The government is not on track to meet its commitment to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. The current Environment Bill is not fit for purpose and the latest 10 point plan announced by Boris Johnson is not even ambitious enough to reach the government’s own climate goals. The CEE Bill offers a viable framework for climate action based on scientific reality and was drafted by an alliance of scientists, academics, lawyers and environmentalists. It was officially published by Parliament on 2 November 2020. The Bill aims to ensure that the UK plays a fair and proper role in limiting global heating to 1.5°C and conserving the natural world by restoring essential ecosystems. A temporary, Citizens Assembly is also proposed by the Bill, in order to assist the UK Government in determining which policies to include in its emergency strategy for reducing emissions and protecting nature. More than 80 MPs from eight political parties are already backing the Bill and five parties - the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, SDLP, Alliance and Greens - now officially support it. The CEE Bill is gaining momentum and the way public opinion is changing about the climate and ecological crisis will determine more than ever, how people vote at the next election. To protect our planet and our future, it is undeniable that we will have to change the way we live. We could delay this until it is too expensive or too late to limit extreme damage and societal breakdown, or we can act now in a well planned manner guided by legislation such as the CEE Bill. How we act right now will define the UK's place in the world for decades to come. The nature of the crisis that we face demands a bold, far-reaching and radical climate and ecological emergency strategy, which will reboot our economy with a just transition to a zero-carbon society living in harmony with a thriving natural world. We implore you to show leadership in this moment of extreme crisis and to back the CEE Bill. The CEE Bill Campaign: https://www.ceebill.uk/ List of MPs supporting the CEE Bill: https://www.ceebill.uk/bill The CEE Bill published by Parliament: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-01/0172/200172.pdf

Muskham Wood is an Ancient Woodland and Heritage Parkland under Natural England's definitions. While this Wood is our focus, we are making a case for the fundamental protection of Ancient Woodland to save the Planet. Ancient Woodland is unrivalled as a Carbon Sink and Biodiversity Bank. Ancient Woodland is key to our survival as a species. Every village has a right to its own Ancient Woodland for this purpose. We are calling on Nottinghamshire County Council, the home of Sherwood Forest, to spearhead a National Campaign to protect Ancient Woodland and to call a halt to invasive and damaging planning decisions, like this one, which cuts through a long-standing Area Tree Preservation Order without due diligence. In the middle of the village of North Muskham stands an Ancient Woodland, a Bluebell Wood with Veteran and Ancient English Hardwood Trees, nationally rare Liesler's Bats, red data list Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and Tawny Owls. It hosts one of the tallest Oak Trees in the County complete with a 40-bird, 20-nest Rookery. Dormice and Great Crested Newts live in and around Muskham Wood, which adjoins a Biodiverse Ancient Pasture and is part of a Nature corridor running East-West for many miles on both sides of the River Trent. Yet today the Woodland is threatened with planning permission granted by Newark+Sherwood District Council to fell some trees and severely prune many others. This will result in a reduction and retrograde change to the appearance and nature of the Woodland and will severely impact the existing local habitats of rare species. This Woodland is protected by an Area Tree Preservation Order, yet planning permission 20/01325/TPO was granted in October 2020 to alter the nature of the woodland without any impact survey, biodiversity survey or bat survey, and without any public notice being posted, in contravention of case law under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation(Natural Habitats,etc) Regulations 1994, the European Habitats Directive and Natural England's Standing Advice on Licensing to move protected species and the Council's own consultation procedures. This legislation relates to all European Protected Species and makes it illegal to intentionally or recklessly kill injure or disturb them. In this case no-one has considered or even looked for them, although the trees are all between 150 and 400 years old, between 35 and 70 feet high, and we have collected evidence of species' roosts and habitat over the last 30 years. The council has not even involved its own locum tree officer. No surveys have been done. The felling and pruning were applied for to "increase aesthetics, make grass cutting easier to maintain and prevent trees taking over the area." This is a protected Woodland with a Bluebell floor, for Heaven's sake. It has also been adversely affected this year by dumping heaps of waste soil, removing the underwood and burning it in situ, burning building waste, spraying herbicide, driving and parking commercial vehicles on the protected tree roots, bluebells and ground-dwelling bats, building a workshop and running a construction/vehicle maintenance business in the woodland. Please revoke this Planning Permission. It isn't the first attempt at warfare on the Wood. Since 2007, various parts of the Woodland TPO has been attacked by tree fellers acting for developers. We are sure the present case is no different. The Woodland has fallen into different hands, although it was meant to be an amenity for the housing estate built on its central pasture in the 1980s and was a condition of that planning. We fought the felling of ten trees at the west end by a developer in 2007-9. We fought the felling of ancient Yew Trees, Holly Trees, Ash Trees in 2007 at the north end by the County Council's maintenance team. Here we are again, with the Tree Preservation Order being flouted at the east end of the Wood. Yet we also bought part of the Woodland in 2001. It came with substantial clauses against development. So what exactly is going on in the rest of the Woodland, apart from profiteering? Honour the Woodland TPO, reinstate this valuable ancient wooded area, retain its existing Veteran and Ancient Trees. We would like to return the whole Woodland to its rightful state as a Remembrance Wood for the men who preserved it in the 1970s. Geoff Chadd went through World War 2 as a Lancaster Navigator in RAF 613 Squadron. His air crew went down in the North Sea and only he and one other of the six crew survived. Although his health was badly affected for the rest of his life, Geoff Chadd took solace from the great trees and the peace of this ancient place, remembering his friends and the many brave men who didn't return. We are looking to our County Council to remember them by: 1) Saving Muskham Wood and its ancient trees and all the other Woods in our County from damage by inappropriate management 2) Saving other species by preserving their woodland habitat and obeying the Spirit of the Law on Nature, not looking for loopholes into profit 3) Renaming Muskham Wood as Muskham Remembrance Wood to help our Servicemen and other people experience Peace in Nature. Please remember them, honour their familiar woodlands and save their trees 4)Taking the lead on the preservation of Remembrance Woods across Britain as great habitat for other species. Biodiversity is important to Nottinghamshire County Council and to all of us. Please help us to keep it that way

Dear Gareth Johnson MP, As you will be aware, the consultation for a proposal to develop The London Resort on The Swanscombe Peninsula has now closed. Due to the development being declared an NSIP, the decision-making process has been taken entirely out of the hands of the local authority and straight to the Secretary of State to decide its future, with no regard to the country’s extensive planning laws. Unsurprisingly, plans to develop a theme park on this natural oasis have garnered huge opposition, on both a local and national level. The Swanscombe Peninsula is officially described as a brownfield site, but in spite of this, and in large part because of this, it is truly a wildlife gem to be treasured. Unlike some other brownfield sites that have been adversely contaminated, resulting in damage to the surrounding land, it is this unique mixture of wet and dry habitats and the specific industrial use ofthis land that has made this site such a uniquely biodiverse area. Like chalk downland and saltmarsh, the harsher the conditions for life, the greater the diversity of the ecology supported. You cannot recreate this artificially. Some may, at first sight, seek to dismiss this apparently, in parts, scruffy and barren landscape and see the marshes as ripe for development, however it is exactly this open mosaic land which is so rare and so valuable in this part of Kent, and almost unique in the country, supporting populations of rare invertebrates, breeding birds and numerous other creatures. The peninsula is currently home to 1,992 species of invertebrates (250 of which are of conservation concern). This includes the critically endangered Distinguished Jumping Spider, found in only one other site in the whole of the UK. There are endangered water voles and more breeding bird species (82) than at Rainham Marsh RSPB nature reserve, just across this same stretch of river, itself a designated marine conservation area for the species it nurture. The Swanscombe marshes act as a natural flood barrier and with climate change now an accepted reality, the idea of building a theme park on a site that is liable to flooding is questionable to say the least. Marshland is also an especially crucial asset in the absorption of C02. Swanscombe is already adjacent to an official air quality management area and air pollution will further be compounded by an increase in traffic. The local road network is already terminally congested, and coupled with Ebbsfleet car park about to become a lorry customs checkpoint, if this development does go ahead, it may well come to a complete standstill. Local natural spaces have become even more hugely significant during lockdown. Residents havelong sought sanctuary in the marshes and being able to escape to this nature-rich beauty spot has undoubtedly benefitted the physical and mental health of many over the past decades and especially during this challenging time. For the reasons stated above, and whatever the outcome of imminent change on national policy on infrastructure projects, we implore you to support us in stopping the wanton destruction of this wildlife haven. Not only will it be an act of vandalism against the environment, this area is simply not an appropriate site for a gigantic theme park & the local infrastructure could not accommodate it. As our local MP we hope that you back us in protecting the marshes before they are lost forever in a concrete tomb. Many Thanks, The Swanscombe Peninsula Campaign Group.

For a brief period in November 2020 we were given a glance of what Salisbury city could be like without constant traffic steaming through it. A visionary and forward looking plan by Wiltshire Council set out brave steps to both improve the city and encourage walking and cycling, while going some of the way to achieving climate change goals. Sadly, this coincided with the second UK lockdown and a time where most shops were forced to close, and therefore the experiment ran into huge difficulties from the outset. Despite this, Salisbury City Council opposed the scheme, seemingly forgetting their own aspirations to take climate change seriously. By preventing the experiment from running we will never get to see the huge benefits such a scheme could deliver. The People Friendly Streets scheme offers a real chance to improve the city centre by tackling congestion and pollution, gradually moving the population away from reliance on cars and towards a more sustainable and brighter future. By shutting down this experiment we are denying future generations the chance to live in a clean safe city designed for people and not just cars. We are also failing the planet by losing the chance to take a small but importance step to reduce our carbon emissions.

In 2017, a report by the Local Government Ombudsman called "Lifting the lid on bin complaints" revealed that 81% of complaints about council waste and recycling were upheld. Many complaints concerned issues linked to outsourcing of council waste collection to private companies. Complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman represent a small fragment of all disputes between service users and waste collection service-providers around the UK. However, it does have an important role in ensuring standards are met within waste collection, protecting service-user rights and reporting back to Local Authorities on best practice. At present, individuals and business operators who use private waste collection companies, or brokers, for their waste removal or recycling have no opportunity to complain to an independent ombudsman who could adjudicate in disputes without the need for court action. This is unfair, and a missed opportunity to learn from mistakes in the industry. An Ombudsman can collect evidence-based data, and give guidance on best practice for the benefit of customers, public health and the environment.

Peatlands are the superheros of the ecosystem: they purify water, reduce flooding and are a home for rare species. But the key fact is their ability to store carbon and help climate change. Peatland covers 3% of the world's land yet holds 33% of all of the total soil carbon on Earth. This is more than twice the amount of carbon stored in the world's forests. In the UK, peat covers 10% of land, yet stores more carbon than all the UK soils and forests combined (3bn tonnes). Peat burning occurs in the UK for grouse shooting and an estimated 350,000 tons of CO2 is released each year as a direct result of burning. When peat is degraded and damaged it pours out carbon and is a huge source of carbon in the atmosphere, it is vital to help preserve and restore all our peatlands to aid in climate change. We can all do our bit by checking what we buy at the garden centre, and make people and governments aware of this issue and the importance preserving and restoring our peatlands.

Uffculme needs trees. The world environment needs trees. The village square will be barren without this mature tree that has stood there for many years. A local tree surgeon and health and safety consultant has pronounced this tree to have 'fine form and good outline' He also says that small birch leaves do not cause slippage or any other problems. Please sign this petition if you support Uffculme retaining this lovely and historic tree.

- Communities should have a REAL say in the places they live - save our land! - Our wildlife is in decline, we need to do everything we can to protect it. - Nature is vital for healthy ecosystems, food production and human wellbeing. - Harrogate District has 8% woodland cover compared to a national average of 12% and a European average of 36%. - Woodland planted by the community and destroyed by our own council and business gives the wrong message to children. - The Climate crisis is urgent and we need to reduce carbon emissions. Woodlands absorb carbon and destroying them goes against the Council's own carbon reduction plans. - People and planet over profit.

The routine and regular use of herbicides, especially ones containing glyphosate are not compatible with the need to safeguard and encourage flora and fauna and is an outdated and costly method that has hazardous implications for humans, domestic and wild creatures . Alternatives are possible and Plantlife Cymru can help and advise with the “Road verge Campaign”.

"We are at a unique stage in our history. The future of humanity and indeed, all life on earth, now depends on us" David Attenborough We are facing an unprecedented climate crisis and the UK government simply isn’t doing enough. We know that we are in an emergency, the next 10 years are critical to keeping global temperatures at a safe level, and we want the government to take immediate and urgent action. The CEE Bill has started on its path through parliament and was due to return for its second reading in March this year. It can help us change our course—making the government act with the urgency we need and involving everyday people in a Citizens’ Assembly that has real bite. If the CEE Bill is made law, the government would have to act fast, accounting for our entire carbon footprint while actively conserving nature here and overseas. The bill could set a precedent that can be replicated across the world. According to They Work for You, a website that documents MP voting records, our late local MP Cheryl Gillan “generally voted against measures to prevent climate change”. Please help to ensure that are new MP supports the CEE Bill. It is vital that local environmental groups and concerned citizens have the opportunity to convey to them the severity of the crisis we are facing so they can represent us in parliament. Encouraging them to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill would be a great start! Signing this petition will let our new MP know how concerned you, their constituents, are. We need the support of as many MPs as possible so that this bill can move forward - politicians need to step up. Sign this petition to call on our MP to back the CEE Bill! If you are not in Chesham & Amersham constituency, why not set up your own petition. For more information regarding the CEE bill, including the full wording of the bill, head over to https://www.ceebill.uk/ JOIN THE CEE BILL CAMPAIGN To join the campaign, go to the CEE Bill Alliance website for the sign up form and to find out more: https://www.ceebill.uk/campaign Sign this petition to ask the future MP for Chesham & Amersham constituency to support the CEE Bill

Thousands of people watched the BBC1 Countryfile programme on Sunday 25th October when it gave this information: Over 3,000 of our 7000 'Sites of Special Scientific Interest' across the UK, some 40% are in poor condition. In England over 70% of these sites have not been checked in the last 6 years, it is 30% in Scotland, Wales have 'no comprehensive monitoring', and the Northern Ireland authority didn't respond to the request for information. The budget of Natural England was £240M in 2010, but £100M in 2018 a dramatic fall necessitating a loss of a third of its staff. The Environment Agency (also responsible for flood protection), has lost two thirds of its staff since 2010, and last year only 4% of reported pollution incidents and other potential breaches of regulations were even investigated. We ask the Prime Minister to honour his pledge to tackle biodiversity loss and return the budgets of Natural England and the Environmental Agency to 2010 levels at the next budget, if not in his own words “now, right now!”, and to continue to fund Environmental Protection with increased and realistic budgets in the future, which meet the increasing environmental crisis.

Local campaigners have been opposing this plan on the grounds of intolerable climate and radiological damage since 2017. Her Majesty now has a direct role to play in either facilitating or stopping this plan in its tracks.  Her Majesty’s Crown Estate signed an Exploration Agreement with West Cumbria Mining on 21st July 2017.  This agreement ran out on 2nd October 2020.
 
 Also on 2nd October 2020 Cumbria County Council were minded to approve West Cumbria Mining’s plan.  (The Secretary of State told the council they could refuse but not offer final approval for the plan, pending his decision) 
 Developers, West Cumbria Mining require Her Majesty to agree to an Exploitation agreement in order to extract the coal.
 
 Her Majesty has visited Sellafield, the world’s known riskiest nuclear waste site.  Sellafield would be just five miles from the deep undersea coal mine.  Mass void removal is known to induce seismicity.  As well as this certain seismic risk the mine would be directly below the radioactive sediments which have settled on the Irish Sea bed from decades of Sellafield discharges.  The radioactive sediment which includes plutonium is named as the Cumbrian Mud Patch. 
 There have been many peer reviewed and independent reports indicating that subsidence/disturbance of the Irish Sea bed will resuspend these decades of radioactive wastes into the sea.  It takes just 4 years for radioactive wastes from Sellafield’s discharge pipeline to reach the Arctic. Far less time to reach our own coasts. The New Scientist has reported that Sellafield "reprocessing plant has released 40 000 billion becquerels of caesium-137. “So far, about 15 000 billion becquerels have reached the Arctic. This is between two and three times more than the contamination from Chernobyl, which is reaching the Arctic via the Baltic and North Seas.”  https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15420811-400-sellafield-leaves-its-mark-on-the-frozen-north/
 
 
 Mike Berners-Lee the climate expert has said of the Council approval of the coal mine that "12 Cumbria County Councillors have serious climate blood on their hands after approving the coal mine yet again - even though the case for has been shown to be 100% bogus. Unlikely there is anything any of them can do in their lives to undo this much damage.”   
 
 For myself as a long time nuclear safety campaigner and the person who took on the legal challenge against the coal mine with the help of top lawyers Leigh Day,  I know that the climate impacts although massive, are the tip of the iceberg. The nuclear impacts are of a magnitude literally out of this world as it is well known that the high level radioactive wastes sitting at Sellafield could annihilate the planet many times over.  This and the certain risk of resuspension of the Cumbrian Mud Patch wastes means that this coal mine puts the whole planet at direct risk of a nuclear fall out there would be no coming back from. 
 
 
 Please be on the right side of history and refuse to sign the Crown Estate agreement with West Cumbria Mining for further Exploration and Exploitation of coal reserves under the Irish Sea 5 miles from Sellafield and directly beneath the Cumbrian Mud Patch.
 Exploration Agreement with West Cumbria Mining https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07143398/charges/lXWNTRigei_OaJQXhs2MwyKZ7ms Report into Radiological Impacts of the Coal Mine by Tim Deere Jones https://issuu.com/wildart/docs/west_cumbria_mining_-_radiological_implications_of