Joanne Riggall

Grasslands Advocacy Officer at Plantlife @love_plants / former Civil Servant / French & Russian grad / avid footpath wanderer (opinions my own)

[Kent Wildlife Trust @KentWildlife]

We are refuting claims made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding the impact of conservation efforts on housing development in Ebbsfleet.

In an editorial for @Telegraph, Sir Keir suggested that plans for 15,000 new homes had been blocked due to the discovery of a colony of critically endangered distinguished jumping spiders. He cited the case as an example of unnecessary restrictions on development, stating:

“Take the project in Ebbsfleet to build more than 15,000 new homes... The plan was blocked by Natural England. Why? The discovery of a colony of ‘distinguished jumping spiders.’ The dream of home ownership for thousands of families, held back by arachnids. It’s nonsense. And we’ll stop it.”

However, this is an oversimplification of the situation, and it is disappointing to see this complex issue misrepresented. The vast majority of the 15,000 homes are going ahead. However, 1,300 homes were proposed for development on the Swanscombe Peninsula, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The distinguished jumping spider is not found in the area where those homes were proposed but in other protected parts of the SSSI. These other areas are home to rare and endangered species, including distinguished jumping spider, man orchid, water vole, marsh harrier, nightingale, over a thousand of invertebrate species, and even seals.

All of the SSSI, including where the 1,300 were planned, are vital habitats that we simply cannot afford to lose.

We must move beyond the narrative of ‘nature versus growth.’ Sustainable development, which respects and integrates the natural environment, benefits both people and wildlife. Our priority must be to ensure that future communities are built in a way that protects our most precious ecosystems, creating places that are not only liveable but also resilient and rich in biodiversity.

We are committed to working with policymakers, developers, and conservationists to find solutions that balance housing needs with the protection of the UK’s natural heritage.

@Natures_Voice, @Buzz_dont_tweet, @sspcampaign, @CPREKent, @WildlifeTrusts

[Rachel Remnant @rachel_remnant]

It's been a difficult week hearing the SFI news. We know the value of nature, the need to restore nature & the investment we are making.

Here's a great interview with @joriggall on spp rich grasslands.
http://https//cieem.net/i-am/nature-in-a-nutshell-podcast/

Slog on together

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

@Love_plants There are limited opportunities to leverage private funding for grassland - covering 40% of England

Alongside SFI reforms, @DefraGovUK must develop approaches & income streams that help farmers make the most of their meadows & pastures

SFI update: https:/linkcuts.org/0ay14evb

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

The #SFI24 pause will leave many farmers without the means to make more nature-friendly choices on their farm, such as restoring species-rich #grassland

Defra must now take reform of the SFI as an opportunity to build trust and confidence with farmers

🧵

@Love_plants

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

@Love_plants want to see SFI reform:

✅Put in place safeguards for herbal leys to prevent further losses of irreplaceable grasslands

✅Develop a more strategic approach to grassland, with a range of permanent grassland options, & value on priority habitat grassland

👇

[Plantlife @Love_plants]

We're hiring now for a Social Media Officer📢

🌱 Full time position (35 hrs a week)
🏠 Home-based or hybrid (offices in Salisbury & Retford)
⏰ Closes 4 March 2025

Find out more and apply now
👉 https://t.co/fRBr56KwPJ

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

A Grassland Taskforce 🌼

Dedicated resource within Defra & other Departments who can think strategically about maximising the co-benefits of #grasslands

Grasslands must play a role in a healthy, wildlife-rich, low-carbon & sustainable food nation
@DefraGovUK @SteveReedMP

[Plantlife @Love_plants]

Why is there no person or team at @DefraGovUK working specifically on grasslands, when they cover at least 40% of England?🚨

In an open letter, we're calling on the UK Gov to urgently address this & fully realise the value of grasslands now🌱

Learn more👉https://t.co/hbnJCpIj6A

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

Brilliant to see the spotlight on Mongolia's amazing #grasslands 🎉

@PlantlifeGlobal

[UN Biodiversity @UNBiodiversity]

Spanning more than 110 million hectares, Mongolian grasslands play a key role in the country’s mitigation efforts.

Our new blog delves into sustainable solutions to protect this ecosystem and help fight climate change: https://t.co/XQYLOi6vq6

via @ADB_HQ

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

Great to see the focus on Scotland's #SoilHealth & #ResilientFarming

Managing more diverse #meadows & pastures help build health soils, that can store & sequester carbon

plus produce food & other benefits! 🐄

[James Hutton Institute @JamesHuttonInst]

Our CEO, Colin Campbell, is at the @NFUStweets Conference today talking about the importance of #SoilHealth.

By 2050, people will need more food, water & energy. #ClimateChange worsens this challenge, but #Scotland's rich #soils offer hope. Resilient #farming is key.

#NFUS2025

[Farm Gate - Europe's food security podcast @Farmgatepodcast]

WATCH our full interview with @joriggall from @Love_plants here: https://t.co/IyaK9Opq0H

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

Wildflower #meadows are intrinsic to England's farming heritage and unique habitats and landscapes - which have vital roles to play in our economy

In practice, there are already limited protections for the fragments of species-rich grasslands that remain

@Love_plants

[Richard Benwell @RSBenwell]

Chancellor @RachelReevesMP, millions of people are worried about #wildlife, even if some developers want to wash their hands of it.

The best way to stop people worrying about chalk streams, dormice, wildflower meadows and, yes, bats isn't to deregulate. It's to #RestoreNatureNow

[Rachel Remnant @rachel_remnant]

@joriggall @joshual951 @Ralphs_Ian For the Bar End Meadows Project, we're highlighting neglect on several mitigation areas, established when the M3 cut through #TwyfordDown. These sites were success stories, monitored by @UK_CEH but are now overgrown. Part of the rationalle for restoration is their role in LNRS.

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

@rachel_remnant @joshual951 @Ralphs_Ian @UK_CEH Really good points re. good management & condition of existing protected sites for their role in nature recovery ambition. So important to highlight where on-going management is falling down too!

Thanks for doing this work - feel free to drop me a message with more info

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

Proud that @Love_plants is a supporter of the important #CANBill 🌱

Thankful for @DrRozSavageMP 's championing of meaningful, joined-up action on climate & nature form @GOVUK

The next opportunity for MPs to debate the Bill is 11 July 👀

[Zero Hour @zero-hour.bsky.social @zerohour_uk]

🌎 Zero Hour is a legislation campaign. Since 2019, we’ve grown an alliance of citizens, NGOs, unions, charities and businesses. We want, and need, a Climate and Nature Act to ensure UK law is aligned with what scientists are telling us is needed to secure a liveable future.

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

Fantastic to hear @JoshNewburyMP champion nature-friendly farmers

& also mention acid grassland within Cannock Chase 🎉

@Love_plants are working with partners to develop a grassland toolkit to support farmers to access £ for species-rich grassland https://t.co/kV1WinEC4r

[Josh Newbury MP @JoshNewburyMP]

The role of farmers in tackling nature loss and boosting biodiversity can’t be understated 🚜🐝🌾 They’re our front line in the battle to halt and reverse decline, but they can only do that if we give them the tools they need and trust them to know what’ll work best on their farm

[Rachel Remnant @rachel_remnant]

Can anyone point me to the stats about wildflower seed availability for LNRS?
I want to quote it for a report highlighting the value of well managed species-rich grasslands to generate donor material for local restoration projects.
@joshual951 @joriggall @Ralphs_Ian any tips?

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

Watch it here, and watch out for whether your MP attends or not 👀
https://t.co/68aSlUqXRd

[Joanne Riggall @joriggall]

All eyes on @UKLabour during the 2nd Reading of the pivotal #ClimateAndNatureBill

There's no healthy economy without a healthy environment 💪🌱

Please vote for the passage of the #CANBill
@zerohour_uk