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Link Blog

The Link Blog is a space for members, and others, to express their views about the natural environment.


It includes our year plan and Agriculture Bill series, as well as our Blueprint for Water focused blogs.

If you would like to contribute a blog, please contact Emma Adler.

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Protest, Free speech and environmental defenders

Published on: 27 March 2024

Following the report from UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, Mr Michel Forst, the need for an Environmental Rights Bill has never been clearer. Consultant solicitor Carol Day runs through recent developments, and how such a bill would protect environmental defenders.

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More trees please. How to make the most of tree planting promises in the General Election.

Published on: 21 March 2024

With a General Election on the horizon, Paul de Zylva, Senior Nature Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, explores what party pledges of ambitious tree planting targets could mean for nature and how these promises must be delivered to break the cycle of failure.

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Blood tests reveal EU politicians’ exposure to “forever chemicals”, a silent threat to public health

Published on: 18 March 2024

With PFAS "forever chemicals" contaminating our environment, wildlife, and even our own bodies, the time for action is now. Noémie Jegou, Associate Policy Officer for Chemicals at EEB and coordinator of the Toxic-free Future campaign, explains the results of recent blood tests on EU politicians and how the public can help call for a future free of chemical pollutions

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Getting Sustainable Solutions for Water and Nature to take flight

Published on: 14 March 2024

The Sustainable Solutions for Water and Nature (SSWAN) partnership has launched its water reform model. The focus now must be getting wider buy-in. Karma Loveday, editor of The Water Report, explains more

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Restore the Downs! A vision for the ecological restoration of the chalk landscape from Eastbourne to Brighton and beyond.

Published on: 8 March 2024

The South Downs are a truly amazing place, stretching from Hampshire to East Sussex they are home to a huge number of species and many vitally important habitats but like so many places, this landscape is under threat. In a new blog, public policy consultant and writer Julie Bygraves shares her views on why an ecologically restored South Downs is vitally important.

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Where are we heading on sewage pollution?

Published on: 7 March 2024

Nick Measham, CEO at WildFish, shares views on where we are heading on sewage pollution, and the action needed.

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Outdoors For All Manifesto sets out a vision for a natural health service that is free and available for all

Published on: 6 March 2024

The Outdoors For All manifesto will be officially presented to Parliamentarians on Wednesday 6 March, setting out a vision for a natural health service that is free and available for all. Ben Seal, Head of Access & Environment at British Canoeing, explains why this is needed now more than ever.

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What can we do about the impact of neonicotinoids?

Published on: 4 March 2024

Neonicotinoids (“neonics”) are a pesticide often used in conventional agriculture to protect crops from pests, however the real-world implications of neonics and other pesticides demonstrate that these chemicals do not just impact their intended pest targets. Ahead of a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday 5 March on the environmental impact of Neonics, Link's Senior Policy Officer Dr Hannah Blitzer explores the risks they pose to wildlife and why moves to outlaw them have lagged behind.

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Make access to nature at school a statutory right

Published on: 4 March 2024

Jen Davis, Cathriona Hickey and Suzanne Welch, co-chairs of Link’s Education and Learning Policy Group, explain the critical role formal education has in preparing children to adapt and mitigate to the nature and climate crises.

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Ambitions of the GB Non-Native Species Strategy are undermined by lack of clarity on delivery

Published on: 27 February 2024

The 27th February marks the one year anniversary of the GB Non-Native Species Strategy. In this blog on invasive species, David Smith, Social Change and Advocacy Officer, Buglife, and Lisa Manning, Nature 2030 Policy & Engagement Office, Wildlife & Countryside Link, argue that the time is now to act on the threat of invasive species and protect our native wildlife.

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