UK Nature and Environment

• 59% of Local Authorities (172 out of 294 surveyed) have failed to consider the actions they need to take for nature restoration and/or to deliver nature restoration policies and objectives - both of which are legal requirements under the Environment Act.
• Environment groups are calling on the Government to make crucial nature-friendly changes in an upcoming major overhaul of the planning system and give Local Authorities the resources needed to help meet key nature recovery targets by 2030.

New research, released today by Wildlife and Countryside Link, reveals that overstretched and under-resourced English Local Authorities have been struggling to meet legal deadlines to consider the nature recovery action they need to take and the policies to support this.

Coinciding with these findings, nature groups including RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Friends of the Earth and the Woodland Trust are launching a new Wilder By Design campaign today. They are calling for the Government’s upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill to include a series of reforms to deliver a planning system that not only minimises harm to nature but actively supports the recovery of wildlife and wild places.