Field cricket  (Gryllus campestris)

Although never more than locally common, the field cricket has declined through loss of habitat. The Hampshire site where Gilbert White conducted his research is now covered by a mature beech wood. Another lies buried under an oil refinery and many others have been turned over to agriculture or forestry.

Because of its endangered status the field cricket was included in English Nature's Species Recovery Project (SRP) in 1991. Initial work concentrated on ascertaining the status of the only UK population, determining habitat requirements and provision of advice on habitat management. The next step was to initiate a captive breeding programme. The Invertebrate Conservation Centre based at London Zoo obtained a number of adults in 1991 and began to establish a viable breeding population. On the ground, preparations were made to restore some of the crickets' former sites back to suitable condition ready for release of the captive-bred stock. This re-introduction began the following year, appropriately, near Arundel Castle Cricket Ground. Since then re-introductions have continued and some have been the subject of keen media interest with a BBC documentary following the progress of the captive crickets at London Zoo.