Access-to-nature crisis ‘on par with that of Victorian Britain’s filthy air’

Research finds many in England lack proximity to green and blue spaces as Labour urged to speed up manifesto pledge

Nearly half of all parliamentary constituencies in England have low access to nature despite a government target to ensure everyone is within a 15-minute walk from a green or blue space, new research reveals.

The analysis by the Wildlife Trusts comes as the charity presents a green paper to ministers in an attempt to speed up Labour’s manifesto promise to improve access to nature and promote biodiversity.

Make it more affordable for local authorities to use compulsory purchase powers for land purchase.

Establish a community right to buy land for nature access.

Treat nature as essential infrastructure, and free up capital funds to pay for the ongoing maintenance of natural spaces.

Make it mandatory for developers to create climate- and nature-friendly housing estates.

Make access to major rivers, especially those in urban areas, a statutory right.