Redbridge Nature Emergency Campaign
The campaign started in June 2025 by AHDA member Chris who created very successful petitions and publicity along with many other concerned Redbridge residents. Resulting in Redbridge declaring a nature emergency at the first full Council meeting of 2026 as detailed below. We will all be monitoring the results of this step in the right direction.
The motion was moved by Councillor Paul Canal and seconded by Councillor Joel Herga on 22 January 2026
Redbridge Council recognises the critical importance of a healthy natural environment to the overall wellbeing and quality of life of our residents, and the pressing need to protect and restore nature.
The physical and mental health benefits of connecting with nature are scientifically proven and evidence continues to grow. Use of public green space, such as parks and woodland, has increased, particularly since the Covid pandemic, as people recognise these benefits and seek solace, exercise and recreation in nature. Yet reports such as the State of Nature show continued deterioration of many aspects of our natural world.
Redbridge council demonstrated its commitment to ecology by planting over 65,000 trees over the last decade, doubling the size of Fairlop waters and the reinstatement of quarry land to natural spaces, with the return of a golf course to a natural habitat and the public, the creation of bee corridors and wild spaces in its parks.
We have also committed capital funding to improve the water quality of our park lakes and supports the restoration of the ecological health of the waterways including the Cranbrook and Seven Kings water. In light of the twin crises of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, Redbridge Council hereby resolves to:
- Declare a nature emergency and develop a dedicated plan to address it, ensuring the views of our residents are incorporated.
- Explore employing an ecologist to support nature protection and recovery and guide other officers
- develop a route for ecological impact considerations in council decisions.
- make nature recovery a strategic consideration in planning policies and design guidelines for new developments.
This includes:
a. identifying suitable areas for habitat restoration, establishing ‘green allocated sites’ and embedding Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) in local plans and policies.
b. Encouraging Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), beyond the minimum requirements.
c. minimising the impact of development on existing natural and semi-natural habitats.
d. enhancing access to nature-rich green spaces within our parks in a walking distance for all residents.
e. requiring new developments to commit to a minimum canopy cover.
f. promoting tree equity by increasing tree canopy cover in existing housing estates - support any community-run tree nurseries. Finally, Redbridge Council urges all stakeholders to come together to protect and restore our natural assets, recognising their intrinsic role in securing a sustainable future for our community.
Finally, Redbridge Council urges all stakeholders to come together to protect and restore our natural assets, recognising their intrinsic role in securing a sustainable future for our community.
Amended Motion to Read:
Redbridge Council recognises the critical importance of a healthy natural environment to the overall wellbeing and quality of life of our residents, and the pressing need to protect and restore nature.
The physical and mental health benefits of connecting with nature are scientifically proven and evidence continues to grow. Use of public green space, such as parks and woodland, has increased, particularly since the Covid pandemic, as people recognise these benefits and seek solace, exercise and recreation in nature. Yet reports such as the State of Nature show continued deterioration of many aspects of our natural world.
Redbridge council demonstrated its commitment to ecology by planting over 65,000 trees over the last decade, doubling the size of Fairlop waters and the reinstatement of quarry land to natural spaces, with the return of a golf course to a natural habitat and the public, the creation of bee corridors and wild spaces in its parks.
We have also committed capital funding to improve the water quality of our park lakes and supports the restoration of the ecological health of the waterways including the Cranbrook and Seven Kings water.
In light of the twin crises of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, Redbridge Council hereby resolves to:
1. declare a nature emergency and develop a dedicated plan to address it, ensuring the views of our residents are incorporated.
2. Explore employing an ecologist to support nature protection and recovery and guide other officers
3. develop a route for ecological impact considerations in council decisions.
4. make nature recovery a strategic consideration in planning policies and design guidelines for new developments. This includes: a. identifying suitable areas for habitat restoration, establishing ‘green allocated sites’ and embedding Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) in local plans and policies.
b. Encouraging Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), beyond the minimum requirements.
c. minimising the impact of development on existing natural and semi-natural habitats.
d. enhancing access to nature-rich green spaces within our parks in a walking distance for all residents.
e. requiring new developments to commit to a minimum canopy cover.
f. promoting tree equity by increasing tree canopy cover in existing housing estates
5. support any community-run tree nurseries.
Finally, Redbridge Council urges all stakeholders to come together to protect and restore our natural assets, recognising their intrinsic role in securing a sustainable future for our community.