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Rotherham Residents Declaring a Nature Emergency

We declare a Nature Emergency for Rotherham

As well as a climate crisis, our wildlife is facing a critical emergency, with 1 in 4 species in the UK now at threat of extinction.

Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust has teamed up with Rotherham Climate Action and others to create a new alliance – ‘Nature Recovery Rotherham’ – dedicated to helping restore local nature and wildlife. Today the new alliance is asking people, businesses and organisations to join us in declaring a Nature Emergency in the area.

Hundreds of individuals and dozens of organisations have already offered their support to Nature Recovery Rotherham, including Dearne Valley College, Friends of Clifton Park and Rotherham Interfaith Group. Additionally, all three local MPs for the Rotherham area — Alex Stafford, John Healey and Sarah Champion — have shown their support for the project.

We’re encouraging as many people as possible to add your voice by simply stating ‘I (or We) declare a Nature Emergency for Rotherham’ wherever you can — from social media, to posters in windows, to adding the declaration to your website or emails.

Dr Nicky Rivers, Living Landscapes Development Manager for Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, declares a Nature Emergency for Rotherham

The public declaration is on Wednesday 23 March.

Our collective declaration is the first step in encouraging everybody to take action for nature in Rotherham. Future plans include wildlife gardening events, creating a Nature Emergency Action Plan and capturing data from supporters to help inform future projects.

Liz Ballard, Chief Executive of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, says: “Nature is in trouble – we are losing our wildlife at a faster rate than ever before. In fact, one in four species in the UK are now at threat of extinction. People, including David Attenborough, are calling this the 6th global mass extinction.

“The UK is one of the most ‘nature depleted’ countries in the world. And it’s happening right here on our doorstep in Rotherham. We rely on nature to provide us with clean air, water, food and space to enjoy and breathe. We need to declare a Nature Emergency and take action for nature’s recovery.”