Our nature priorities for the new UK Government

Peter Cairns/2020VISION

Our nature priorities for the new UK Government

Shropshire Wildlife Trust wants action

The landmark State of Nature 2023 Report has shown that the UK – already classified as one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries in the world – is continuing to allow nature to decline.

With election results now in, Shropshire Wildlife Trust is calling on the new incoming UK Government to commit to a plan to finally halt and reverse this trend. Their policies must be targeted towards species recovery, addressing water pollution, funding wildlife-friendly farming, enabling healthy communities, and tackling climate change.

Read our blog below on what we expect from this new government.

What's next for nature?

We want these asks to stand on a platform with nature’s recovery at its heart. It has never been more evident that people care more about the state of their natural environment than ever before.

Beaver swimming with its head just above the water © Russell Savory

Priority number one

Bring back our lost species

Put nature into recovery in order for lost and declining species to thrive again.

Immense pressure from decades of pollution and habitat loss has driven wildlife into catastrophic decline. To reverse this decline, more places are needed for nature - the aim is to protect and restore at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. We can also tackle this deterioration by bringing wild beavers back to every county. As the finest wetland engineers, beavers can be a gamechanger in addressing the climate and nature crises.

Find out about our Beaver Project

Kirsty Brown

Priority number two

Enforce the law on river pollution

Empower environmental watchdogs to monitor and respond to pollution incidents.

The UK is ranked as one of the worst countries in Europe for water quality, with pollution beyond legal limits caused by a toxic cocktail of sewage and agricultural pollution. Political parties need to address the issues by enforcing the law, providing sufficient resource to ensure protections and enforce penalties. Nature can be part of the solution to get back healthy rivers and halve nutrient pollution by 2030.

Find out about our Land and Water work

Brown hare Lepus europaeus An adult stretching on fringes of a field of rapeseed.

Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION

Priority number three

Fund wildlife-friendly farming in full

Increase the budget for wildlife-friendly farming to ensure a fair transition for farmers.

By supporting farmers to shift towards regenerative, nature-friendly methods, farming has huge potential to deliver a green rural renewal. By increasing the budget for wildlife-friendly farming, we can ensure agricultural transition is fair to both farmers and the wildlife alongside their farms. Adaption and mitigation schemes need to be supported to aid food production in response to the changing environmental issues.

Find out more about our Wilder Marches programme

Helena Dolby for Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust

Priority number four

Give every child the best start in life

Embed outdoor learning in schools for happier children who understand their impact on nature.

Every child has the right to learn in and about nature. Taking learning outdoors benefits children’s mental health and develops a deeper appreciation for the environment and their role in protecting it. Building a lasting connection with nature in childhood shapes our adult lives and attitudes towards wildlife and climate change. New statutory guidance to deliver learning outdoors for all can ensure our schools support happier, more confident children who understand their impact on our natural world.

Find out about our communities and education work

A shaft of sunlight filters through the canopy of a UK rainforest, lighting up a vibrant green patch of moss growing on a piece of dead wood

Priority number five

Tackle the climate emergency

Put climate change at the top of the political agenda to combat flooding and drought.

Climate change is driving nature’s decline, and the loss of wildlife and wild places leaves us ill-equipped to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to change. Help nature and people adapt to climate change through progressing adaption with nature based solutions and improving habitat networks whilst reducing carbon emissions.

Find out more about the climate crisis

Download Shropshire Wildlife Trust's 5 priorities