"I am writing on behalf of the environment..."
THIS CONSULTATION ENDED ON OCTOBER 30TH
Earlier this Summer, the Government launched a public consultation on what their long-term priorities should be for the natural environment in England. Our supporters were personally invited to take part in this by the Environment Minister.
We asked you to help us respond to the definitive question Government asked:
"If you could choose just one priority action for the Natural Environment White Paper to drive forward locally, nationally or internationally – what would it be?"
Over 15,000 people and organisations sent responses to Government's call for ideas on the Natural Environment White Paper, a record number for a Defra consultation. We are very pleased to be able to say that a sizeable chunk of these 15,000 responses came from you.
Around 8,400 of you added your voice to ours in this important debate...
... all backing up our demand for Government to adopt a target of doubling native woodland cover.
4,839 emails were sent directly to Defra using our online tool, and 3,542 of our members went the extra mile to return a postcard adding their personal message. Thank you especially to everyone who stuck a stamp on their postcard even when we'd used a FREEPOST adddress, it helped save us money too.
This is the first time a review of this kind has been undertaken in 20 years. Your support has helped ensure woods and trees can shape the long-term future of the natural environment, and your views also helped to form our own submission to Defra.
We will add the final document to this page when Defra publish it next year - let's see if that target is in there!
Thank you!
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Just some of the inspirational messages Defra has received:
"Please listen to our call for extending the tree cover, it is so essential for everyone and everything."
"Britain is the poor man of Europe with regards to woodland, let's not deprive future generations the many benefits of a landscape rich in woodland and wildlife. We are a small island and such oasis' of green will become ever more important for our population and wildlife... I implore you, please don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference."
"If we don't act now what will be left for future generations... except our rather pitiful excuses?"
"Yes, I sound like a "Tree Hugger" but what is wrong with that? The world wouldn't be in the environmental mess it's in if more people loved the Natural World as much as they love the Virtual World. I'm proud to say I love trees and woodland."
"Our society cannot sustain the continued building of roads, houses industrial estates and super markets, someone needs to be a guardian of evergreen Britain. Let us be the generation that makes changes."
"I believe that the worth of nature needs to be re-established so people are able to respect the many and varied values that nature, and particularly woodland, provides. Increasing woodland and the possibilities to work and enjoy these spaces... would do both humans and wildlife justice."
"I find it difficult to see how we as a responsible nation can exhort the developing world not to adopt and allow policies and practices which lead to deforestation, when our own forest cover is so lacking."