At this time of year, spring can feel like a long way off.
Waking up with another frost on the ground, to grey skies and naked trees, muddy fields and flooded rivers, it’s easy to forget just how lucky we are.
Because when spring does roll around – no matter how many you’ve seen - it’s impossible not to be blown away by just how beautiful our county becomes.
We are blessed to live in and around some of the most wonderful countryside on earth. It sustains so many local people’s way of life and wellbeing, and it provides a setting for so many of the things that we do in our free time.
It’s no surprise that protecting it is one of the issues people write to me about most often.
Sadly in recent years we have seen a worrying decline in nature and biodiversity, not just locally but across the UK. There are plenty of reasons for this - from climate change to pollution, modern farming practices to development.
The good news is twofold. Firstly, we’ve seen time and again that given the chance nature can recover. It’s proven to be far more resilient than we expected, and projects up and down the UK have shown its capacity to bounce back.
Secondly, there is so much energy and ingenuity being channelled into solutions at a local and national level.
Since 2010 we have created or restored wildlife habitats the size of Dorset, and back in 2021 we went further by passing the world-leading Environment Act. It sets out legally binding targets to protect our environment, clean up our air and rivers and boost nature.
Here in Kent we recently saw the launch of Making Space for Nature in Kent and Medway – our local plan to reverse the decline in biodiversity and create a network of wildlife-rich places.
This is where you come in, because to get this right we’ll need collaboration from government, businesses, landowners, and local communities – all working together to make a difference.
It’s why I’ve made environmental improvements one of my 5 local priorities for Faversham and Mid Kent, and this month I’m writing to every Parish Council in the constituency with things we can do locally.
Community solar projects, planting trees, building electric charging points, restoring public spaces and so much more. I want as many people as possible to get involved, however they can and in any way they’d like.
Please do keep an eye out as we head towards spring for projects going on in your local area, or feel free to get in touch with my office to be kept up to date.
Together we can finally be the generation that leaves our natural environment in a better place than we inherited it.
Wishing you all the best for the year ahead.
