September 2025
For the last five years, many of us, myself included, from across the conservation sector have met with colleagues, made friends, worked on policy, and organised campaigns almost exclusively from behind a screen. Days where we can meet as a sector on this scale are few and far between.
The Wild Summit was born out of the idea that the crucial conversations often held in the margins or behind screens need to be brought front and centre. It was an ambitious plan, which aimed to create a moment that brought together nature lovers and decision-makers, community groups and businesses, for a frank and honest discussion about what it would really take to halt the decline of our wildlife.
We know the challenge that nature faces. With the latest Link 30by30 report, launched just before the Summit, highlighting that in England just 2.83% of land is effectively protected for nature and that the necessary data isn’t there to give us a full indication of how far off we are at sea. We see the figures showing that England sits in the bottom 10% globally for biodiversity intactness, that one in six species are at risk of extinction and that not a single river in the UK is in good ecological condition.
We see this challenge manifest itself in other places too, from flat budgets for nature-friendly farming and failures in tackling wildlife crime, to the slow gutting of regulatory bodies and the growing narrative from politicians that people have lost their appetite for environmental action, from species protection to net zero
The incredible turnout at the Summit proved that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Over 1,250 people came together at the Bristol Beacon, and over 300 people listened in online, delegates came from different parts of the country and different backgrounds, from farmers from Cambridgeshire to citizen scientists from the South Coast , foresters from Avon to nurdle hunters from North Berwick. The day saw delegates from over 500 organisations and groups, and over 40 organisations partnered with the Summit to host diverse events and exhibition stands in the venue. The energy generated by that collective focus, the sense of a sector rising to meet the 2030 challenge, was real.
On the main stage, we heard clear calls for action from the likes of Ruth Davis, Tony Juniper, Baroness Kathy Willis, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. The water panel stressed the need to make catchment management a binding obligation. The finance panel argued for using regulation to drive investment. These were the big, practical ideas that, if implemented, will make the difference in halving the decline of nature by 2030.
And whilst the main stage was a-buzz with these big plans, the conversations in the margins, over coffee (or a rice bowl), were equally as important. They connected seasoned sector professionals with people just getting their start, community groups with businesses, and local government with campaigners, proving the depth and breadth of the nature movement.
The Wild Summit was a powerful, unifying moment, providing hope and focus as we tackle the enormous challenges ahead. Whilst this year's Summit is over, we look ahead to 2026 with a commitment to build on this success.
Catch up on Wild Summit 2025 on our YouTube channel.
The opinions expressed in this blog are the authors' and not necessarily those of the wider Link membership.
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