Over 250 people have written to their MPs calling for stronger laws to protect nature through Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust’s ‘Wilder Future’ campaign.
Later this year, Parliament will debate a new Environment Bill proposed by the Government to replace the current legislation protecting England’s nature and habitats.
As part of our ‘Wilder Sheffield & Rotherham’ campaign, we have produced a postcard which encourages people to write a message to their MP about why the environment needs greater protection than has been proposed in the current draft Bill.
We are calling for a commitment on local authorities to publish ‘nature recovery maps’ which record where species are, how they are faring and where habitats need improvement to form a national ‘Nature Recovery Network’ – a joined-up landscape of wilder, less heavily managed places and green corridors where wildlife can thrive They are also calling for an independent green watchdog with the power to fine public bodies and companies if they break the rules.
On 26th June, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust will be one of 46 national Wildlife Trusts joining other organisations from across the UK in a mass lobby of Parliament on the Environment Bill and are also inviting local MPs and their constituents to attend the event.
Some of the messages to MPs received by the Trust so far include:
“Protecting the environment is the most important thing you should be doing. We rely on it and it is in crisis”
“I am terrified by how disconnected from the natural world my own government and community are… Will you act now by calling for a strong Environment Act?”
“The environment is essential to my everyday wellbeing. It gives me the food I eat, the water I drink and provides me with the therapy I need to deal with my everyday working life. We must take every care to ensure we have the best possible environment. This means protecting and enhancing laws that defend nature.”
The postcards have been handed out at public events in Sheffield and Rotherham, where people are asked write their message and add their home address. The Trust then forwards the postcards on to the relevant MPs.
Ian Cracknell, Advocacy Officer at Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust said:
“We’re seeing a fantastic response to our campaign, local people really care about this issue. The current proposals to protect nature in the draft Environment Bill just aren’t good enough and in addition to concerns about the climate crisis and loss of biodiversity, local people are worried about what will replace the laws that currently protect our wildlife and their habitats if we leave the EU. This is a critical opportunity to let MPs know your views so they can represent you on this issue in Parliament.
“You can contact your MP using one of our postcards, via our website or write an email or letter to them yourself. However you do it, I wholeheartedly encourage anyone that cares about nature to write to their MP and tell them the proposed protection for nature in the draft Environment Bill needs to be much stronger”.
For more information, visit www.wildsheffield.com/wilder