Kent Wildlife Trust reflect on King’s speech and what it means for nature in the county

Today, the King’s Speech set out the new UK Government’s intentions which “recognises the urgency of the global climate challenge”. Following Labour’s manifesto to “deliver for nature, taking action to meet our Environment Act targets, and will work in partnership with civil society, communities and business to restore and protect our natural world” we’re positioned to continue supporting the delivery of this in practice. 

In summary, several new bills were outlined including a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and build 1.5 million homes. The speech also included legislation to improve water quality by strengthening the powers of the water regulator through a Water (Special Measures) Bill, ensuring that mental health is given the same attention and focus as physical health as well as legislation to set up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power company. All of these bills are likely to both impact and be enhanced by nature’s recovery. 

Last month Kent Wildlife Trust launched its #VoteWILD General Election campaign which asked our local communities to vote with nature in mind and thousands took part in sharing messages, attending hustings and signing up to get involved.  

Now, the Trust is asking newly elected MPs to turn votes into action by committing to #ActWILD. Letters have been sent to Kent’s members of Parliament asking them to meet with the conservation charity at a nature reserve within their constituency to discuss how nature can support these plans.  

Paul Hadaway, Director of Conservation at Kent Wildlife Trust, says:  “We've signed up internationally to restore 30% of land and sea for nature. In doing that, we can actually be part of delivering net zero. We can be part of making our communities more resilient and proof against a changing climate. And we can actually use nature as an enabler of things like housing, done in the right way.  

We are keen to see some kind of land use framework being developed for the UK. We've got development pressures, we've got climate pressures, we've got food security pressures, and we need to reconnect land for conservation and nature that mitigates the impacts of climate against all three of those.  

"All of those things need to be laced together but married up against the fact that we have a 30 by 30 commitment to restore nature and that 30% is what helps us to mitigate against the worst impacts of climate.  

"Those things need to be considered strategically and that's what was completely missing from the last government. The good news is this new government has an opportunity to do it.”