Thousands of people marched through central London over the weekend, calling on political leaders to take more decisive action in tackling the UK’s wildlife crisis.
The protest culminated in a rally outside Parliament Square with speeches from prominent figures including the naturalists Chris Packham and Steve Backshall, and poetry readings and performances from Billy Bragg and Feargal Sharkey.
During the march, the actor Dame Emma Thompson called on politicians to “act now” on the climate crisis as she led thousands on the march.
Demonstrators descended on the capital wearing glittery outfits, elaborate animal costumes and intricate face paint. Protesters were calm but the placards they held up revealed an undercurrent of frustration and anger. One read: “We have been swimming in shit.” There were also chants of “less faeces more species”.
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with one in six species in Britain at risk of extinction.
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Claire Hawkins, a 57-year-old nurse from Reading in Berkshire, came to the march dressed as an otter with Richard Price, 59, who wore a bright orange octopus hat. Speaking about her reasons for coming to London to protest brought Hawkins to tears.
“What brings me today is my grief over the terrible situation with the climate emergency and the fact that our nature is dying,” she said.
Price restores nature in his local area and says that while he does not think the march is going to make much of a difference materially, it is a “therapeutic” experience for him.
A total of 350 environmental groups came together to pressure the government to act more robustly and decisively against the biodiversity crisis. Charities including the National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB and Friends of the Earth stood side by side with direct action groups such as Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion and Animal Rising.
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
