Cold-climate birds, butterflies abandoning Britain ‘thanks to climate change and modern farming’

COLD-climate birds like the willow tit have abandoned Britain because of climate change and farming, scientists say.

The meadow pipit and willow warbler have also quit while butterflies including the northern brown argus are flagging and more will follow.

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Researchers analysed 40 years of records from 600 monitoring sites.

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They said modern farming is wrecking wildlife habitats, while the warmer climate forces cold-loving creatures out.

Dr Tom Oliver, of the University of Reading’s School of Biological Sciences, said: “Bird communities are struggling.

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“Butterflies are coping much better but a lack of natural habitat is putting cold-associated species between a rock and a hard place.”