As a nation that prides itself on its love of nature, why is it that England has become one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world? For all our supposed love of nature, specifically of the English countryside, the governments we have elected for generations, Conservative and Labour, have been allowed to preside over its destruction.
This has happened to an extent that is almost unprecedented in any other comparable country. In a recent study led by the University of Derby examining biodiversity, well-being and nature-connectedness in 14 countries, the UK came bottom in all three. This is not just a matter of size or population density, although these play a part. It’s a political choice: one that reflects the gross inequalities in our society and the way power is concentrated in the hands of the wealthy, who use their influence to bypass our creaking democratic structures.
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