across the country fritillary butterflies, sharks, crayfish, cirl buntings, twites and cornflowers will also benefit from the cash as will wetlands landscapes in various parts of the country and marine species in the Isle of Scilly.

Natural England will also fund projects which aim to preserve traditional orchards and moves to restore hedgerows in a bid to help hazel dormice.

The conservation agency said that the multi-million pound programme aims to help some of England's most threatened species and habitats in a bid to halt the loss of biodiversity.

The money will go to conservation groups including the RSPB, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts and the People's Trust for Endangered Species to carry out the schemes to protect wildlife.

Natural England chairman Sir Martin Doughty said: "We want to improve the fortunes of some of our most precious species and habitats and this funding will help our conservation partners meet these challenges.”

*The Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) is distinguished from the common toad (Bufo bufo) by the bold yellow stripe running down the middle of its back. It is restricted to around 60 sites in Britain.

The natterjack is a protected species. It is an offence to kill, injure, capture or disturb them in any way, or damage or destroy their habitat.

Natterjack action plan details can be found by visiting www.herpconstrust.org.uk, 

If you turn to our video news section on getnoticedonline we've film of young natterjacks leaving the water.
  
 

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