Lancashire Wildlife Trust joins 12,000 in climate and environment lobby

Lancashire Wildlife Trust joins 12,000 in climate and environment lobby

Charlotte Varela

Yesterday we joined school children, farmers, grandparents, surfers and many more passionate individuals in a mass lobby for urgent action on nature declines and climate change.

In the largest-ever environmental lobby of Parliament, organisations and constituents from across the UK gathered outside Westminster, stretching across both sides of the Thames, to meet with at least 225 MPs who came out of Parliament to meet their constituents.

Ellie and Jenny of Lancashire Wildlife Trust standing in front of Parliament during the mass lobby

Charlotte Varela

MPs were taken by rickshaw to meet constituents in the area surrounding the Palace of Westminster. At 2pm lobbyists rang alarms and alarm clocks to symbolise that ‘the time is now to act’. They urged their MPs to pass ambitious new laws that create a healthier environment for people and wildlife, and to support measures that end the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2045.

Staff and volunteers from our head office, Carbon Landscape project and Myplace project all joined the inspiring crowds to lobby Government for a Wilder Future for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Ellie Sherlock, our Communications Officer, was here to fight for her lifelong passion.

Wildlife has been important to me since I was a little girl. It makes me feel inspired, creative and passionate, and I’m so excited that we’re all here today to fight for it. This is our planet, and I love it.
Ellie Sherlock
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside

We also spoke to Charles Kenyon, one of just two Blackburn constituents who had made the long journey down to London, about why the lobby was important to him. He had some great tips for confidently getting the message out to more people.

“I’d ask everybody to work towards sustainability. Work by challenging yourself – find good people who aren’t a threat to you and encourage them to work towards the biggest thing for our survival. Go to religious organisations – anyone that cares about the world at all, and tell them the truth. As you do so you’ll become more confident in talking to other people and doing what’s necessary for the world.”

The day also saw leaders from different faith communities, including former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, gather for a ‘Walk of Witness’ from Trafalgar Square down Whitehall.

It was wonderful to see so many people of all ages and backgrounds attending the lobby. Our Myplace team created some fantastic banners using upcycled pillow cases and dye from leaf bashing, and even came armed with a chant.

It’s powerful to see 12,000 people from all over the UK and all walks of life come to wake-up Westminster. They have made it clear that now is the time for a real change of direction.
Stephanie Hilborne OBE
Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts

This year seems to be the year when the tide is finally beginning to change. In May the government declared a Climate and Environment Emergency, and announced a new wave of protection for Lancashire’s seas. Today, laws which commit the UK government to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 came into force. While these are historic moves, we now need to see them put into action. You can hold the government to their promises by writing to your MP about how crucial it is for the upcoming Environment Bill to be robust, ambitious and fit for purpose. It needs to not only protect wildlife, but put nature into recovery.

Write to your MP

‘The Time is Now’ lobby was organised by The Climate Coalition and Greener UK, two coalitions combining more than 130 organisations and representing more than 15 million people – ranging from aid agencies CAFOD, Christian Aid and Islamic Relief to community groups including the Women’s Institute, and environmental organisations such as The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB. It follows global environmental protests, and the declaration of a climate and environment emergency by the UK parliament.