Page 18 - Wildlife News April 2015

If they want your

Nature should be central to how we do business, educate our children and think about healthcare.

I t’s your chance to help put nature on niall benvie/2020vision All children should be
the political map – to stop and even able to mess around in
reverse the continued destruction of nature as they grow up.
our natural environment. Will you help?

In May 2015 the country will vote in

the General Election. This means that

would-be MPs from all parties are
listening carefully to people. If you

agree with us, please ask them to

support our two big asks for nature and

people. Thank you.

What is the Nature and Wellbeing Act? 1. Yes to a Nature and Wellbeing Act
A piece of legislation to bring about the
recovery of nature in a generation, for the What would the Act involve? What will it cost?
benefit of people and wildlife. It would place nature at the heart of how The National Ecosystem Assessment
decisions are made about health, housing calculates that the wrong kind of economic
Why is it needed? and development, education, economic growth between now and 2060 would cost
Because our actions as a society over the growth, flood resilience and social cohesion. the UK £20.7bn cleaning up damages
past century have undermined nature’s caused to our environment. By contrast,
ability to support us – just as our need for Decisions by Government at all levels putting nature at the heart of development
that support has increased. would place a greater value on nature, would save £33bn per year. Well managed
using a framework and targets similar to natural places provide lasting, multiple
Our environment is now less able to those of the Climate Change Act (which benefits to the economy. It’s time to act for
soak up extreme rainfall, absorb carbon, has reduced CO2 emissions). nature’s recovery. We can’t afford not to.
and provide clean water. The health of our
soils, pollinators and many fish stocks are The Act would protect and create Who will it affect?
in decline. Our neglect of nature reduces healthy woods, rivers, meadows, parks and The Act would affect England, but it can
our ability to adapt to climate change, the wild land around where we work and live, still be voted on by MPs from Scotland,
liveability of our cities and the productivity in local, regional and national networks. Wales and Northern Ireland. So support
of our countryside. And it would ensure schoolchildren have from any UK MP is a huge help.
an understanding and love of nature from
We are also neglecting the growing an early age.
research which links access to nature with
better mental and physical health. Living
near semi-natural green space is an
important factor in helping to tackle
obesity, diabetes, heart disease and
depression. We need to bring nature back
– because wildlife and wild places need it,
and because we need it too.

Around the Wildlife Trusts

avon derbyshire devon essex hampshire kent
& IOW
Planning permission A Community Day of After spending The Trust’s visitor A new 415m roadside
has been granted for Action had a terrific months working to centre in Hornchurch Fifteen female nature reserve has
a new nature reserve turn out. Buxton secure a future for Country Park is under white-clawed crayfish been designated in
in Bristol’s Avon schoolchildren and Devon’s beavers, the construction. Helping from the Itchen have Boxley, Maidstone. It
Gorge. Bennett’s residents got stuck in Trust has been connect people with been placed in a will support
Patch and White’s to help enhance granted a five-year the park’s heritage, captive breeding pyramidal orchid,
Paddock have had a wetland habitats and licence from Natural the centre will open programme. The eggs grass vetchling, and
make-over this winter hay meadows. England to monitor late this year. will hatch soon. the striking lizard
ready for the launch. wtru.st/buxton- their impact. wtru.st/ wtru.st/Ingrebourne wtru.st/southern orchid. wtru.st/
wtru.st/newavon community beaversback chalkstreams roadsidenature

18 Wildife news: national