The Wildlife Trusts are taking new polling to Labour Party Conference showing the British public want about 61% of Britain’s land protected for nature — more than double the Government’s 30% by 2030 target — while no more than 11% is currently legally protected.
The More in Common poll of 2,006 Great Britain adults (7–10 August 2026), commissioned with the National Trust, RSPB, Woodland Trust and WWF, also found a perception gap: respondents thought roughly 31% of land was already protected for nature.
To coincide with Conference, The Wildlife Trusts are publishing an evidence compendium, Fix nature, fix so much more: The evidence that nature is necessary, drawing on more than 200 academic studies on nature’s links to health, food security, community cohesion, climate resilience and prosperity.
Nature also registers as local pride. Almost half of Britons (46%) say nature and wildlife is their favourite thing about where they live — ahead of heritage and pubs. More in Common’s Strong Roots report, which also draws on focus groups, describes nature as a “sleeping giant of an electoral issue” that cuts across regions and voter groups.
“It is striking that the Government’s wildest ambition for nature recovery is less than half that of what the British public actually want to see. Whilst politicians continue to see nature as a nice-to-have, away from Westminster people are clear that nature’s recovery is necessary for a better country.”
Joan Edwards, director of policy and public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, said the public are right that more nature-rich spaces mean healthier, happier lives — and asked how long Government can stay behind that demand.
The Trusts also warn that plans to weaken nature protections through the Nuclear Regulation and Regulating for Growth Bills risk unravelling progress towards legally binding nature commitments.
Conference events
Craig Bennett OBE, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, speaks on Sunday 27 September at 6.30pm at ACC Liverpool (Arena Room Derwent, Secure Zone) on the Strong Roots polling with other nature CEOs, More in Common and Labour MPs. Further SERA fringes on Tuesday 29 September cover nature-friendly farming (12.30pm) and the electoral importance of nature (3.30pm) at Liverpool Quaker Meeting House.
