Climate Change Puts Five of Britain’s Most-Loved Species at Risk

Families have been urged to act now to protect Britain’s most iconic wildlife from the growing threat of climate change. 

Ecologists at Arbtech.co.uk are warning of the animals most at risk and revealing the simple steps Brits can take to help safeguard them.

The effects of climate change can be detrimental to wildlife existence, but while it is a global problem, there are steps that everyone can take to help tackle the issue before it’s too late.

Households are encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint wherever possible – from carsharing and holidaying closer to home, to sustainable eating and switching to a green energy supplier. 

And actions in the garden also go a long way – from creating safe, sheltered spaces, going chemical-free, and providing food and water sources for wildlife. 

Species feel effects in many different ways. Warm sea temperatures reduce habitat ranges for Atlantic salmon, whilst fish populations move away from areas where puffins typically forage for food.

Earlier springs and warmer winters disrupt the natural cycles of species such as cuckoos and hedgehogs, with both animals experiencing significant population declines over the past 50 years. 

Extreme weather events, such as the four heatwaves the UK has experienced so far in 2025, significantly affect bees’ ability to forage, reproduce, and even survive.

The UK is already one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth and native species have declined by about 19% on average since 1970 – with climate change putting wildlife under increasing pressure. *

Small actions such as only buying seafood from sustainably sourced fisheries, not using single-use plastics, and creating wildlife areas in the garden all help towards saving these vulnerable species from extinction. 

Andrew Ward from Arbtech said: “The changes we’re seeing in our climate are happening faster than many species can adapt, and pushing some of Britain’s most iconic wildlife to the brink. 

“Whether it’s habitat loss or changing seasons, climate change is amplifying every existing threat that wildlife already face, and driving population numbers down at an alarming rate.

“Every action matters. Whether it’s reducing energy use at home or supporting conservation efforts, we all need to pull in the same direction if we want to protect the planet, and wildlife, for future generations.”

Five iconic species affected by climate change and how you can help:

1. Atlantic Salmon

Supporting conservation projects that focus on habitat restoration, and only buying seafood from sustainably sourced fisheries can help to tackle the threats Atlantic salmon faces. Climate change represents an increasing threat to Atlantic salmon populations as warmer water temperatures reduce their habitat range and impact their spawning success. In 2022, only a quarter of UK rivers had healthy salmon populations – a record low.  **

2. Puffin

One step you can take to protect puffins is by stopping using single-use plastics. It’s estimated that there will be more plastic in our seas than fish by 2050. Rising sea temperatures due to climate change means the fish populations that puffins rely on for food are moving on. Coupled with unsustainable fishing and marine pollution, the UK’s puffin population could plunge by as much as 90% by 2050. ***

3. Bee

As habitats for bees diminish, one of the ways you can help them is to create bee-friendly spaces in your garden. Whether that’s building a ‘bee hotel’ as a place to rest, or a ‘bee bath’ where they can safely hydrate, small actions can have a significant impact. The UK is home to 270 different species of bees, but extreme weather events such as heatwaves and prolonged flooding are disrupting the natural rhythms bees rely on for food and survival. 

4. Cuckoo

Small, but important actions, such as avoiding herbicide and pesticide use to protect insect populations that cuckoos rely on can play a role in helping this species to survive. Since the 1980s, cuckoo numbers have dropped by 65% in the UK, with climate change suggested as partly to blame. Studies have shown cuckoos face the choice of setting off on their annual migration across the desert perilously early due to changing weather patterns, or risking their hosts having already bred by the time they arrive. ****

5. Hedgehog

Creating a safe, sheltered space in your garden for hedgehogs to use during hibernation, with suitable food sources left nearby, can help to protect this vulnerable species. Hedgehogs are known to periodically awake from hibernation during the winter and forage for food during warm winter spells. With warmer spells becoming increasingly more common, this poses problems if the energy lost is not replaced due to the lack of food sources available. 

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