We’re not talking about digging up the roads, but we have to recognise that the current ‘sites-based’ approach to nature restoration hasn’t worked. There is incredible work happening in National Landscapes, National Parks and by nature organisations, but nature is still declining at an alarming rate. 

No blank space for nature means considering nature in everything we do – from large-scale developments to how we look after our gardens to make enough of the country ‘nature-permeable’ so species can easily pass though and around to spread and thrive. 

Core to the ‘no blank space’ idea is a connected landscape-scale network with National Landscapes and National Parks forming a ‘backbone’ with active restoration where species can establish strongholds by 2042.  

The maps show the UK’s designated landscapes: National Landscapes, National Parks, National Trails and National Scenic Areas, other protected areas like Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conservation, and a lot of blank space. 

Doing the work to make the whole country more nature friendly sounds difficult and expensive, but it needn’t be either and, if we take a different approach to this work, suddenly it becomes a no-brainer… 

Investment decisions are made with a view to returns, and often nature isn’t considered in these terms, but it should be. 

What nature provides: clean water and air, flood reduction, shade on hot days, timber… all has a value. That value can go up and down in the same way that stocks and shares do – we know that nature in the UK has declined steeply in the past 100 years, and with investment of effort, we can build nature’s stock again. 

In fact, nature is a much surer investment than the money markets, and the return on investment can be far greater. It costs very little to rewiggle a river, but you’re almost guaranteed to slow the flow, which reduces flood risk, a problem that causes £1.4bn of damage in the UK each year (and this figure will only grow as the climate continues to change). 

In just five years, by 2030, the UK has committed to protecting 30% of its land and sea for nature, as a signatory of the UN Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, one of around 200 nations. 

With the right resourcing and regulations, by 2042 National Landscapes, National Parks, protected sites, nature reserves and large-scale nature restoration projects: Super National Nature Reserves, Big Chalk and Great North Bog (not on the maps above yet) will be the backbone of a strong network with nature strongholds and nature corridors and stepping stones helping species to widen their range. Farmers will be incentivised to restore nature and grow without pesticides to restore the food chain, with insects and birds returning. 

By 2050, the vision of a nature-permeable nation can be delivered, putting the nation on a stronger footing, resilient to climate change, not reliant on energy imports and with a successful economy based on the green industries of the future. You can read more about our vision for 2050 here. 

Many towns and cities already manage parts of their public realm for nature, with no-mow or wildflower areas in parks and other green spaces, or more active habitat creation. Every pollinator patch or green bus stop roof makes a difference. A nature-permeable nation will require more effort and fewer manicured lawns and astroturf, but the returns will be significant.

As we raise our expectations of all our green spaces – rural and urban – the effects of habitat improvement interventions will radiate. Nature is one area where the trickle-down (or trickle out) effect really does work.