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Restore Nature Now 2024 | The Biggest Public Demonstration for Nature in British History

Restore Nature Now is the biggest demonstration in British history to demand action for nature ahead of the general election. This blog post explores Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust's involvement and reflections on the march.

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make" - Jane Goodall

The UK is regarded as one of the most nature-depleted countries globally. The new UK government must intensify its efforts to reverse this situation.

As a leading conservation charity in Gloucestershire, on June 22, 2024, the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT), together with its staff, volunteers, and members, joined Restore Nature Now, the biggest demonstration in British history to demand action for nature ahead of the general election.

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GWT Team at Parliament Square. London

The Restore Nature Now (RNN) march, organised by The Wildlife Trusts, an umbrella organisation representing 46 Wildlife Trusts across the country, teamed up with 11 other major nature and climate organisations, including the RSPB, National Trust, WWF, WWT, Wildlife and Countryside Link, and Extinction Rebellion. It was supported by over 300 other organisations, celebrities, and campaigners, including Emma Thompson, Liz Bonnin, Chris Packham, Dr Amir Khan, Feargal Sharkey, Steve Backshall, Megan McCubbin, Dale Vince, and Mya-Rose Craig.

GWT's RNN campaign video | Nature is under attack

RNN Campaign Video (https://youtu.be/UcGOLhEYqyg?si=YyHfQtlyw_dfQLs9)

Restore Nature Now GWT Placard

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) launched campaigns to encourage locals to join the Restore Nature Now march. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many eager to participate.

GWT published a dedicated webpage for RNN and launched a placard design competition. An exceptional design by Lucinda emerged as the winner and was prominently displayed during the march.

Park Lane in central London served as the assembly area for the march, with attendees gathering from 11:30 am on Saturday. The road was divided into four nature-themed sections: woods, water, land, and air. GWT joined in the woods section and took their place at the forefront of the march alongside other wildlife trusts.

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The atmosphere was electric, filled with drums, songs, slogans, and particularly the sounds of bird songs, captivating London for a few hours. Nature lovers carried various creative banners, artworks, placards, and wore fancy costumes to convey powerful messages, demanding that politicians prioritise nature. It was estimated that 60,000 to 80,000 people participated, making the demonstration a huge success.

A picture collage of various creative works and costumes at RNN

A picture collage of various creative works and costumes at RNN

It was surprising to see many children among the participants, holding placards with messages like ‘I want nature in my future,’ and enthusiastically joining the march. They displayed captivating slogans and clearly enjoyed this family-friendly event.

Tweet on RNN

A tweet from one of our participants at RNN

Many participants remarked on how eye-opening the day was, with emotions ranging from excitement to profound inspiration. Witnessing such a large, diverse crowd united in their passion for nature stirred deep feelings of hope and solidarity among attendees. For some, it was a pivotal moment, realising the scale of support and determination to advocate for our environment. The collective energy and shared commitment to conservation left a lasting impression, reinforcing the urgency and importance of taking immediate action to protect our planet's biodiversity.

A picture collage of children with interesting costumes at RNN.

A picture collage of children with interesting costumes at RNN.

The 1.5-mile route from Park Lane concluded at Parliament Square in London, where a large stage with big screens was set up. Brilliant speeches were delivered by Craig Bennett, Chris Packham, and many others. Additionally, an international activist from the Amazon delivered a fascinating speech.

The march demanded five commitments from UK politicians to show strong leadership and a commitment to nature by:

  1. Giving nature a pay-rise
  2. Making polluters pay
  3. Delivering more space for nature
  4. Putting a right to a healthy environment in law
  5. Ensuring fair and effective climate action

It was truly a historic event for nature in the UK's history, and GWT hopes for positive action from political parties to take meaningful action. Together, we were celebrating nature and calling for the government to take real, meaningful action to reverse the biodiversity and climate crises.

RNN Highlight Reel (https://youtu.be/eqjoWs_5gf0)

"The natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living" - David Attenborough

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