Hundreds back Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust call for more support for nature

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.

And as part of their Wilder Sheffield & Rotherham campaign, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust have produced a postcard which encourages people to write a message to their MP calling for greater protection than is being proposed in the current draft bill.

The trust is 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.

This would form a joined-up landscape of wilder, less heavily-managed places and green corridors where wildlife can thrive.

The trust is also demanding an independent green watchdog with the power to fine public bodies and companies if they break the rules.

Next Wednesday, 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.

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 for the 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, 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.” 

Visit www.wildsheffield.com/wilder for more information.