Wild Summi conference challenges Government to reverse decline of wildlifeWild Summit

• Sell-out conference on 10th September brings together nature and climate campaigners, green businesses, charities and decision-makers in a first-of-a-kind event.Charities challenge Government to speed up reform of finance, planning, water and farming systems to halt nature’s decline.
• This follows a Wildlife and Countryside Link report that the UK currently protects just 6% of the land for nature, against a 2030 target of 30%.
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Mary Creagh announces measures to ensure emergency authorisations of banned pesticides fully take into the account the risks posed to nature.
• Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Baroness Professor Kathy Willis, Tony Juniper, David Wolfe KC, Ruth Davis and Hilary McGrady among speakers at today’s Wild Summit, where the announcement was made.

Speaking in Bristol at today’s Wild Summit, Mary Creagh said: “Without healthy nature our communities and our economies cannot thrive. Emergency authorisations for pesticides must now fully take into account the risks pesticides pose to pollinators including bees. Every action we take brings us closer to a country where nature thrives in harmony with communities.”

The first-ever Wild Summit took place today (Thursday 11 September 2025) at the Bristol Beacon. Hosted by Wildlife and Countryside Link, the summit brought together over 30 major nature organisations and more than 1,200 people (an additional 250 joined online) for a full day of talks, workshops and sessions.

Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Reversing nature’s decline by 2030 is a huge challenge that needs Government, land managers, businesses and investors to work harder and work together. That’s why we’re delighted to host the first Wild Summit today, where our message is simple: we need bigger, faster, nature-positive reform in every corner of our economy.

“The Government’s missions all hinge on a healthy environment: a resilient economy, public health, and a low-carbon economy all need nature in better condition. The message here today is that Government and campaigners alike must aim higher to turn round the heartbreaking, health-breaking and economy-breaking decline of nature in this Parliament.”

Other speakers included Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, who said: “If we can’t get rivers right, we can’t get anything right. We can’t get farming right, we can’t get food right, we can’t look after the climate, and we can’t look after our health. Rivers are where everything comes together and where, if we get it wrong, everything will fall apart.”

The Wild Summit takes place at a crucial time for nature, as a new report from Wildlife and Countryside Link shows that only up to 6% of UK land is properly protected for nature, far short of the Government’s 30% by 2030 target. Conservationists warn that the UK risks missing its target by a ‘country mile’.