Today the Environment Secretary set out plans to restore nature and “build back greener” after the pandemic. The Secretary of State, George Eustice, made the speech from Delamere Forest’s visitor centre via an online event hosted by The Wildlife Trusts.

Much focus was given to plans for tree planting, species reintroduction and peatland restoration in England, including a ban on peat sales subject to a public consultation. While it is widely acknowledged that there is a big opportunity for a ‘green recovery’ from Covid19, Cheshire Wildlife Trust fear that there is a real danger of ‘building back’ just as before – for example by investing in damaging new road building and destructive developments such as HS2 rail, rather than investing in nature on land and at sea on the scale that is urgently needed.

Charlotte Harris, chief executive of Cheshire Wildlife Trust says:

“Cheshire is the least wooded county in England so we welcome the ambitious targets on tree planting, however the balance needs to be right.  It is vital that the right trees are planted in the right places and that we create woodland habitat that not only stores carbon but is good for wildlife too.

“We need new woodland that connects existing sites to form a Nature Recovery Network, allowing species to move freely throughout our cities, towns and countryside. Warburton's Wood Nature Reserve and our work in the Cheshire Peak District landscape are perfect examples of natural regeneration and connecting existing woodlands.

“The peatland strategy is also a welcome priority as Cheshire is home to a network of internationally protected peatlands known locally as Meres and Mosses. The Trust is also working hard to restore our degraded peatlands and has so far restored over 200ha of ‘lost mosses’ in Delamere Forest and successfully reintroduced species such as the white-faced darter dragonfly and beavers to the forest. It’s very fitting that Delamere was selected as the location to make today’s announcements.

“We know there will be challenges and we are ready for that, but the government need to go even further if we are to restore enough peatland and create enough woodland for nature to play its full part in achieving net zero by 2050. A ban of sale of peat for horticulture must be a top priority.”

Cheshire Wildlife Trust are calling for urgent implementation of:

• A Nature Recovery Network to be at the heart of the future planning system to enable new nature places to be carefully mapped out, joined up and put where they will work best for nature and people. A healthy and connected natural world will ensure that species have enough space to survive, thrive and move if they need to, in response to climate change.

• A future planning system that does not jeopardise nature. Defra should hold the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to account so that faster planning does not mean poorer protection for nature. The planning system must help address the wildlife crisis with a new Wildbelt designation to protect land in recovery for nature. Furthermore, there is an enormous threat to marine life from the huge expansion of offshore wind development and we must not forget the role that our seas play in mitigating climate change, locking away carbon. Strategic planning at sea must ensure green energy does not increase the threat to nature.

• Highly Protected Marine Areas across at least 30% of our seas’ protected network. It is disappointing that in a speech which highlights plans to protect and restore nature, tackle the climate and biodiversity crises, that no mention is given to the marine environment. We need to restore seagrass and saltmarsh for wildlife and carbon storage as much as we do trees and peat.  

• A ban on selling peat in compost before the UK hosts the global climate conference COP26 in Glasgow in November this year. The planned consultation must also set an early date for the phase-out of peat use altogether.

• A tenfold increase in peatland restoration, an end to all upland peat burning and better controls to stop drainage of peat soils for farming. Peatlands are one of the UK’s most precious wildlife habitats, capable of storing huge amounts of carbon, but over 80% of them are in poor condition. It is disappointing that the Government’s initial target is only to restore 35,000 hectares of them; its own advisors have estimated that ten times that – 300,000 hectares – should be repaired in England.

• A Tree Action Plan which firmly puts habitat creation and nature protection at its heart, creating natural, joined-up woods that are good for wildlife and accessible to people. Important wildflower meadows, peatlands and species-rich grasslands should not be damaged by tree planting. A move towards natural regeneration, where woods naturally grows from fallen seeds, should be a priority because they are better for wildlife.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts and chair of the announcement says:

“Today we face a twin nature and climate emergency – these crises are entirely interlinked and one cannot be tackled without addressing the other. The time for procrastination is over and greater urgency is needed on all fronts. The UK hosts the global climate conference COP26 in Glasgow in November this year and speed is vital: now is the time to accelerate nature’s recovery – for wildlife, for people and for the climate.”

The event can be watched back online.