'Our carbon-storing wetlands are crucial'

London's wetlands should be restored to boost wildlife, experts and RSPB chiefs said today.

The Wetland Vision partnership, an alliance of conservationists and government agencies, including the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Natural England, the Environment Agency and English Heritage, say existing wetlands need to be protected and restored and new wetlands created across London in the next 50 years.

They said wetlands were a crucial resource to safeguard our heritage and wildlife, reduce flood risk and combat climate change by storing carbon. Recent research found England has lost 90 per cent of its wetlands in the past 1,000 years.

Wetland Vision project manager Carrie Hume said: "If we invest in wetlands, we will be richly rewarded."