--- title: "Pixcellence: UK Biodiversity & Climate, Explained" description: Plain-English, evidence-led guides to UK biodiversity, ecosystems, wildlife law and climate change, sourced from Defra, JNCC and State of Nature. image: https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hubfs/African-sunset-wildlife-at-best.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk#px-main) [Pixcellence](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/?hsLang=en) - Topics [**Biodiversity**What it is, how it is measured, and why it is declining](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-biodiversity) [**UK Ecosystems & Habitats**From chalk streams to woodland, heath and coast](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-ecosystems) [**Climate & Nature**How a changing climate is reshaping UK wildlife](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-climate) [**Wildlife & the Law**Protected species and Biodiversity Net Gain](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-law) - [For Students & Teachers](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-students) - [About](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-about) - [All Guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog?hsLang=en) Menu Topics - [Biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-biodiversity) - [UK Ecosystems & Habitats](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-ecosystems) - [Climate & Nature](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-climate) - [Wildlife & the Law](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-law) - [For Students & Teachers](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-students) - [About](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-about) - [All Guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog?hsLang=en) Independent · UK-focused · Primary sources # Biodiversity and climate change in the UK, explained from the evidence Pixcellence is an independent UK publisher of plain-English guides to biodiversity, ecosystems, wildlife law and climate change, written for students, teachers and informed readers. Every guide cites primary sources, including Defra, JNCC, the Met Office and State of Nature, and is illustrated in the style of Victorian natural-history watercolours. [Start with: What is biodiversity?](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity?hsLang=en) [Browse all guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog?hsLang=en) Primary sources our guides cite - Defra - JNCC - Natural England - ONS - Met Office - Climate Change Committee - State of Nature ![Watercolour of a kingfisher perched on a willow branch above a clear chalk stream](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/homepage/home-hero-kingfisher-20261023.webp?width=1024&height=1280&name=home-hero-kingfisher-20261023.webp) Kingfisher above a chalk stream. An illustration in the Victorian natural-history tradition, not a photograph. The evidence at a glance ## The state of UK nature in three numbers 1. 19% Average decline in the abundance of monitored UK species since 1970. Source: [State of Nature 2023](https://stateofnature.org.uk/) 2. 1 in 6 Species assessed in Great Britain that are at risk of extinction. Source: [State of Nature 2023](https://stateofnature.org.uk/) 3. ~7% Of England’s land currently **meets the government’s 30by30 criteria** (protected and managed for nature), although about 28% is **designated**. 0%100% of England’s land - About 7% meets 30by30 criteria - About 28% designated - 30% target by 2030 Sources: [Defra 30by30 delivery plan (2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30by30-on-land-in-england-delivery-plan/30by30-on-land-delivery-plan); [Natural England designations strategy](https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/2635576) **Why we separate the two.** A designated site has legal status, such as a National Park or a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Land that counts towards 30by30 must also be protected from harmful activities and actively managed for nature. Headlines often treat them as the same thing; our guides do not. Topics ## UK nature and climate guides, by topic Four areas, each a set of connected guides. Start with the first guide in each, or go straight to the question you came with. ![Watercolour of a hedgerow bank with a wren, a bumblebee on knapweed and a ground beetle in leaf litter](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/homepage/home-topic-biodiversity-hedgerow-20261023.webp?width=1200&height=800&name=home-topic-biodiversity-hedgerow-20261023.webp) I. ### Biodiversity What biodiversity is, how it is measured, and what the UK evidence says about its loss. - [What is biodiversity?](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity?hsLang=en) - [The three levels of biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/levels-of-biodiversity?hsLang=en) - [Biodiversity loss: UK evidence and 12 examples](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-loss-of-biodiversity?hsLang=en) - [The five drivers of biodiversity loss](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/loss-of-biodiversity-causes?hsLang=en) - [Biodiversity hotspots](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-hotspots-protecting-species-rich-areas?hsLang=en) ![Watercolour of an oak woodland edge opening onto heather heath, with a small pond in the foreground](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/homepage/home-topic-ecosystems-woodland-heath-20261023.webp?width=1200&height=800&name=home-topic-ecosystems-woodland-heath-20261023.webp) II. ### UK Ecosystems & Habitats How UK habitats work, from chalk streams and woodland to an ecosystem you can build in a jar. - [10 types of ecosystems with examples](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/ecosystems-types-examples-uk-guide?hsLang=en) - [UK ecosystem examples](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/uk-ecosystem-examples-guide?hsLang=en) - [Chalk streams](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/chalk-streams-uk-freshwater-ecosystem?hsLang=en) - [Mini ecosystems: build your own](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/mini-ecosystems-build-your-own-guide?hsLang=en) - [Rewilding in the UK](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/rewilding-uk?hsLang=en) ![Watercolour of Atlantic puffins on a sea-cliff ledge above a grey-green North Sea](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/homepage/home-topic-climate-puffins-20261023.webp?width=1200&height=800&name=home-topic-climate-puffins-20261023.webp) III. ### Climate & Nature How a changing climate is reshaping UK wildlife, and how the climate and nature crises are linked. - [Climate change and UK biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/climate-change-what-is-it-uk-guide?hsLang=en) - [The UK biodiversity crisis in 2026](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-crisis?hsLang=en) - [Deforestation: causes, impacts, solutions](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/deforestation-causes-impacts-solutions-guide?hsLang=en) - [State of biodiversity 2026](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/state-of-biodiversity-2026?hsLang=en) ![Watercolour of a great crested newt among pondweed](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/homepage/home-topic-law-great-crested-newt-20261023.webp?width=1200&height=800&name=home-topic-law-great-crested-newt-20261023.webp) IV. ### Wildlife & the Law Which species are protected, what the law actually requires, and how Biodiversity Net Gain works in planning. - [Protected species in the UK](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/protected-species-uk-guide?hsLang=en) - [Are seagulls protected?](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/are-seagulls-protected-uk-law-guide?hsLang=en) - [Biodiversity Net Gain explained](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain?hsLang=en) For students and teachers ## Biodiversity resources for students and teachers Pixcellence guides are written to support coursework from KS3 to A-level and undergraduate study. Each one defines its key terms, uses UK examples and links to the primary sources a student can cite. For teachers, every guide is dated and sourced, so you can check it before sharing it with a class. ![Watercolour study of an oak leaf, a jay feather, a stag beetle and an acorn arranged on paper](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/homepage/home-students-study-sheet-20261023.webp?width=800&height=800&name=home-students-study-sheet-20261023.webp) - [Biodiversity poster and cover page ideasLayouts, headings and what to include on a project poster or cover page.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-poster?hsLang=en) - [Easy biodiversity drawing ideasSubjects and simple approaches for illustrated coursework.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-drawing?hsLang=en) - [Free, legal biodiversity picturesWhere to find images you are allowed to use in a project, and how to credit them.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/bodiversity-pictures?hsLang=en) - [Ecosystem types with UK examplesTen types of ecosystem, each with a named example you can use in an answer.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/ecosystems-types-examples-uk-guide?hsLang=en) Editorial standards ## How Pixcellence guides are researched and written The method is part of the content. These are the five rules every guide follows. 1. ### UK primary sources first Figures come from Defra, JNCC, Natural England, the ONS, the Met Office and the State of Nature partnership, and each source is linked inline next to the figure it supports. 2. ### Facts kept separate from interpretation What the data shows comes first. What it might mean is labelled as interpretation. 3. ### Precise language “Designated” is not “effectively protected”, and an “average decline” is not an “extinction risk”. We keep the distinctions the data makes. 4. ### Dated and refreshed Every guide shows when it was last updated, and is revised when new official data is published. 5. ### Watercolour, never photorealism Our illustrations interpret a species or habitat. They never pretend to document a real moment, so they cannot be mistaken for evidence. ![](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/homepage/home-editor-hare-20261023.webp?width=800&height=1000&name=home-editor-hare-20261023.webp) The editor ## About the editor, Clwyd Probert Clwyd Probert is the founder and editor of Pixcellence. He spent more than a decade as a professional photographer; in 2013 his studio photographed Hope 4 Apes at the Savoy, the Ape Alliance gala hosted by Sir David Attenborough and Brian May with Ian Redmond OBE, organised with charities including the Born Free Foundation. He continues to work with wildlife charities. Pixcellence is his effort to make UK biodiversity and climate evidence clear, sourced and accessible. [Read Clwyd Probert’s author page](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert?hsLang=en) New and updated ## Latest Pixcellence guides [Browse all guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog?hsLang=en) - ![](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/what-is-biodiversity-hero-20261023.webp?width=600&height=400&name=what-is-biodiversity-hero-20261023.webp) ### [What Is Biodiversity? Meaning, Types and UK Examples](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity?hsLang=en) Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, is the variety of all life on Earth: the differences within species, between species and between the … Updated 23 October 2026 - ![](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/biodiversity-loss-hero-uk-contrast-20260513-115613.webp?width=600&height=400&name=biodiversity-loss-hero-uk-contrast-20260513-115613.webp) ### [What Is Biodiversity Loss? Meaning, UK Evidence and 12 Examples](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-loss-of-biodiversity?hsLang=en) Biodiversity loss is the decline in the variety of life — fewer genes within species, fewer species, and fewer healthy ecosystems — whether locally, … Updated 7 October 2026 - ![](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/chalk-streams-uk-hero.webp?width=600&height=400&name=chalk-streams-uk-hero.webp) ### [Chalk Streams: The UK's Globally Rare Freshwater Ecosystem (2026)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/chalk-streams-uk-freshwater-ecosystem?hsLang=en) Chalk streams are one of the rarest river habitats on Earth — only around 200 exist worldwide, and roughly 85% of them flow through England. Fed by … Updated 19 June 2026 - ![](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/are-seagulls-protected-uk-hero-hero-1.webp?width=600&height=400&name=are-seagulls-protected-uk-hero-hero-1.webp) ### [Are Seagulls Protected? UK Law Explained](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/are-seagulls-protected-uk-law-guide?hsLang=en) Are Seagulls Protected in the UK? Yes — all gulls in the United Kingdom are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This means … Updated 3 October 2026 Questions ## Frequently asked questions about Pixcellence ### What is Pixcellence? Pixcellence is an independent, UK-focused publisher of plain-English guides to biodiversity, UK ecosystems, wildlife law and climate change. Each guide explains the evidence from primary sources and links to them, so readers can check the figures for themselves. ### Who writes Pixcellence guides? Pixcellence is founded and edited by Clwyd Probert, who spent more than a decade as a professional photographer and continues to work with wildlife charities. Each guide carries an author byline and the date it was last updated. ### Where does your data come from? From UK primary sources wherever they exist: Defra, JNCC, Natural England, the Office for National Statistics, the Met Office, the Climate Change Committee and the State of Nature partnership. Sources are linked inline, next to the figure they support. ### Why are your illustrations watercolours instead of photographs? So that an illustration is never mistaken for evidence. A photorealistic image, including an undisclosed AI image, can look like a record of a real animal or place. Our illustrations follow the Victorian natural-history tradition of artists such as Archibald Thorburn: they interpret a species or habitat, while the text and its sources carry the evidence. ### Are the guides suitable for GCSE and A-level coursework? Yes. Guides are written to support coursework from KS3 to A-level and undergraduate study. They define key terms, give UK examples and link to the primary sources a student can cite directly. Check your school or exam board’s guidance on referencing web sources. ### How often are the guides updated? Every guide shows the date it was last updated. Guides are revised when the data behind them changes, for example a new State of Nature report, a Defra statistics release or a Met Office climate summary. ## Follow new Pixcellence guides An occasional email when a new guide is published or a major guide is updated. [Get new guides by email](https://share.hsforms.com/1hX8F3IeyTaqLOqgGBNST3Qc2bof) [Pixcellence](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/?hsLang=en) Every guide cites UK primary sources, keeps evidence separate from interpretation, and shows when it was last updated. Topics - [Biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-biodiversity) - [UK Ecosystems & Habitats](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-ecosystems) - [Climate & Nature](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-climate) - [Wildlife & the Law](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topic-law) Pixcellence - [For Students & Teachers](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-students) - [About Pixcellence](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-about) - [About the editor](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert?hsLang=en) - [All guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog?hsLang=en) Elsewhere - [Clwyd Probert on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/clwyd/) - [Privacy policy](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/privacy-policy?hsLang=en) © 2026 Pixcellence Illustrations interpret in the Victorian natural-history tradition. 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