Nearly 40 rare species have been recorded in the New Forest during a project to restore areas for nature.

They include a new pine marten hotspot revealed using trail cameras, a new species of fungus and a pond full of Hampshire purslane, a rare aquatic plant almost entirely restricted to this area.

The species were identified during surveys undertaken by Wild New Forest last year as part of the Species Survival Fund, which is restoring and creating habitats to halt species decline.

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The surveys were completed at ten sites, mostly around the northern and southern fringes of the New Forest National Park.

"In total, about 860 species were recorded during the surveys, including 370 animals, 265 plants, and 225 fungi,’ explained Prof Russell Wynn, Director of Wild New Forest.

"This might sound like a lot of species, but it only represents about five per cent of the total number of animal, plant, and fungi species estimated to occur in the New Forest, which is recognised as an international biodiversity hotspot.

"Encouragingly, there were 150 records of 36 priority species that are classified as nationally rare or scarce.

"Many of these are relatively familiar and widespread here in the New Forest, such as goshawk, raft spider, and wood cricket.

"But there were some surprising discoveries, including a new species of fungus for Hampshire, a new pine marten hotspot revealed using trail cameras, and a pond full of Hampshire purslane - a nationally rare aquatic plant that is almost wholly restricted to the New Forest."

(Image: Wild New Forest) The £1.3m project team is working with landowners across 25 sites to enhance 250 hectares of land for nature. 

Prof Wynn added: "It was encouraging to find that several of the survey sites already contain pockets of high-quality wetland, woodland, heathland, and grassland habitat that host a wide variety of priority species.

"However, there was also evidence for habitat degradation due to excessive growth of non-native species like rhododendron and changes in the way land is grazed by livestock.

"At some sites, there is concern that vulnerable habitats - and the species that rely on them - will be lost within a few years if we don’t act now to restore them."

Habitat creation and restoration work will now begin across several sites and repeat surveys will be conducted later this year to assess the impact of these works.