The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy  is now being implemented. You can find more information about it on the County Council website.

One of the parts of the strategy is a list of 100 indicator species. 

The 100 Indicator Species have been carefully selected to serve as vital tools for monitoring the health of the environment across Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland. Representing a range of taxonomic groups, including mammals, birds, invertebrates, amphibians, plants, and fungi, these species are distributed across all major habitats, from woodlands and grasslands to freshwater ecosystems and urban areas.

The concept behind indicator species is straightforward: they are representatives of habitats in good ecological health. When these species thrive, it suggests that their ecosystems are functioning well, and when their populations decline, it signals environmental stress or degradation. Therefore, tracking the trends in the populations of these species provides valuable insights into the state of biodiversity and ecological balance within the area.

Chosen for their relative ease of identification and their broad appeal to citizen scientists and conservationists, these species are not rare but are known to be in decline. This makes them reliable indicators of changing environmental conditions. Their population trends can help detect issues such as habitat loss, climate change impacts, pollution, and other pressures on biodiversity.

The list is available here. [PDF]

Knighton Wild intends to run three walks this year in Knighton to look for these indicator species. Clearly there are many that we will not find in Knighton, like Glow-worms, but we will see what we can find over the course of the year. The first walk will be on Saturday 2nd May at 2.00pm in Knighton Park. Email Knighton Wild on info@knightonwild.org.uk to book a place.