Conservation groups are joining forces in the county to hold a ‘Wilder Herefordshire Assembly’ this Thursday to put their agenda for nature’s recovery to prospective Councillors of the key political groups in the county.

Cllr David Hitchiner (current Leader of the Council, Independents for Herefordshire), Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst (Conservative Party Group representative), Cllr Kath Hey (Labour Party representative) and Cllr Ellie Chowns (Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, Green Party) have committed to attend the event in front of an audience of over 125 people, all members of the organising groups. The Councillors will be asked to outline their group’s vision of what a nature-rich and Wilder Herefordshire would look like and commit to four key asks to help to secure nature’s recovery in the county. These include pledging to work collaboratively with the conservation groups, more spaces protected  for people and wildlife in the county, to lead on large-scale, landscape recovery, in partnership with landowners and farmers and to commit to our “Recover Our Rivers Charter” for the river catchments of Herefordshire.

The event will also include testimonies from community groups, schools and farmers. The agenda is one that will support and champion farmers and all those working to improve land for nature; Herefordshire Wildlife Trust works to build collaborative relationships and collaborative solutions to the challenges both nature and our communities face.

CEO of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, Jamie Audsley says:

“By speaking out and demanding action, we’ll demonstrate to politicians that nature really matters for people now and in the future. With our partners in the county, we have the support of over 7,000 members, and together we will hold politicians to account on their commitments.”

A full transcript of the Assembly will be available following the event on Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s website.

 ENDS

Contact:

Frances Weeks, Communications & Marketing Manager

F.weeks@herefordshirewt.co.uk / 07377526048

Editor’s notes

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust is the largest member-based nature conservation organisation in the county, with over 6,500 members, 500 volunteers and 60 nature reserves across Herefordshire. The Trust has 60 years’ experience of managing sites valuable to wildlife and people and runs a variety of projects and partnership initiatives from environmental education programmes to conservation projects to protect, restore and celebrate Herefordshire's landscapes and wildlife. The Trust is part of the federation of 46 Wildlife Trusts based across the British Isles.  www.herefordshirewt.org