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Glyn Davis Wood in Warwickshire is threatened by HS2, says the Wildlife Trust
HS2 risks dividing and destroying “huge swathes” of “irreplaceable” natural habitats, including 108 ancient woodlands, a report has warned.
The Wildlife Trust said the high-speed rail line linking London and northern England could wipe out rare species.
The organisation says if the project, which is currently on hold, goes ahead a “greener” approach will be needed.
HS2 Ltd said its railway will respect the environment through the creation of a “green corridor” along the route.
The government commissioned a review into HS2 in August and is set to decide in the coming weeks whether to proceed.
The Wildlife Trust said its report – which uses data from 14 local trusts affected by the plans – is the “most comprehensive” assessment of the environmental damage the high-speed rail line could cause.
It claims HS2 could have a significant impact on hundreds of nature reserves, sites of Special Scientific Interest and ancient woodlands.
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The organisation fears rare species such as the Dingy Skipper Butterfly could become extinct in some local habitats.
Barn Owls and the endangered White Clawed Crayfish could also be impacted by the project, it added.
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The Wildlife Trust fears the Dingy Skipper Butterfly could be wiped out by the project’s development
The Wildlife Trust called on the government to “stop and rethink”.
Nikki Williams, the Wildlife Trusts’ director of campaigns and policy, said: “HS2 will destroy precious carbon-capturing habitats if it’s allowed to continue in its current form.
“It will damage the very ecosystems that provide a natural solution to the climate emergency.”
She labelled HS2’s proposed measures to temper the effects of the works “amateurish”.
Hilary McGrady, director general of the National Trust, said HS2 Ltd had “a vital responsibility to lead by example” and “must not end up cutting corners at the expense of the environment”.
Stop HS2 campaigner Lindsey Batham said hedgerows and trees being cleared for the project were “the roads and railways that wildlife uses”.
She said the project only called off uprooting vegetation during nesting season when she and her fellow campaigners intervened.
“It’s just not acceptable. No other contractor in the country would be able to do that – HS2 seems to have carte blanche,” she added.
Lindsey Batham says the Stop HS2 campaign had to stop rail workers from destroying habitats during nesting season
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A computer generated image of an HS2 train
HS2 said it had carried out extensive work to relocate animals, such as the Great Crested Newt, away from sites and into newly-created habitats.
The company said the “green corridor” will deliver a railway that “respects” the natural environment.
A total of seven million new trees – a mix of oak, hazel, dogwood and holly – are being planted as part of the programme.
HS2 claims it is planting more than double the amount of trees and shrubs affected by the project.