Protect nature and wildlife everywhere

Campaign issues

Birds in river which is heavily polluted, there's lots of rubbish and shallow water

Our rivers and seas are full of sewage but instead of cleaning them up, the UK government want to unravel the rules that protect the environment. If we want safeguard people and nature, we need to keep these legal protections in place. Find out what’s at risk.

Save nature protections

Tree facts: a path through the autumn woods

Double UK tree cover

Trees are good for our planet, our habitats and our health. That's why we’re petitioning the UK government to double tree cover.

Double UK tree cover

Trees are good for our planet, our habitats and our health. That's why we’re petitioning the UK government to double tree cover.

Save the bees

British bees need your help. Lots of our precious species are in danger of extinction. Find out how you can help to reverse bee decline in the UK.

Save the bees

British bees need your help. Lots of our precious species are in danger of extinction. Find out how you can help to reverse bee decline in the UK.

Two women digging into a grass lawn with a wheelbarrow behind them

Postcode Gardeners

Through our partnership with The Co-operative Bank we're putting Postcode Gardeners into the most nature-deprvied neighbourhoods, to green spaces and bring communities together.

Postcode Gardeners help grow plants for flowers, food and wildlife along streets, in front gardens and anywhere else people can enjoy them. They do some gardening themselves and give volunteers gardening skills so that everyone can dig in and create greener streets, and enjoy the benefits of a closer connection to nature and each other.

How Postcode Gardeners bring back nature

Does your neighbourhood have enough green space?

Nature is hugely beneficial to our health and wellbeing, as well as being key to a healthy planet. Yet millions of people across England lack access to good quality green space.

We've analysed data to uncover the best (and worst) neighbourhoods for access to green space. Is your neighbourhood one of the unlucky ones? Enter your postcode to find out.

Use the green space map

Photo of a seagull with a plastic wrapper in its mouth in a body of water. Seagull looks a bit rough too.

Save nature protections

Nature is essential to our lives, but the government wants to attack it, not protect it.

The UK government is planning a reckless bonfire of the laws that protect our health and environment, putting people and nature in grave danger.

If its new plan goes ahead, hundreds of environmental laws could be ripped up at the end of this year. From the rules that stop river pollution to those that protect us from toxic pesticides.

If we want future generations to survive and thrive, we need to restore nature and halt its continued destruction.

Find out what's at risk

Learn more about nature

Can our gardens survive without peat?

Published: 30 Mar 2022 | 4 minute read

The world's peatlands are a vital tool against the climate crisis. But a lack of action together with ulterior motives mean these precious habitats are still exploited. Find out why the UK government should protect peat (and why our gardens won't suffer without it).

Nature

General

Roe buck, facing the camera, captured in Skerningham Woodland

The art of campaigning

Published: 27 Jul 2021 | 2 minute read

How do you capture the heart of an issue and inspire people to get involved? Fusing photography, poetry and shots of gorgeous landscape, local group Darlington Friends of the Earth show us how to marry campaigning with art.

Nature

England

Local groups

Beth Collier: is nature accessible for everyone?

Published: 01 Oct 2019 | 2 minute read

Nature – whether it's a sprawling forest or an urban park – can be of great comfort during unsettling times. And it should be accessible to everyone. This article is taken from a speech given by psychotherapist Beth Collier at the Garden Museum, London in Summer 2019.

Nature

Trees

General

Beavers: how to tell their sex, and 10 other amazing facts

Published: 16 Nov 2017 | 1 minute read

Beavers are back in Britain after hundreds of years away – and Friends of the Earth and our supporters did our bit to help them get re-established. And there's lots to love about these rare river architects...

Nature

General

Why bees are our business

Bees pollinate much of the food that makes our diets healthy and tasty – from the apple in our lunchbox, to the tomatoes on our pizza.

But did you know Britain’s bees are in trouble? Shifts in the seasons are disrupting flowering times and the availability of food, shelter and nesting sites. Climate breakdown also brings extremes of drought, heavier rainfall and flooding. Bees and pollinating insects are struggling to survive.

We've already led a successful campaign to get national bee action plans in all parts of the UK. You can further help protect bees by purchasing a bee saver kit.

How to save endangered wildlife

One million animals are at risk of extinction, including a quarter of UK mammals.

Find out what's causing declining nature, some of the species at risk and what we can do to prevent total ecological breakdown.

Healthy nature will help curb climate breakdown

A healthy natural environment is one of our best allies in the fight against breakdown – if we keep it in good condition.

Nature is perhaps our best defence against flooding, storm surges, famine and more. It’s better than ever-higher concrete flood walls or artificial reefs: natural reed beds, coral and mangroves can hold back tides and support more wildlife.

True, climate breakdown is already affecting nature - but it's not inevitable. We must not allow runaway climate change to, for example, warm our oceans and turn them so acidic that plankton, corals and fish can no longer survive.

It's still possible to avoid the double trouble of climate breakdown and nature’s decline.

Health benefits of nature

Nature is good for us – we get clean air, water and food from a healthy natural environment. And many medicines are sourced from the diverse plant kingdom.

We also feel better when we get outside to see, hear, smell and experience nature –from walks in local parks to simply seeing the colours change with the seasons.

Studies show how daily contact with nature brings us multiple benefits. We're more likely to be physically active if we have access to good green spaces – and this means savings to the NHS.

Nature also helps children’s healthy mental and physical development, education and learning. One study found that children exposed to nature had better concentration and self-discipline, did better in reading, writing, maths and science, and were better at working in teams.

Protect nature and wildlife everywhere

Campaign issues

Postcode Gardeners

Does your neighbourhood have enough green space?