Nikki Francis1 THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

2 A Satellite Photograph of Part of the U.K

3 The biodiversity of the U.K has been affected by the following factors: Historical events Political events Climatical events Geological events Unfortunately many events have resulted in a loss of biodiversity and habitats have been destroyed.

4 Kent in the Southeast of England Kent has many National Nature Reserves, some are situated at Wye, Herne Bay, Ramsgate, Sandwich and Dover.

5 The Geology and Rainfall in Kent The geology and rainfall in Kent have affected the habitat type and wildlife in the area. Kent has quite a high rainfall and so temperate forests and woods are dominant.

6 A Temperate Forest in Kent Many temperate forests are being destroyed throughout Britain. In Kent several nature reserves concentrate on preserving these forests. In particular the Kent Wildlife Trust aims to save temperate forests and preserve the biodiversity in the area

7 A Typical Meadow in Kent Well-managed meadows can be both productive and diverse. This traditional meadow in Kent has been managed for centuries and supports a wide range of plants. Including the green winged orchid.

8 The loss of Habitats in Kent Forest and woodland have been lost in Kent mainly due to the industrialization of land, and using land for farming. In Kent there are many farms that were once rural land able to boast of a high biodiversity of wildlife and plant species.

9 Another factor affecting the biodiversity of an area is pollution. In Kent the Pfizer pharmaceutical company causes a great deal of pollution in the area. Some of the processes that take place result in nitrogen and phosphorous being released into the nearby environment.

10 To Preserve the Biodiversity in Kent All the Nature Reserves in Kent are owned by the Kent Wildlife Trust. They organise educational activities for schools and the general public and aim to increase general awareness. The conservation department has a team of experts in the field of conservation and 40 years of experience. They undertake ecological surveys of all habitats, specialist surveys of protected species and produce conservation management plans. The Kent Wildlife Trust manages 50 reserves and a total of 2000 hectares of land.

11 The pictures used in this presentation were found from: BEEBY A & BRENNAN A.M. (1997) First Ecology.Chapman and Hall:London. I would like to thank the Kent Wildlife Trust for the information they sent to me. I should also like to thank Georges Dussart for the diagrams he sent to me.