Some of Britain's most endangered plants and animals are fighting back from the brink of extinction - with a helping hand from ecologists.
Red kite: 1994 saw a remarkable breeding success for red kites brought from Spain and Scandinavia to replace those that had died out in England and Wales.
Large blue butterfly: The species vanished from Britain in 1979, but butterflies reintroduced from Sweden have now become established at five separate sites.
Plymouth pear: Only seven trees were left before ecologists intervened. To ensure the survival of the species, they now intend to plant a complete orchard under a programme devised by English Nature.
Dormouse: Dormice have been fitted with tracker devices to help scientists check the progress of their successful reintroduction into central England.
British field cricket: From 40 singing males in 1992, colonies totalling several hundred have been created. Crickets were captured and bred at London Zoo before being released.
Natterjack toad: Britain's rarest amphibian, a victim of acid rain and a decline in its habitat, has been boosted by translocation to new sites. Ecologists are also working hard to preserve heathlands where the toads thrive.
Lady's slipper orchid: The seeds consisting of fewer than 200 cells were removed from the sole surviving orchid in the wild and subjected to "micropropagation" at Kew Gardens. More than 3,000 were grown like bacteria in culture.
