Agricultural land accounts for around 75 per cent of the UK's land area. The country used to have large areas of wild woodland but much of this has been cleared to make room for farms, houses, and roads. Since the Second World War, an estimated 97 per cent of Britain's ancient meadows and 50 per cent of its ancient, natural woodlands have been destroyed. In the Scottish Highlands, there used to be 1.5 million hectares of native pinewood. Now only about one per cent of this remains. More than  300 of Britain's plant species now face extinction. 

Wildlife in the UK includes deer, badgers, foxes, squirrels, rabbits, small rodents - including the water vole and the tiny shrew, as well as a variety of birds. There are many protected animal species, including the otter. Populations of otter are now beginning to expand having previously faced extinction due to increased levels of pollution and destruction of their habitat in the years immediately following the Second World War. Of the UK's 15 bat species, two are at severe risk and others are increasingly rare. For example the greater horseshoe bat has suffered a 99 per cent reduction in its numbers during the twentieth century.

An increase in road-building, and changes in farming practices, including the use of pesticides, threatens many of the surviving species. Farming has become more intensive and industrialised since the Second World War. Farm woodlands, hedges, trees, streams, ponds, ditches, tracks, and verges - very important features for wildlife - have declined as a result of intensive farming. This has caused widespread damage to wildlife habitats, threatening butterflies, birds, mammals, and plants.  Some small-scale farmers have begun to use organic (chemical-free) methods which provide a range of benefits for the nation's wildlife.

In terms of consumption, the UK generates a great deal of waste - including more than six billion drinks cans and 12 billion food cans every year. In recent years some people have got involved in recycling activities as well as trying to reduce the amount of waste they produce in the first place. There are lots of things that you can do in your own home and garden, in order to help protect the environment.