How do we shift the dial on nature recovery?

Avon Needs Trees is creating new, permanent woodland at a regional level. In this blog, Tom Le Fanu, their Head of Engagement, Fundraising & Communications, shares more about their work to support nature, and their Nature is Lush campaign.

The outlook for nature recovery, wildlife and biodiversity decline in the West of England is a mixed picture. There are many positive stories, early signals of how the region could lead the way on nature and focus the energy of widespread grassroots support. On the other hand, we live in one of the most depleted areas in one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. Shifting global patterns are being felt locally, with severe flooding just one sign that things aren’t moving fast enough.

So what is needed to shift the dial on the nature and climate emergencies in the West of England?

Avon Needs Trees (ANT) was founded in 2019 by environmentalist Nikki Jones and a small band of dedicated volunteers concerned by the extent of deforestation in our region. At the time, no charity existed to buy land in our catchment to guarantee the permanence of new woodlands.

Over the subsequent years, ANT has seen exponential growth in the size of projects and scale of the impact. The latest project, the 422 acre Lower Chew Forest will be the largest new woodland in the South West in a generation. Also in the pipeline is Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew, a coalition of landowners coordinating to create a corridor for nature at landscape scale that would be a game changer for the region.

The speed and scope of these projects has been made possible by a strong alliance of organisations pushing for change; ecological specialists providing advice and support, and critically, an innovative blend of public and private finance. This requires organisations that are willing to back change, test new natural capital markets, take on more risk and consider returns that look beyond a bottom line.

Projects like Lower Chew Forest can provide a blueprint, not just for how we do things in the West of England but nationally. It needs vision from organisations like Triodos, the Forest of Avon, DEFRA and the West of England Combined Authority, without whom Lower Chew Forest wouldn’t exist.

To achieve the scale of change required, we need political leaders that are willing to step up and take bold action. Good inroads have already been made. The West of England was the first region in the UK to launch its Local Nature Recovery Strategy, with regional public funding that has facilitated private investment. There is a real opportunity for our region to blaze a trail for the rest of the country to follow.

Ahead of the 1 May election, ANT has launched a public campaign urging the candidates for the next West of England Metro Mayor to put nature at the heart of their agenda. The Metro Mayor holds power. From setting the region’s strategy to unlocking government funding to invest in green jobs, public transport, and environmental projects, they drive decisions that directly affect nature over a four-year term.

We’ve published an open letter outlining key commitments for nature and climate. By signing the petition, you can send a clear message that people across the West of England want to see all the benefits that nature can offer – cleaner air and water, natural flood protection, pollinators that are vital to our farmers and food production – the right kind of green growth.

Positive projects and good news stories inspire. They can set the bar for others to follow. The right leadership can pave the way for the action at pace we need in the West of England.

The Nature is Lush campaign is backed by voices like Deborah Meaden, Chris Packham, Dr Mya-Rose Craig, The Woodland Trust, Black2Nature, Triodos Bank, Bristol Beacon, Wake The Tiger and many more. But to make sure nature’s voice is heard loud and clear, we need you. Sign the petition today and speak up for nature.