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Restore Nature Now! Wildlife can’t wait, say SWT and national campaigners

On Saturday 22 June Surrey Wildlife Trust members, volunteers and staff joined more than  60,000 people and over 350 charities, businesses and action groups to march through central London to parliament. They had one simple but powerful message to all the UK’s political parties – that they must Restore Nature Now.

The march is understood to have been the biggest demonstration in the General Election run-up and shows the strength of public opinion on the need for stronger political action to tackle the nature and climate crisis.  Whoever forms the next government, we need a step change in how urgently we address these issues.

Celebrities at the march included Emma Thompson, Liz Bonnin, Chris Packham, Dr Amir Khan, Feargal Sharkey, Steve Backshall, Megan McCubbin, Dale Vince and Mya-Rose Craig – and SWT personalities present included Sarah Jane Chimbwandira, Mike Waite, Aimee Clarke, Zoe Channon, Sarah Jordan, Louise Shorthose and Emma Rothwell. If you joined us, thank you!

Naturalist, explorer and president of Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, Steve Backshall said: “With many UK species on the path to extinction, our rivers becoming a pollution highway and the future of our climate at a crucial crossroads, the next Government needs to put the UK on the right track for the natural world. The Restore Nature Now march and its thousands of supporters have sent a clear signal to all politicians that this General Election must be a nature and climate election. The public wants it, UK wildlife needs it, and the next generation deserves it.”

Chris Packham, TV broadcaster and environmental campaigner said: “We have stood up and spoken, we have shouted loudly and clearly about the imperative need to restore nature. This has been a moment when our next Government must listen and act so the UK will finally properly address our nature and climate crises. We’ve heard enough warm words and seen too broken political promises while our beautiful natural world has continued to be destroyed. It's now time for the next government to take green action and not leave nature in the red. And the first true test will be what we hear in the first 100 days of power.” 
 
Liz Bonnin, president of The Wildlife Trusts tweeted: “Today all sectors of society and community came together to stand up for nature like never before. And it was powerful. We can be the leaders we’re looking for and the change our planet needs.” Watch Liz speaking on stage in Parliament Square here.

Read more from The Wildlife Trusts

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