Protect nature and wildlife everywhere

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

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

Prevent mass extinction

Our natural world is at risk. One million species face extinction globally.

The situation in the UK is dire. A quarter of our mammals are at risk, and we’ve failed to reach 17 out of 20 of the UN biodiversity targets that we signed up to a decade ago.

A combination of funding cuts, not enough land being managed for nature, and a dwindling wildlife population has resulted in what the RSPB are calling a “lost decade for nature”.

Will you join the 70,000 people who've already signed the petition to help reverse this decline before it's too late?

Sign the petition today

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.

Get your Bee Saver Kit

Emperor penguins and their chicks in Antartica

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.

Find out more

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.

Meet the people bringing nature back

"We cannot live without our wild spaces" says Sally Boys. She's one of a growing number of people who take action in their daily lives to protect nature.

It might surprise you to know how many such ‘Nature’s Keepers’ there are. Often they're showing up the failures of government, business and regulators.

Meet more Nature's Keepers across Europe, Northern Ireland and England

How you can help nature

Prevent mass extinction

One million species are at risk of extinction, but our government is set to rip up regulations intended to protect nature. We need to act now.

Prevent mass extinction

One million species are at risk of extinction, but our government is set to rip up regulations intended to protect nature. We need to act now.

Take our wildlife quiz

Do you get warts from toads? Are bats really blind? Test your knowledge.

Take our wildlife quiz

Do you get warts from toads? Are bats really blind? Test your knowledge.

female model wearing Make the Planet Great Again tshirt

Spread the word

Help raise awareness about our urgent campaigns with a Friends of the Earth t-shirt.

Spread the word

Help raise awareness about our urgent campaigns with a Friends of the Earth t-shirt.

Learn more about nature

Life after lockdown: how to make green space accessible to all

Access to nature is important to our physical and mental wellbeing. But the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how many people – particularly in urban areas – are robbed of important green space. Paul de Zylva explains how we can make our neighbourhoods cleaner, greener and healthier for all.

Nature

10 winter birds to spot in UK towns

Birds love towns and cities — even in winter. "Urban Birder" David Lindo shares the top 10 birds to spot during the colder months.

Nature

What happened to the Berlin Wall? The story of the German Green Belt

To mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Anike Bello spoke to Friends of the Earth Germany to find out how this symbol of tension and division has transformed into a beacon of growth and hope.

Trees

Nature

Trees

Nature

Beth Collier: is nature accessible for everyone?

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.

Trees

Nature

Trees

Nature

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

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