On 8th February our Advocacy Officer Ian Cracknell met Louise Haigh MP to talk about the need for a strong Environment Act to achieve nature’s recovery.
Ian spoke to Louise about the need for Nature Recovery Networks to be included in the current draft bill, illustrating the importance of improving connections between special places for nature, highlighting examples in Louise’s constituency of Heeley such as the ancient woodlands of Gleadless Valley Woods and Ladies Spring Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
He also talked about how the current Bill’s proposed Office for Environmental Protection needs special funding arrangements to ensure it can be truly independent, as well as the power to issue fines when environmental legislation is not correctly implemented.
Louise assured Ian that she would take action on the issue by writing to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, as well as Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary Sue Hayman and ask them to call for these changes to be made to the draft bill. Louise promised to update Ian following any further developments.
Ian said “I was pleased to find that Louise shared my concerns about the current draft Bill and understood this historically important opportunity to turn around nature’s fortunes, not just for wildlife and people in her constituency but across the country”.
“I look forward to hearing an update from her soon and continued support on issues such as this as my MP, and I wholeheartedly recommend that anyone concerned about nature and the environment should reach out to their MP too.”
To contact your MP about the Environment Act, use our handy online form to take action through our Wilder Future campaign.