‘People are excited about local nature’: Covid pandemic prompts surge in appreciation for rewilding UK cities

Wildlife Trusts head Craig Bennett expects to see city centres to become much greener in the next ten to 15 years Images of the re-wilding of Broadmarsh in Nottingham (Photo: Liz Carney) The could be about to change significantly, after people took the opportunity this year to flock to the nature on their doorstep – however scrubby it might be – as never before. The Covid-propelled flight into wildlife has accelerated a change in attitude to nature that was already occurring and could profoundly change the make-up of urban areas in the next decade. According to Craig Bennett, head of the , the conservation movement is being radically reshaped as the century-old focus on “honey pot” sites of great natural beauty – often in a far and distant land – is switching to the more modest wildlife near our houses. Only a decade ago, when Bennett was at Friends of the Earth, people thought that letting the grass grow long on roadside verges was “madness”, he recalls. ‘Messy is good’ But in recent years, helped by campaigns and scientific research extolling the benefits of biodiversity for nature and our mental health, people are coming around strongly to the idea […]

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