And so what of the poor sand lizard? If you are lucky you may one day see one. They live among lowland heaths and some of the South West's sand dunes.
Their delicate habitats are protected
by a stock of EU legislation – the Nature Directives – which have been in place since the 1970s.
by a stock of EU legislation – the Nature Directives – which have been in place since the 1970s.
The sand lizard is not alone. Other much cherished species – like the otter, bottlenosed dolphins, lapwings cranes and many thousands of species of birds – benefit from habitat protection under EU rules.
under EU rules.
The trouble is the European Union – soon to be the subject of much debate and campaigning here in the UK – is planning a review of those rules.
And conservationists are warning that any relaxation could be bad news for nature.
In fact the RSPB has gone as far to warn that weakening the legislation would be the "biggest disaster for wildlife in the West Country in our lifetime".
The charity is leading
a campaign, launched today, to ask people from across the South West to help defend these laws as part of a continent-wide campaign coordinated by Birdlife Europe.
a campaign, launched today, to ask people from across the South West to help defend these laws as part of a continent-wide campaign coordinated by Birdlife Europe.
If it fails, the RSPB warns, vital wildlife sanctuaries in our region, like the Cornish coast, Dorset Heaths, Somerset Levels, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Bodmin Moor and the Exe Estuary could all be at risk from inappropriate development.
There is no doubt that the region remains at the centre of a housing crisis, and there is a need for the building of new and affordable homes.
homes.
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