Standing up for nature

Heather growing alongside a coastal path looking out towards the sea at sunset

The air we breathe, the seas we paddle in, the colourful leaves we walk through in autumn or see renewed in spring. The parks our children play in. Hearing the laughing cry of a green woodpecker or spotting an elusive red squirrel. Nature provides us with a lifetime of precious experiences, but now it needs our help.

Today, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect and restore the countryside we love. As the UK government writes new nature laws, the National Trust is calling for stronger environmental protections to secure the future of our much-loved wildlife, parks and landscapes. 

" Nature revives, rejuvenates and restores us and it needs us, now more than ever."
Time to act

Nature is in decline. The numbers of butterflies in English woodlands have dropped by 58% since 1990, and just one in seven of our rivers are in good health. The Trust's dedicated teams are already doing so much to care for our countryside, but they are facing increasing challenges caused by a changing climate and decades of intensive farming.

Now, for the first time in more than 40 years, the UK has a golden opportunity to rewrite the rules. We can bring back nature to inspire future generations. We can give our children the chance to see a red squirrel darting between the trees, to run through a cloud of butterflies, or to paddle in a cool, babbling stream. And we can build a stronger foundation for food production, with rewards for farmers who create better conditions for nature.   

Grey seal on the beach at Blakeney Point, North Norfolk

2018: a rollercoaster year for wildlife 

It was a year of extreme temperatures - from an arctic winter to a prolonged, hot summer. Find out what this meant for our birds, butterflies, seals and fish, and how keeping an eye on the weather helps us look after nature.

Read our 2018 weather and wildlife review
Why it matters

The government has said that this generation should be the first to leave the natural environment in a better state than when we inherited it. The current draft bill doesn’t go far enough to meet that promise. The government now has an opportunity not only to replace current EU law with the UK’s own version, but to go beyond the current protections and be truly effective in restoring nature.

We're making our views known because we believe that it is not sustainable to carry on with the way things are. Now is the time to act. 

Here are three examples of how our existing laws help nature: 

View to the Mourne Mountains from Murlough National Nature Reserve, County Down, Northern Ireland

Clean beaches 

With over 780 miles of coastline in our care, we're doing everything we can to make sure the beaches, dunes and bays we all love are protected – but we need the government’s help too. The current Bathing Water Directive has made the UK’s beaches safer and cleaner for people and wildlife.

The grazing herd of konik ponies at Wicken Fen

Protection for wildlife 

We look after places that provide a home to a range of rare species. A number of these places have been designated Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), meaning the animals and plants that live there are strictly protected by law. Our SACs include a nesting ground for skylarks near Stroud and an 800-hectare wetlands in Cambridgeshire.

Sun shining through pine trees on Brownsea Island in Dorset

Healthy plants 

Our landscapes are full of extraordinary trees and plants, such as ancient oaks and exotic flowers. These natural treasures are protected by a law which obliges landowners to remove invasive species where they might be causing harm. In the past it has stopped dangerous bacteria that could damage trees from reaching our shores.

What we're calling for

We know we must do more so that nature can thrive. That’s why we’re calling on the government to create a bold and far-reaching Environment Bill. Here are the three key elements we’re asking for:

  • Nature targets that politicians now and in the future need to meet and report on. Targets that clean up our seas and rivers, make our soils healthy again and rejuvenate habitats 
  • World-leading environmental principles to ensure that when we make new laws, we consider the impact they will have on nature
  • An independent watchdog that will hold our politicians to account on the environment for many years to come.

To find out more about the Environment Bill and what it means for nature, read our interview with Patrick Begg, Outdoors and Natural Resources Director, in the spring issue of the National Trust Magazine. 

What we stand for

We're passionate about open spaces and historic places - and we're working hard in other areas too. With your help, we care for the environment, food and farming, green energy and transport, and heritage.

Read about our cause