Theguardian iconTheguardianSep 17, 2026 ~1 min source read

Access-to-nature crisis ‘on par with that of Victorian Britain’s filthy air’

The analysis by the Wildlife Trusts comes as the charity presents a green paper to ministers in an attempt to speed up Labour's manifesto promise to improve access to nature and promote biodiversity. Make it more affordable for local authorities to use compulsory purchase powers for land purchase.

Access-to-nature crisis ‘on par with that of Victorian Britain’s filthy air’

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The analysis by the Wildlife Trusts comes as the charity presents a green paper to ministers in an attempt to speed up Labour's manifesto promise to improve access to nature and promote biodiversity.

Make it more affordable for local authorities to use compulsory purchase powers for land purchase.

Treat nature as essential infrastructure, and free up capital funds to pay for the ongoing maintenance of natural spaces.

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The useful part

The analysis by the Wildlife Trusts comes as the charity presents a green paper to ministers in an attempt to speed up Labour's manifesto promise to improve access to nature and promote biodiversity. Make it more affordable for local authorities to use compulsory purchase powers for land purchase. Treat nature as essential infrastructure, and free up capital funds to pay for the ongoing maintenance of natural spaces.

How it works

  • Make it mandatory for developers to create climate- and nature-friendly housing estates.
  • Make access to major rivers, especially those in urban areas, a statutory right.

Details worth keeping

Establish a community right to buy land for nature access.

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