Conservation bodies announce Restore Nature Now march

A range of wildlife and environmental organisations, including the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and WWT, have announced a march for nature in London in June.

The Restore Nature Now demonstration aims to be the biggest gathering of people for nature and climate that the UK has seen and is both a celebration of nature and a protest for urgent political action on the nature and climate emergencies.

The march through London to Parliament Square will take place from 12 pm on Saturday 22 June and aims to be a peaceful, inclusive and family-friendly event. 

The Restore Nature Now demonstration will take place in London on 22 June (Carl Bovis).

Conservation charities unite

It is supported by a group of dozens of wildlife and environment organisations, including the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, The Climate Coalition, WWF-UK, National Trust, WWT, Woodland Trust, Wildlife and Countryside Link, Rewilding Britain and Extinction Rebellion, all of which are warning that the upcoming General Election must be a turning point for nature before it is too late.

WWT Chief Executive Sarah Fowler said: "Nature is in free-fall in the UK, and there is an urgent need for action. However, hope is not lost. We know that nature bounces back quickly when you add water. Wetlands are wondrous places; they're mood boosters, carbon storers, water purifiers and a home to 40% of the world's species.

"We're proud to be joining forces with people who care and want to make a difference. On 22 June, we're marching for wetlands, and for stronger and more timely commitments to nature recovery from all political parties."

UK general election

The UK is ranked as one of the worst countries in the world for nature loss, with one in six wildlife species at risk of extinction. UK policies have also been rated as inadequate to the scale of the nature and climate crisis. In its annual progress report, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) said that 'the UK is ‘largely off track to meet its environmental ambitions and must speed up and scale up its efforts in order to achieve them'.

The Restore Nature Now demonstration will show a joint voice across the nature and climate sectors, uniting to tell all political parties that action must be taken to restore nature now. More details about the demonstration will be released in the coming weeks.