The Government’s 25
year plan to protect and enhance the environment has won the backing of
national land management charity, the Land Trust.
Proposals to improve
air and water quality, enhance wildlife habitats and use green spaces to
improve public health and well-being were all welcomed by the Trust, mirroring
the charity’s own key aims and activities.
The Trust was
pleased the recommendations contained in the report A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment recognised
the many threats to the natural environment and also the social injustice of
young people from deprived backgrounds having less access to green open spaces.
The Land Trust
approved of key policies to make more effort to connect children with nature
and to embed the environmental net gain principle into commercial developments,
including housing and infrastructure projects.
But it also sounded
a warning bell about the dangers of weak leadership, slipping timetables and
poor delivery.
Euan Hall, chief
executive of the Land Trust, said: “It’s great to see the Government taking the
lead in creating a long term plan for protecting and enhancing the UK’s
precious environment. It makes good economic sense and it’s also vital for
public health and well-being, both physical and mental.
“We can help the
Government deliver its vision particularly in the creation of new,
well-designed residential communities. Bring in our expertise early and we can
advise on the creation of public green space and then manage that valuable
resource for the good of all the local community, delivering health,
environmental and educational benefits. A recent study of 38 nations across the
globe found the UK had one of the lowest physical activity rates. We want to
change that.
“We welcome the
creation of a new land management scheme and a new statutory body to give
‘Environment’ a voice. We hope this will be a turning point after years of
under-funding. We desperately need the Government to take strong, clear steps
and create targets to implement and measure improvements and progress.
“All Government
departments need to play their part in creating good quality, healthy places
for living and leisure, particularly in urban areas. We urge them to provide
clear investment frameworks for the creation, enhancement and long term
maintenance of green spaces and green infrastructure fit for the 21st century.”
