Now is a great time to reflect on the year just gone and to look ahead with optimism and hope for the year to come.
I am so proud of the work of the Trust in 2025, developed through our dedicated volunteer and brilliant staff team. We acquired more land to protect it for nature. We advised people – farmers, community groups and many others - on how to manage areas of land for nature. We worked hard to reach young people through schools, colleges and community groups to inspire them for nature and we stood up for nature ourselves, time and time again, throughout the year. Thank you to everyone who has supported our work as volunteers, members and funders.
2025 felt like a year defined by uncertainty and change - internationally, nationally and locally. While some uncertainty and change are an inevitable part of life, a huge number of things coincided last year. As we begin 2026, the Trust can look ahead with confidence about the various aspects of our work. We begin the year at the start of the development phase of the largest landscape-scale project the Trust has ever undertaken. As part of this we will be raising funds to complete the purchase of land adjacent to our Trench Wood nature reserve. If successful, this will become the Trust’s largest woodland nature reserve. Ambitious plans despite the uncertainty and change in the wider world!
More threats to nature
During December there was more disappointing news for nature. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, that you helped us to fight throughout the year, became law. Biodiversity Net Gain, the principle that harm to nature caused by development requires improvements to nature to be made in restitution, was watered down.
A further change that went under the radar was in the Government’s response to the Fingleton Review, a Nuclear Regulatory Review that considered barriers to nuclear power developments in the UK. The review, which did not include any representations from environmental organisations, cited environmental regulations as a key barrier to development for nuclear power. Blame was laid at the door of ‘fish discos’, vital acoustic deterrents to stop vast quantities of fish perishing in the day-to-day operation of power plants. Recommendations were made that include paying a cash sum up front to Natural England for harm expected to be caused. At a stroke this would remove the ‘mitigation hierarchy’, the need to avoid harm where possible first, and the Habitat Regulations and species protections that exist for good reason. More cash to trash.
The Fingleton Review was launched on the same day as the Government’s Environment Improvement Plan, a legal requirement under the Environment Act. As the Environment Secretary was launching the Environmental Improvement Plan, the Prime Minister was committing to taking the recommendations of the Fingleton Review and applying it across the Government’s entire industrial strategy. While this review has serious implications for the areas where nuclear power plants are being considered, the Prime Minister’s comment opens up the use of the same cash to trash approach to potentially huge other areas across Worcestershire and the rest of England.
This is serious.
But this is not yet formal Government policy. There is a short window to act and we need your help.
The Wildlife Trusts have partnered with 10 other nature conservation organisations to stand up for nature again on this key issue. We need you to:
- Write to Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, as the Fingleton Review falls under his remit. Let Ed Miliband know your concerns. We have drafted a letter for you to help you do this.
- Write to your MP. Let them know your concerns and why the natural world is important to you. 2025 showed that policies, politicians and politics need to catch up with the strong views held across the voting public that the environment and nature matter.
Today, The Office of Environmental Protection issued its latest report that asseses the Government’s progress on improving nature in England. Again we see the Government largely failing on its environmental promises.
Please make your voice for nature heard.
Thank you for your support for this important issue.