Unite for Nature stall at the Big Green Day in Combe Valley

Hastings residents stand up for nature

Nature lovers from Hastings will be travelling to London on Saturday 22 June to join a march to Restore Nature Now. This protest has been called by a broad coalition of environmental organisations from the RSPB to Extinction Rebellion. Taking place just two weeks before the general election, the aim is to focus politicians’ attention on the urgent need to protect and restore the natural world. Charmian Kenner invites you to join the march.

Jane Ripley from the Unite for Nature group said: ‘Nature is in crisis. Our rivers and seas are polluted. A quarter of UK mammals are at risk of extinction. 97% of wildflower meadows have been lost. We depend on nature for our survival. Now nature depends on us to speak up.’

Unite for Nature recently held a stall at the Big Green Day at Combe Valley Countryside Park, featuring Blue Plaques for Nature that commemorate the loss of species in Hastings and Rother. The group are coordinating preparations for the June 22 protest via the Facebook page Standing Up For Nature Hastings and Rother, which brings together organisations and individuals working to increase biodiversity.

The Hastings group will march with a hand-stitched banner featuring plants and wildlife, produced by local craft groups Stitch TLC and Crafty Magpies. Mary Dawson of Church Wood Community Orchard, who is organising the banner project, said: ‘I will be at the Restore Nature Now march to wake up politicians to the loss of our amazing natural world.’

And Jo Howell of Unite for Nature emphasised that: ‘Time is running out before we reach catastrophic tipping points. It’s going to take more than the actions of individuals and conservation groups to restore nature – the government needs to take meaningful action NOW!’

To join the Hastings group on the train to London on June 22, look for updates on Facebook, join the WhatsApp Travel Chat or email UNITE4nature@proton.me.

Also in: Campaigns