Over the past year, thousands of people have been calling on the Government to stand up for nature and Northumberland Wildlife Trust believes that the election is a chance for everybody to tell candidates, that they must put nature on the political agenda to safeguard the future of the UK’s wildlife.

It’s no secret that we all depend on nature. It’s also no secret that nature is in deep trouble with more than half of the UK’s species being in decline.  The UK is now one of the most nature-depleted places on earth.

However, the momentum for change is growing rapidly. Governments around the world are declaring nature and climate emergencies; the environment is always in the news, increasingly on the agenda; and ever more people and groups join the climate strike movement, realising they can no longer sit still.

It seems our Government can’t stay still, either. The calling of a general election provides an excellent opportunity to build on this momentum where everybody of voting age can urge parties and their candidates to act now and act decisively.

This election, as candidates canvass around streets and businesses in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland, Northumberland Wildlife Trust is urging wildlife supporters to ask them three simple questions:

1. Will you and your party commit to an Environment Act?
2. What will your party do to protect and revive our seas?
3. What will your party do to support farmer contributing to nature’s recovery?

Nationally, all 46 UK Wildlife Trusts are calling on all political parties to back an ambitious Environment Act, introduce an Agriculture Bill that pays farmers for helping wildlife and restoring the countryside, and reviving the marine environment through a network of Highly Protected Marine Areas and a new Marine Strategy.

All the Wildlife Trusts work every day, up and down the country, to protect and restore special wild places, working on the ground to find solutions to nature’s decline. Every day they come face to face with the pressures on nature in Britain, and know that nature can recover. They also know what’s needed: better protections and a connected landscape and seascape, with space for nature to thrive.

Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive says: “Thursday 12 December could be a big day for wildlife. Whatever the party, the new Government must act to build a wilder future for everybody.

“Our wildlife is in crisis, but we can turn things around. We can all use this election to call for laws that create a wilder future."

Mike concludes: “The nature and climate emergency is happening, and it’s happening NOW! So please speak to your parliamentary candidates and help us tell politicians to take urgent action.”