World Environment Day (5 June 2021) saw the Government launch a new Plant For Our Planet Campaign, aimed at encouraging the planting of trees and flowers, and is part of the Government's drive to tackle biodiversity loss with nature-based solutions.
The campaign is backed by The Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust, National Trust, Horticultural Trades Association and Royal Horticultural Society, all of which are asking individuals and communities to support nature in planting flowers and trees, which will in turn help to remove carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and also restore community spaces.
It is up to the individual or community what they do to join in the campaign, but could range from potting a plant, to tackling a garden, planting a tree, creating an insect hotel or growing a vegetable patch. Every little will help, especially if efforts help pollinators. Many of the organisations backing the campaign have designed nature projects that people of all ages can join in with, including the Wildlife Trusts 30 Days Wild project, which simply encourages people to do a different nature activity each day throughout June.
Joan Edwards, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Wildlife Trusts, said, "The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and so every effort is needed to help wildlife recover. We must tackle the climate and nature crises head-on by deploying bold and ambitious restoration projects on land and sea at a large-scale – as well as through local community-led action. Initiatives like the Government's Plant for our Planet help everyone to play a part in bringing back nature where they live as are charity challenges such as 30 Days Wild from The Wildlife Trusts, which is running throughout June and asks everyone to do one 'wild' thing a day.
Never has the need to restore nature and tackle climate change been more urgent – and people must be part of the solution."
