New wildlife plan points way to green shoots of recovery

Last week I spoke about the third of four green signs of hope for 2023 – how UN scientists have reached a major milestone in their attempt to perfect a process which could deliver almost limitless supplies of clean energy and tackle climate change.

“This week I want to talk about a government scheme to restore nature and enable everyone to live within 15 minutes’ walk of a green space or water,” said Midlands green expert Ron Fox.

Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey, announcing the plan a couple of weeks ago, said it would mean:

• Creating and restoring at least 2,000 square miles of new wildlife habitats including 25 new or enlarged national nature reserves.
• Ensuring everyone in England lives within a 15-minute walk of woodlands, wetlands, parks and rivers.
• Restoring 400 miles of England’s rivers.
• Hitting new targets for England over the next five years to reduce plastic, glass, metal, paper and food waste by 2028.
• Promising to put environmental protection at the heart of all new government policy.
• Giving more money to protecting rare wildlife, such as hedgehogs and red squirrels. The latest figures show key animals and plants declined by 82 per cent between 1970 and 2018.
• Meeting legally-binding targets on water quality, biodiversity and waste as well as international targets agreed at the COP15 UN biodiversity summit in December.

“I agree with the environment minister that nature is vital for our survival as it is crucial to our food security and in providing clean air, and clean water,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park.

In 2020 the government adviser for the natural environment found that people who live in neighbourhoods with greater amounts of green infrastructure tend to be happier, healthier and live longer lives than those who reside in less green places.

The definition of “green space” in the UK includes any land with vegetation on it – such as a playing field, a disused railway line or an allotment.

However, the Ordnance Survey mapping agency estimates 28 per cent of people now live more than 15 minutes away from their nearest park.

And the UK has been warned it is facing a “deeply concerning decline in biodiversity” unless immediate action is taken.

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton, said she was concerned the access plans to the countryside could affect farmers and that problem would need to be sorted out.

“On the whole this plan is very encouraging,” concluded Ron. “We have to ensure we leave our environment in a better state than we found it and especially by reversing the decline of nature. This latest scheme is a step in the right direction to show what can be done.”

If you want any advice on green energy, protecting the environment or cutting pollution in the home, contact Ron on 0845 474 6641.

Caption: Splashing out – the government wants to ensure everyone in England lives within a 15-minute walk of woodlands, wetlands, parks and rivers.