cath bell

[Robin Forest @GreenRForest]

Those mature trees were vital habitat. I spend weekends birdwatching and destruction like this during nesting season is devastating. The UK must do better. 💚

[Paul Powlesland @paulpowlesland]

An historic day, as the River Wye becomes the first river in the UK to have its rights recognised by local authorities across its catchment.

Hundreds of people gathered on the banks of the river to watch as representatives from Monmouthshire, Forest of Dean & Powys Councils, Herefordshire County Council, the Wye Valley National Landscape & Bannau Brycheiniog National Park signed the pledge recognising the rivers rights and then spoke about why they had done so what it would mean for the relationship of their organisation to the river. It went beyond legal formalities into something of a service of thanks & honour to the river, with poetry, a choir singing songs, & offerings to the river.

It has been a real honour to witness & be part of the surging movement towards river rights & guardianship on the Wye. Four years ago I met & advised Herefordshire Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, who wanted to put a voice of the river on the Wye Nutrient Management Board. A year ago I sat around a fire on the banks of the river with other Wye guardians & Earth lawyers as the idea of a charter was first mooted. To see it become a reality, & supported by 6 public bodies, in just a year is astonishing.

Now, of course, comes the hard work of making those rights a reality. But given the hundreds of active river guardians, & increasing public pressure to protect & restore the river, if it can be done on any river, it will be done on the Wye.

[Rosie P 🦇 🦎 🕷️ 🦭 🐌 🍃🌳🚲💧 @RosieP4]

Watch as @nationalgriduk chomps through a hedge. In nesting season. Despite its DCO stating “”In accordance with good practice measure B02, vegetation with the potential to support breeding birds will be programmed to be removed outside of breeding bird season (March to August inclusive) where practicable”. So why was it not practicable not to do it in this instance?The ecologist found nothing (what a surprise) but there is no way a hedge like this does not have nesting birds.
(This is Bramford to Twinstead, not Norwich to Tilbury)

@PylonsEAnglia

[Danica Priest🦇🦎🦇🦎🍃💚🍃 @DanicaPriest]

We have sent you a message through the ballot box. Ignore it at your own risk. Don’t mess with our bats, newts and snails!

[Danica Priest🦇🦎🦇🦎🍃💚🍃 @DanicaPriest]

You were elected to protect the environment and green belt but instead you gave us yimbyism and ‘build baby build’ that no one asked for. If you want to save the Labour Party start with saving our green spaces.

[Danica Priest🦇🦎🦇🦎🍃💚🍃 @DanicaPriest]

I’m such a nerd that I’m actually in tears watching this 😭💚@ZackPolanski You don’t understand how much it means to see politicians understand that protection of green spaces is a social welfare issue. Access to nature isn’t a luxury, it’s a right that we need to fight for ✊

[Bobby @RealBlackIrish]

Last summer this was a beautiful meadow, now look.

As I took this pic, a rabbit ran out from the hedgerow. He saw all that and stopped, then looked at us as if to say ‘wtf?’ before disappearing back into the thicket.

It breaks my heart and sickens me, literally sickens me.

[Danica Priest🦇🦎🦇🦎🍃💚🍃 @DanicaPriest]

The Fingleton review is the ultimate test for Labour on nature. If they agree against all expert advice to weaken habitat regulations they are declaring war on nature lovers. To accept the recommendations in full is to lick the boots of the lobbyists who trample our wildlife.

[Get Wild 🐦 🦋 🐝 🍃 @mitchellsnik]

This video was tricky to make, But I had to tell at least some of this story because the silence is becoming dangerous. 🌳🚫

Everyone is being distracted by the "migrant story" headlines, but behind the scenes, there is a full-scale war being planned against our environment.

[BluWav @BluWavOxshott]

“13 developments have been approved by inspectors on the basis of being on grey belt land”

“These developments represent around 1,250 homes, but 88% of these will be built on undeveloped green belt land” https://t.co/Kne9McTT0j

[Danica Priest🦇🦎🦇🦎🍃💚🍃 @DanicaPriest]

Brislington meadows is a perfect example of Labour corruption resulting not only in wildlife loss but in real consequences for tenants and their animals. @HomesEngland doesn’t even have full permission yet. What evil people they are https://t.co/f5NnToDi7h

[dominic dyer @domdyer70]

So true

[James Melville 🚜 @JamesMelville]

Once the countryside is gone, it’s gone forever, never to return. We lose our green and pleasant land (and our food security) at our own peril.

[Danica Priest🦇🦎🦇🦎🍃💚🍃 @DanicaPriest]

In my opinion the biggest priorities for housing are:

🏠Leasehold reform
🏠Building safety crisis
🏠Rent Controls
🏠Social housing

Any government that isn’t putting these first doesn’t actually care about affordable housing or homelessness.

[Susie Taylor 🍃💚🍃 @SusieTa32510601]

Key figures in creation of Milton Keynes criticise England’s new towns plan
No surprise is it ⁦@UKLabour⁩..the housing crisis isn’t about lack of homes, it’s about AFFORDABILITY and not enough social housing. https://t.co/t1T3yEzkhX

[ali 🍃💚🍃 @aligreen9999]

@DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland You didn't even bother consulting with ecologists on your new planning bill - only with developers - so to claim it benefits nature is contemptible

https://t.co/7idWqT0TDM

[Danica Priest🦇🦎🦇🦎🍃💚🍃 @DanicaPriest]

Hands of the habitats and species regulations @Keir_Starmer! This legislation protects our endangered species and habitats. We need to make it stronger not weaker.

[ali 🍃💚🍃 @aligreen9999]

@EmmaforWycombe 'Our vision is for a planning system that delivers win-wins for nature and communities.'

But you know this is a lie. Your planning bill does not provide a win for nature. It destroys environmental protections. How do you expect people to trust you when you aren't honest?

[ali 🍃💚🍃 @aligreen9999]

@EmmaforWycombe The priority ought to be protecting existing trees and woodland, as trees take decades to reach maturity. Instead of strengthening environmental protections which would have protected woodlands, chalk streams & other precious landscapes, you chose to destroy them !

[Rosie P 🦇 🦎 🕷️ 🦭 🐌 🍃🌳🚲💧 @RosieP4]

Today's 'Environmental Improvement Plan' rings hollow. It's set against anti-nature rhetoric & a 'cash-to-trash' Planning & Infrastructure Bill, sky high rural housing targets, grey belt rules that see countryside concreted, and an infrastructure free-for-all. Government is out bulldozing our green & pleasant land while saying that planting a few saplings miles away will make up for all the harm.
https://t.co/vUbqOJNiw6