We recently hosted Wellingborough and Rushden MP Gen Kitchen for a tour of the enclosure at our beaver release site at the Nene Wetlands. Our Northants team discussed the importance of educational outreach work, strong protections for wildlife in the planning system, and managing the impacts of climate change.

Matt Jackson, Conservation Director, said: “It was great to show our local MP the reserve thriving alongside the Rushden Lakes shopping centre - a positive example of development planned with nature in mind. If all future local plans include protection for high quality natural habitats then we can have healthy towns and countryside for people and wild species. It’s a message we aim to deliver loud and clear to MPs from all parties in our region.”

After a walk around the enclosure at Delta Pit to see the positive impact the beavers are having on the wetland environment she headed to our visitor centre to hear our plans for increasing engagement with local schoolchildren and communities.

St Neots MP Ian Sollom spent some time with us at our Cambourne head office in August to hear an update on some of the latest pressing environmental policy issues from our Chief Executive Brian Eversham. Whilst he was there he took the time to meet three of our Youth Rangers who had prepared questions and grilled him on what the Government should be doing to protect wildlife as well as ways to encourage children to spend more time outdoors.

Writing on his Facebook page Ian said: “I talked to CEO Brian Eversham and Conservation Director Matt Jackson about several topics including concerns around changes to planning regulations which will loosen requirements around biodiversity… I will continue to support the Wildlife Trust and raise its concerns with the Government to help protect our local nature and environment.”

And earlier in July it was great to welcome farming minister Stephen Morgan to our stand at the Groundswell regenerative agriculture festival. He met the team from our Great Fen project and learned all about how peat landscapes are vital for providing habitats for wetland wildlife as well as keeping carbon locked up in the ground.

We recently wrote to all our region’s MPs and are lining up more meetings on reserves to show them first hand the difference conservation makes and why it needs backing from Westminster.

If you want to help ensure the voice of nature gets heard in parliament then why not write to your local MP? The more messages of support for wildlife they get, the higher up their agenda it will be. Get tips for writing to your MP at www.wildlifebcn.org/take-action/contact-your-mp