Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2015 | Page 54

COUNTRY LIFE

Photo: Bu mblebee by Darin Smith

IT'S TIME TO

ACT NATURE
FOR

Kizzie Henderson, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

The Wildlife Trust has published a briefing to the government
called Natural Fixes, which focuses on two key areas to ensure
natures recovery.

W

e need support for a nature
and wellbeing act and for the
full designation of marine
conservation zones and we believe that
we can start to see this recovery become
a reality over the next 20 years. The loss
of wildlife is continuing at an alarming
pace, with 60 per cent of our key species
in decline.
Our proposals would put nature at the
heart of how decisions are made and by
restoring our degraded natural systems
will help rebuild our economy, tackle a
wide range of health problems, reduce

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the severity of droughts, improve our food
security , absorb carbon dioxide emissions
and make the UK a better and more
inspiring place to live. It is time to act for
nature’s recovery.
Debbie Tann, Chief Executive of
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife
Trust said: “At a time when our need for
nature has never been greater, it is under
more pressure than ever before. We’ve
already lost a staggering 97 per cent of
our wildflower meadows and 60 per cent
of all wildlife species are still in decline.
Hampshire’s population continues to

grow – it is predicted to rise by at least
100,000 people in the next 10 years,
mostly in the older age groups.
“Health professionals are now starting
to recognise the contribution that nature
can make to wellbeing, but there simply
isn’t enough nature, in good condition,
to support the health needs of our
growing society. If we want the health and
wellbeing benefits that nature provides,
we must act to restore its health too.”
Our most deprived communities are
10 times less likely to live in the greenest
areas; fewer than one in 10 children
regularly play in wild places compared
to half a generation ago, but if every
household in England had good access
to quality green space, it could save an
estimated £2.1bn on health care costs. To
address this, the Nature and Wellbeing