Excess visitors to Cannock Chase in pandemic threatening rare habitats, says charity
An influx of visitors to Cannock Chase during the pandemic is threatening rare habits, a charity says.
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust wants to see a reduction of people attending the Staffordshire beauty spot.
The charity says "people pressure" is threatening small remnants of heathland which were once large.
This lowland heath is home to rare and protected species including adders and nightjar.
The habitat is extremely rare in the UK and rich in wildlife.
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Cannock Chase has the most extensive area of this heathland anywhere in the Midlands.
Julian Woolford, chief executive of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, said, "Because of the pandemic, our green spaces are even more important places to get out and enjoy the benefits of nature and wildlife.
"However, the wildlife in some of these green spaces is so fragile, that in places, excessive numbers of visitors can actually harm the wildlife which makes these green spaces so special and gives them their protected designations.
"So just as we need the outdoors, nature needs her own, undisturbed space too."
