The demise of nature is bad news for us all. This summer’s record temperatures and prolonged dry conditions have underlined this simple truth. From trees cooling our streets and neighbourhoods during heatwaves, to healthy soils sustaining farm yields during drought, nature helps keep our communities, economy and public services resilient in a changing climate. Less nature means more exposure to dangerous weather. 

Such is the importance of nature that according to the Government’s assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security, our national security rests on nature, with biodiversity loss “putting at risk the ecosystem services on which human societies depend, including water, food, clean air and critical resources.” Reversing nature’s decline is not only an environmental imperative, but an economic and social one too.

So, knowing this, why is nature restoration often seen as a nice-to-have rather than as key infrastructure that underpins our future? 

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Why is the UK – a self-confessed nation of nature lovers – one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries? 

And why, despite the efforts of conservationists, nature-friendly farmers and governments, does British nature remain in freefall? 

Nature Day is a first for Labour Party Conference and comes at a critical moment. Convened through a partnership of SERA, Campaign for National Parks, CIEEM, Mott MacDonald, the National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust, it will bring together government, industry and civil society to explore the practical action needed to meet Government’s nature targets, halt nature’s decline and deliver nature recovery in every postcode. From local enhancements to landscape-scale restoration, the day will focus on the coordinated action needed to secure a more resilient future for nature, communities, society and our economy.

Unequal access to trees, biodiverse green space and national parks means too many communities miss out on nature’s health and wellbeing benefits and the good growth and jobs they can generate. Many communities are stranded in heat islands or subjected to repeated flooding. Nature Day will consider whether the PM’s ‘Makerfield test’ can level up access to nature and give local people more power to protect and improve their green space and national parks, to bring hope back. 

As the government begins the process of rewiring Britain so that prosperity might be felt in every postcode, it is critical that rural communities are not overlooked. Nature Day will explore the potential that rural communities hold for good growth, much of which is underpinned by nature.

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Nature Day will explore how we move beyond the unhelpful debate of nature versus development. With the government placing greater emphasis on strategic approaches to nature recovery, rather than project-by-project mitigation, the question is whether these policy reforms will deliver large-scale restoration or simply create isolated pockets of ‘nature’ that fall short for both people and the planet.

Nature Day will also highlight the high levels of support the general public have for actions to protect and restore nature. More in Common research has consistently found that nature and green spaces are one of the largest sources of pride for Britons in their local area. Their most recent research shows people’s reaction to the Starmer administration’s planning reforms. A majority of people polled (58 percent and 54 percent of those who voted Labour in 2024) said weakening protections for animals and wildlife in the planning system to make it easier to build reflected badly on the government, while only 14 percent felt it reflected well on the government. A similar majority viewed the government negatively for making it easier to build in national parks 

On becoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham wrote to SERA about the importance of nature as a foundation to our economy and our communities. He acknowledged that restoring nature not only protects wildlife but creates healthier places to live, tackles the climate crisis, reduces flood risk, improves public health, creates jobs and gives every child the chance to grow up with access to green spaces. This understanding is the reset and opportunity that nature needed under Labour. Through Nature Day, we want to show the scale of support this Government has across communities and sectors for turning this understanding into making nature recovery a national mission. 

If Nature Day is to have an impact, it cannot be just one day. Following Nature Day, we will deliver a Nature Policy Roadmap to support the government to move beyond isolated policies and fragmented delivery to make nature recovery central to economic growth, healthier and climate resilient communities and fairer and better places. We will invite MPs and ministers across departments to come and visit sites where much needed housing and green infrastructure have been delivered alongside thriving nature. We are committed to making Nature Day an enduring collective endeavour and we invite you all to be a part of it.

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