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Original poster

To be worried about what might happen to Nature now?

38 replies

OneBusyFinch · 15/11/2025 18:33

This barely made the news and I don’t think I’ve seen another thread.

This week the Commons voted to remove the Lords’ amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that would have kept stronger, species-level protections for wildlife. The government’s motion passed, so those safeguards are out of the Bill for now.

In practice, decisions affecting protected species — hedgehogs, bats, owls, newts — could end up handled through broad “environmental delivery plans” instead of the proper site-specific checks we usually rely on. Nature groups are warning this could really weaken protection unless MPs support putting the amendment back in.

If you want a clear, simple explanation, The Wildlife Trusts have done one here

Just sharing because it feels like something people would want to know about. The Wildlife Trusts have created a template if you want to show your support

⚠️ Yesterday, the UK Government ignored pleas from the public, civil society and cross-party parliamentarians and stripped vital wildlife protections from the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. This is… | The Wildlife Trusts | 17 comments

⚠️ Yesterday, the UK Government ignored pleas from the public, civil society and cross-party parliamentarians and stripped vital wildlife protections from the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. This is hugely disappointing, but we are not giving up. Fin...

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/the-wildlife-trusts_yesterday-the-uk-government-ignored-pleas-activity-7395095499063652353-_pgO?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAABipJe8BQNiqEhshsT4F5KGxvJbxFlFm5oo

OP posts:
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11
Original poster
OneBusyFinch · 16/11/2025 08:10

HoppityBun · 16/11/2025 07:53

Unfortunately this is true. Whilst there’s food on supermarket shelves, people don’t know or care how it got there and at what cost. Same with petrol in the pumps. Whilst people can drive in and fill up, that’s all they want to know.

By the time they can’t do that, it’ll be too late.

I’m devastated and appalled that the government has back tracked on requiring swift boxes in new buildings.

I share your despair. If you can, join you local wildlife trust and Friends of the Earth or Greenpeace

Show quote history

Yes @HoppityBun the swift bricks were such a simple way to work with Nature not against it - the back tracking on installing them in new builds was disgraceful

OP posts:
Original poster
OneBusyFinch · 16/11/2025 08:06

EasternStandard · 16/11/2025 07:58

Yanbu op it’s not good

I recall hearing about a large selling off of land, I think the Wildlife Trust or other charity were trying to raise money to buy it. Related to this, I can’t remember the details.

are you thinking of this?@EasternStandard

Sir David Attenborough champions landmark Rothbury Appeal to raise £30m for nature and the nation | The Wildlife Trusts

Ambitious UK wildlife project will pioneer nature recovery alongside farming, recreation, education, tourism

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/sir-david-attenborough-champions-landmark-rothbury-appeal-raise-ps30m-nature-and-nation

OP posts:
HearMeOutt · 16/11/2025 08:03

I mean we can call it ‘population increase’ if that sounds better. But the basic facts remain - more people, more building, less wildlife and less habitat. No amount of efficiency or clever solutions change this fact. The fact we’re looking to build more houses is in itself mental.

HearMeOutt · 16/11/2025 08:02

HoppityBun · 16/11/2025 07:53

Unfortunately this is true. Whilst there’s food on supermarket shelves, people don’t know or care how it got there and at what cost. Same with petrol in the pumps. Whilst people can drive in and fill up, that’s all they want to know.

By the time they can’t do that, it’ll be too late.

I’m devastated and appalled that the government has back tracked on requiring swift boxes in new buildings.

I share your despair. If you can, join you local wildlife trust and Friends of the Earth or Greenpeace

Show quote history

Each person requires 1 acre to fulfil their dietary needs. We now have more people than acres. We are absolutely rammed. People think because they can ‘see plenty of green’ from an aeroplane window that means things are fine. It’s painful.

Cluelessasacucumber · 16/11/2025 08:02

It's horrifying news and @Pushmepullyou is absolutely right. It's not to do with immigration, nature protection is not the reason for delays in the planning system that is an utterly lie that Labour have pushed rather than tackle the real issues.

EasternStandard · 16/11/2025 07:58

Yanbu op it’s not good

I recall hearing about a large selling off of land, I think the Wildlife Trust or other charity were trying to raise money to buy it. Related to this, I can’t remember the details.

HoppityBun · 16/11/2025 07:53

Aliceisagooddog · 15/11/2025 22:35

This is very worrying. Unfortunately the MSM don't cover it and most people either don't know or care.

Unfortunately this is true. Whilst there’s food on supermarket shelves, people don’t know or care how it got there and at what cost. Same with petrol in the pumps. Whilst people can drive in and fill up, that’s all they want to know.

By the time they can’t do that, it’ll be too late.

I’m devastated and appalled that the government has back tracked on requiring swift boxes in new buildings.

I share your despair. If you can, join you local wildlife trust and Friends of the Earth or Greenpeace

HearMeOutt · 16/11/2025 07:50

We wouldn’t need mass ‘planning’ or building if it wasn’t for our rapidly increasing population. Even with creative solutions you can’t not destroy wildlife when 15 or 20% of your land ends up being built over, which is where we are eventually headed. We have already lost our food security and clean air. It’s a disaster.

Pushmepullyou · 16/11/2025 07:48

It is nothing whatsoever to do with with immigration, and will not make any material difference to helping us to meet housing targets - species protection is not a major factor causing delays to planning decisions currently, and protected species are very rarely a barrier to development - just something that must be considered and impacts to them mitigated.

This government has a complete lack of understanding of what the reasons are for planning delays (multifactorial but largely years of austerity leading to massively under resourced planning departments in local authorities) compounded by a reckless ignorance of how nature works.

I voted for labour and beyond disappointed in their performance on many things, but particularly nature. They seem intent on faking us back to the 70s where developers can just trash everything and the country will be horribly worse off for it

edited for typos and hopefully clarity

HearMeOutt · 16/11/2025 07:39

Well, this is what happens when people clamour for more immigration in an already hideously overcrowded country. Even if we offset the excess energy used, they still have to live somewhere - hence more building and destruction of habitats. We are the 8th most densely populated country in Europe, with countries like Vatican City and the Channel Islands above us. And that’s even where the Highlands of Scotland sway the stats.

We are completely and utterly fucked and have destroyed our country.

Original poster
OneBusyFinch · 16/11/2025 07:31

Yes @Aliceisagooddog very worrying

The State of Nature report makes it really clear how fragile things already are — wildlife down 19% since 1970, 1 in 6 species at risk, and only 14% of key habitats in good condition. We’re officially one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

And nature doesn’t have a voice in any of this. If protections are weakened, it just quietly disappears.

It’s hard not to think of that Joni Mitchell line about not knowing what you’ve got till it’s gone

To be worried about what might happen to Nature now?
To be worried about what might happen to Nature now?
To be worried about what might happen to Nature now?
OP posts:
Aliceisagooddog · 15/11/2025 22:35

This is very worrying. Unfortunately the MSM don't cover it and most people either don't know or care.