The Wildlife Trusts are leading the largest coordinated recovery effort ever undertaken for the species. The programme unites around 40 partner organisations. It brings together conservation organisations, researchers and environmental agencies. The aim is simple - to reverse the dramatic loss of the UK's only native freshwater crayfish.

Threats to the species include the deterioration of habitat and increased pollution. The spread of invasive non-native American signal crayfish has also destroyed native crayfish populations. The signal crayfish carry and spread crayfish plague, which is fatal to white-claws. White-claws are key river ecosystem engineers, recycling dead matter and improving water quality. They also play an important role in river ecosystems as a food source for otter, heron and eel, while young crayfish provide food for brown trout and salmon.

Dedicated conservation efforts are helping to safeguard populations in Staffordshire and neighbouring areas. However, a coordinated national response is needed to recover their population at scale. This programme is supported by funding from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme and matched by substantial contributions from project partners. The initiative will scale up nature recovery efforts for the benefit of white-clawed crayfish and river systems alike.