Streets Ahead

LARGEST EVER UK WILDLIFE MARCH DEMANDS RESTORATION OF NATURE

The biggest ever gathering of UK wildlife and nature groups came together in London on Saturday 22nd June 2024 to help turn the tide on the current destruction of nature, illustrating the strength of public opinion for stronger political action to tackle the nature and climate crisis.

The ask was for all politicians to do the following: provide more funding to ensure a nature-friendly farming approach; make polluters pay for the damage they do to the environment; create more space for nature by expanding and improving protected areas; make it a legal right to have a healthy environment - clean air and water and access to nature for all communities; and to deliver fair and effective climate action that means we at least halve UK emissions by 2030.

As a human bumble bee and a team forming an earthworm joined tens of thousands of other 'insects, birds, sea creatures and mammals' travelling to their positions at the start of the 'Restore Nature Now' rally in Park Lane, multiple faith groups were already taking part in a pre-march act of worship in a church nearby.

Children participated in Forest Church activities outside Farm Church (The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mayfair), whilst inside individuals and members of groups such as the Iona Community, Green Christian, Operation Noah, A Rocha, Salvation Army and Christian Climate Action took part in an uplifting 'Creation cries out' service of worship and lament featuring music, poems, a prayer from the Pope, an address on nature loss, a guided 'Holding the World' meditation and The Lost Words Blessing by Robert Macfarlane. After the service, as they made their way to join the start line for the Restore Nature Now mass rally, another meditation was finishing nearby - this time organised by XR Buddhists beneath the majestic, iconic Nic Fiddian-Green sculpture 'Still Waters' at Hyde Park Corner. Attendees beneath his bronze horse's head were invited to join 'in silent meditation, prayer, or contemplation in the context of biodiversity decline and climate breakdown.'

Reportedly over 60,000 people from over 300 wildlife and nature organisations and action groups took part in this legal and inclusive rally. There were the most incredibly creative and diverse display of outfits and costumes on show, witty slogans on placards and despite the cacophony of drummers, the climate choir, chanting and singing throughout the march, a great sense of well-being and peace from the participants all sharing a common cause and goal.

Ultimately the march was brought about by Chris Packham who was joined on the day by Emma Thompson, Fergal Sharkey, Liz Bonnin, Steve Bagshaw, Megan Mccubin, Dr Amir Khan, Dale Vince, Miranda Richardson, Namonte Nenquino (indigenous activist from Amazonian Ecuador) and other 'green faces', who re-iterated the call for all politicians to support action to restore nature. And at the culmination of the event in Parliament Square, against the backdrop of St Margaret's church, they took to the stage to talk further about the state of UK nature and the political action we need to improve it. There's no doubt about the scale of the problem, but the scale of the march was heartening, and there was even a subtle nod of support in the form of some Peregrine Falcons swooping overhead. May these symbols of power and strength be symbolic as we approach the General Election and hope and pray that all political parties take heed and provide the strong scale of action for nature that's needed.