London Wildlife Trust is calling on MPs to insist HS2 has a hugely reduced environmental impact and vote against it in Parliament.

MPs will meet on Monday to vote on the second reading of the Hybrid Bill for HS2. Stop HS2 campaigners have organised a demonstration to be held ahead of the vote.

London Wildlife Trust estimates, from HS2’s own figures, that approximately 150 hectares of habitat could be lost in Greater London, but only 97ha will be mitigated or restored – a net loss of approximately 53ha – about the size of Green Park and St. James’s Park combined.

The Trust said the most significant damage will be to wildlife habitats in Hillingdon including extensive damage to grasslands and hedgerows near South Ruislip and permanent loss of 11.2ha at three wildlife sites; Ruislip Golf Course and Old Priory Meadows, Brackenbury Railway Cutting and Newyears Green woodland.

Mathew Frith, Director of Policy & Planning at London Wildlife Trust said: “We urge MPs to insist that HS2 develops more innovative and aspirational plans that ensure long-term biodiversity gain, not just in the Capital but along the whole route.”