28 Jun 2024
Our very own River Ver took part in the Restore Nature Now demonstration in London on Saturday.
The banner, to represent our local chalk streams, was made by St Albans Extinction Rebellion, who joined with other environmental groups from the district, including the River Ver Society and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust to march with more than 350 other bodies including the National Trust, RSPB and Friends of the Earth headed by Chris Packham and Dame Emma Thompson.
Over 80,000 marched through London with a rally in Parliament Square where speakers stressed the importance of defending the environment.
“Britain has one of the worst records of decline in species and habitats caused by indiscriminate use of pesticides, dumping sewage in our rivers and over development of our precious countryside,” said a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion.
Chris Packham who proposed the march said: “Our message to the forthcoming government is that we’re not going away and we will take to the streets to demand changes that we need to ensure a healthy future.”
St Albans participant Julian Gannon said: “The Conservatives’ own watchdog found that they broke their promises to protect and improve the environment but Chris Packham’s ire is not solely directed at the Tory party but at all politicians who fail to protect our environment. Climate Change which we see every day either on our TV screens or even in our own daily lives can only be averted if we restore nature and use it to make this a better world.
“Our chalk streams are rare parts of nature and thanks to local campaigns are maintained as small oases of nature which we can all benefit from. The march in London aimed to alert politicians that more rare habitats need to be protected.”
