AROUND 50 people from across Wiltshire joined the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday to call on politicians to do more to protect wildlife and end the UK’s contribution to climate change.

The group joined a mass lobby of over 14,000 people from across the UK calling for politicians to ensure the upcoming Environment Bill includes ambitious targets for wildlife recovery and a legally binding ‘Nature Recovery Network’ that will create new spaces for wildlife.

They also called on politicians to support immediate measures aimed at achieving ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions, following the Government’s announcement that it will set in law a target to achieve this by 2050.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Gary Mantle MBE said: “Wiltshire is one of the greenest counties in the UK, with rolling chalk downland, wildflower-filled hay meadows and ancient woods. But a closer look shows that something is seriously wrong.

“Habitats are disappearing and once-common species are becoming rare. Birds such as the nightingale, turtle dove and curlew are disappearing from our county.

“To reverse this decline, we need politicians to introduce a strong and ambitious Environment Act, an effective environmental watchdog that will hold government to account, and a Nature Recovery Network that will create new spaces for wildlife.

“We’re proud to be joining the people of Wiltshire at the Houses of Parliament to call on MPs and peers to take urgent action to end the UK’s contribution to climate change and pass ambitious new laws that will create a healthier environment for people and wildlife.”