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• The well-known figures joined Reverend Canon Val Plumb at a special event to rally support for nature restoration on 30% of Church Commissioners’ land by 2030
• Pressure is mounting on the Commissioners to commit to action, with over 130,000 members of the public and leading theologians, scientists, conservationists, politicians and broadcasters backing the campaign

London: Three powerful arguments outlined why the Church Commissioners need to take greater steps to tackle the growing nature crisis at a special event held earlier today during the General Synod in Westminster. Reverend Canon Val Plumb spoke of the moral responsibility and religious imperative, while environmentalist, business leader and Dragon’s Den investor Deborah Meaden presented the business case for protecting nature, and conservationist and presenter Chris Packham talked about the biodiversity crisis and the practical measures the Commissioners can take to lead on nature recovery.

The event follows the launch of Reverend Plumb’s Private Member’s Motion, which calls on the Church Commissioners, who oversee more than 100,000 acres of land and a portfolio worth £11.1bn, to protect nature “in line with the scale and urgency of the climate and biodiversity crises”. A public action, enabling churchgoers and other members of the community to lobby their Synod representatives, has also been launched by one of the organisations supporting the call.

Ahead of the event at Church House, Deborah Meaden said: “I urge the Church Commissioners to use its immense profile and resources to act boldly and at scale. Last year alone they generated a return of £663 million in cash profit. Meeting 30 by 30 would cost a fraction of that and have a huge impact on nature. The business case for protecting nature is not only clear, it is vital to secure the Church’s long-term survival.“

Reverend Canon Val Plumb said: “If they can commit to protecting 30% of their land by 2030, the Commissioners can resurrect nature and restore hope in our future. As Christians we are collectively called to steward creation, and at this time of crisis, we cannot expect others to act but not do more ourselves. I urge other General Synod members to endorse this motion and join me in doing all we can to make history by having the Church lead on nature recovery in this country.” 

Chris Packham said: “The Church is in the unique and enviable position of being a huge landowner at a time of environmental breakdown. Most of us have to watch as the natural world collapses, without the ability to resurrect nature ourselves. But the Church has the land and money to take action, the profile to influence others to follow suit, and the UK public and church community calling on them to do right by nature! It’s impossible to think of a good reason they wouldn’t jump at this opportunity.”

Reverend Canon Plumb’s Private Member’s Motion builds on the Land and Nature motion passed in 2024 which focused on church-wide action on nature, and suggests a concrete target for the Commissioners in line with the UN’s target and UK government’s commitment to 30×30. If it receives over 100 signatures from Synod members it can be tabled for debate at a future General Synod meeting, followed by a vote. If passed, the Church Commissioners will be called on to commit to protect 30% of their land for nature by 2030. Currently, the majority of their 102,000 acres of rural land is used for commercial farming, with only 3,600 acres, just 3.5% of their rural estate, protected.

The Rewild the Church campaign has been gaining momentum, with support from over 130,000 members of the public, alongside theologians, scientists, conservationists, politicians and broadcasters who are urging the Church to respond more decisively to the biodiversity crisis. An open letter backed by nearly 50 high profile individuals and organisations, including Stephen Fry, Zack Polanski, Rowan Williams and Caroline Lucas has been shared with the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, asking her to lead the Church of England in committing to protecting nature on 30% of their vast estate.  Protecting 30% of Church land is also a key demand of Christian environmental organisations such as Operation Noah and Christian Climate Action.

Britain ranks in the bottom 10% of nations globally for biodiversity. Given that half of England is owned by less than 1% of its population, the country’s top land owners, like the Church of England, must act if we are to increase biodiversity and reach the United Nations’ target (of which the UK Government is a signatory) of restoring and protecting 30% of land and seas for nature by 2030. 

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CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information contact press@wildcard.land

NOTES TO EDITORS

Further details about the Rewild the Church campaign can be found here.

Images are available, along with a short video of Deborah Meaden.

ABOUT WILD CARD

Wild Card is a citizens’ movement campaigning for the UK’s biggest landowners to urgently rewild their lands in response to the climate and nature emergency. With over 250,000 people supporting their campaigns to date they have already claimed successes in persuading the royal estates and other landowners to begin ambitious nature restoration schemes.www.wildcard.land