New wave of fracking licences threatens hundreds of key English wildlife sites

Nearly 300 sites of special scientific interest, home to rare animals and plants, have been opened up to fracking by the Tory government, RSPB study shows

Hundreds more of England's most important wildlife sites are now at risk from fracking after the government opened up 1,000 sq miles of land to the controversial technology, a new analysis has found.

Among the 159 licences issued last month to explore for oil and gas onshore in the UK - likely to include fracking for shale oil or gas - are 293 sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), the definition given to an area protecting rare species or habitats.