HAMPSHIRE and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has published a briefing to the Government called Natural Fixes, revealing that 60 per cent of our key species are in decline.

The trust says its proposals would put nature at the heart of how decisions are made and restore the degraded natural systems to rebuild the economy, tackle health problems, reduce the severity of droughts, improve food security, absorb carbon dioxide emissions and make the UK a better and more inspiring place to live.

Debbie Tann, chief executive of the trust, added: “At a time when our need for nature has never been greater it is under more pressure than ever before.

“We’ve already lost a staggering 97 per cent of our wildflower meadows and 60 per cent of all wildlife species are still in decline. Hampshire’s population continues to grow – it is predicted to rise by at least 100,000 people in the next ten years, mostly in the older age groups.

“Health professionals are now starting to recognise the contribution that nature can make to wellbeing – but there simply isn’t enough nature, in good condition, to support the health needs of our growing society. If we want the health and wellbeing benefits that nature provides we must act to restore its health too.”

The most deprived communities are 10 times less likely to live in the greenest areas and fewer than one in ten children regularly play in wild places compared to half a generation ago but if every household in England had good access to quality green space it could save an estimated £2.1 billion on health care costs, says the trust.

The Nature and Wellbeing Act proposed by the trust would call for local and national ‘ecological networks’ to be mapped out and created to reconnect wildlife and habitats in living landscapes.