THE latest in a landmark series of reports on the environment in the country - the State of Nature Report 2016 - was released last week.

The report, compiled by a large number of scientific and conservation groups, found that nature in the UK has changed significantly over the past 50 years, with species numbers declining across a range of habitats, and some approaching extinction.

At the launch of the report, environment secretary Andrea Leadsom said: "It shows that action is now more vital than ever.

"It brings some very serious issues to our attention, like the decline of pollinators and other insects – creatures that are vital to our ecosystems.

"The report's detailed case studies show how we can work together to make a genuine difference. It highlights some recent collaborations to restore grassland and woodland, and create more wetland – leading to the recovery of species like the lesser horseshoe bat.

"But with three quarters of our landmass farmed, how we manage our farmland is key to tackling the challenges we see in this report.

"It is clear our wildlife still feels the impact today from the significant changes we saw in the 1970s and 1980s in the way that land was managed and used.

"But we are making progress. Investment and working in partnership is delivering improvements, with careful management helping to turn around the fortunes of birds like the tree sparrow, cirl bunting and stone curlew."

"Today’s report is an important reminder that we have achieved some things, but there is much still to do."

Sir David Attenborough, addressing the crowd at the launch of the report, said that leaving the EU has the potential to be a good thing for the environment.

"Like it or not Brexit has happened. All agriculture and environment treaties for nature and wildlife will have to be rethought. It’s a great opportunity to refine the legislation to match our part of the world," he said.