Author: Hazel Draper

Rewilding Species of the Month: Common Ivy

1 May 2026

Ivy is a controversial plant that gets a whole lot of people reaching for the secateurs to butcher the green monster. In the UK, where Common Ivy is a native and therefore non-invasive species, this attitude can be symbolic of humanity’s need for control over nature or it may be symbolic of our misunderstanding of…
New Report: Getting Back to the Garden

29 April 2026

Exploring how the Church can lead on nature At a time when the UK has committed to protecting 30% of land for nature by 2030 – a key UN target adopted by nearly 200 countries – one question remains: who will deliver it? The Government’s Land Use Framework released last month makes clear that meeting…
Church of England committing “an ethical and financial own goal” by not protecting nature

29 April 2026

These are the words of businesswoman and Dragon’s Den investor Deborah Meaden, in response to a new report examining the Church of England’s financial assets. The study, which has also been endorsed by economist Sir Partha Dasgupta, author and conservationist Isabella Tree and environmental economics Professor Ian Bateman, outlines how, as one of the nation’s…
Rewilding Species of the Month: The Mountain Hare

1 April 2026

Some species play a key role in rewilding: altering landscapes, restoring ecosystems and/or creating balance through predation. This month, however, we focus on a species for whom rewilding could be the key to their survival on our shores – the mountain hare. The mountain hare is the UK’s only native hare and has been here…
Rewilding Species of the Month: The White Stork

2 March 2026

Our rewilding species this month, the White Stork, is a brilliant ambassador for species reintroduction. This beautiful bird is large enough to spot without the need for binoculars as it stands proudly on one bright red leg or congregates with others to draw graceful circles in the skies. It is a friendly species, happy to…
Deborah Meaden and Chris Packham challenge Church Commissioners over nature crisis at General Synod

12 February 2026

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Images & video will be available here early Friday 13th 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…
Rewilding Species Of The Month: Sphagnum Moss

3 February 2026

Being hailed across the internet as a ‘Miracle Moss’, ‘Nature’s Superpower’ and even ‘The Most Important Plant on Earth’ it’s about time that sphagnum enjoyed its place in the spotlight as our Rewilding Species of the Month. Although it is not strictly speaking a species but a genus (a family of closely related species), I’m sure that sphagnum…
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in the Ghost Woods

23 December 2025

‘Twas the night in a Ghost Wood, when all through the gloom Not a creature was stirring, beneath the cold moon; Pine needles were strewn ‘cross the empty brown floor Where once there were acorns and oh so much more Where rare slugs once nestled all snug in the leaves And visions of bluebells once…
Brits unaware of poor state of nation’s trees, new poll shows, with older voters leading the way in wanting action to protect ancient woods

9 December 2025

A new survey has found that Brits are in the dark about the declining state of nature in England, with almost 9 out of 10 believing that the country has significantly more native ancient woodland than it actually has. Over half the respondents felt anger at discovering the miniscule amount of this historic habitat that…
Rewilding Species of the Month: The Boar

1 December 2025

The boar plays an incredible role in our ecosystems. Unfortunately, especially with current laws set against reintroduction, we are sorely missing this keystone species.