Since fighting to save what is now Attenborough Nature Reserve back in the 1960s, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has become synonymous with protecting and caring for nature reserves. However, caring for these precious sites is just one aspect of our work.

Much of our work to secure a wilder Nottinghamshire for all goes unseen, whether in terms of the advice we provide to farmers keen to encourage wildlife on their land, commenting on planning applications for developments that threaten species and habitats or our efforts to secure changes to policy and legislation through the county’s MPs.

By working behind the scenes, we can often influence decisions, but this work can go unnoticed, risking supporters feeling we’re not doing enough. Alternatively, some might misconstrue this as the Trust colluding with the ‘establishment’.

A recent case, where we had been fighting plans to build houses adjacent to a designated Local Wildlife Site highlights both the positives and pitfalls of working behind the scenes. Having objected to the plans alongside local campaigners, we were delighted when the planning authority rejected the plans. Our trusted relationship with the planners served us well and the council did a great job resisting pressure from the developer.

When the developer lodged an appeal, we had to decide how best to fight it. Given our limited resources and a range of other cases and issues across the county, it wasn’t practical for us to commit the huge amount of time to work directly on the case over many months. The best option was for the council to contract an ecologist to help fight its corner and to represent our arguments for the site’s protection. This would ensure the council could robustly defend the wildlife habitats whilst we focused our limited time and energy elsewhere.

When the Planning Inspector rejected the appeal, we were delighted. However, rather than being keen to stand alongside us as we celebrated our shared success, we were surprised to find local campaigners felt that we’d not done enough to fight the appeal. They felt that their only ally had been the council appointed ecologist – not realising that we had been pivotal in their appointment.

When it comes to working with politicians, whether local councillors or the county’s MPs, there are other considerations – not least our need, as a charity, to ensure we steer clear of party politics.

We do not have to avoid politically charged issues but when engaging elected representatives to influence decisions we must focus on policy and our charitable aims of promoting and protecting wildlife. This could mean overturning bad policy, securing new protections for nature or steering investment towards projects that benefit people and planet.

Working with MPs is not without its challenges and risks. When working with likeminded politicians to secure a nature first approach to the redevelopment of the Broadmarsh in Nottingham last year we ended up playing ‘piggy in the middle’. Politicians who shared our view decided to reference our collaboration in local election materials – much to the chagrin of their political opponents!

Not all MPs are popular, and the adversarial nature of Westminster politics means that people are more likely to view MPs through the intense prism of party politics than local councillors. Whatever their party allegiance, the county’s eight MPs collectively represent our members and supporters and are one of our most important routes to securing the change needed to deliver a wilder Nottinghamshire.

When publicising meetings with MPs we’ve sometimes been criticised for providing a platform for good publicity. Some might also view such meetings as evidence that we are too close to the ‘establishment’. On the flipside, if we keep these meetings behind closed doors, we risk people thinking we’re not doing enough or have something to hide.

By building positive working relationships with MPs, whatever their party affiliation, we can work to secure the best for wildlife and properly represent the views and concerns of our supporters.

In recent weeks and months our focus with MPs, alongside highlighting our work and ambitions for nature’s recovery in their constituencies, has been twofold. Firstly, reinforcing the need for Government to set much more ambitious targets for nature’s recovery as the Environment Act comes fully into force. Secondly, seeking amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to ensure that the planning system better supports nature’s recovery and enshrines a new right for people to access nature close to where they live.

In it for the long haul

When the Environment Act came into force last year, there was a real sense of achievement across the sector. Whilst the Act is far from perfect, many joined us in marking our success in getting this important legislation across the line. However, few who celebrated with us will have been aware that this was the culmination of 15 years of hard work, commitment and collaboration between environmental charities.

Much of the lobbying I engage in on behalf of the Trust is alongside our passionate and inspirational Chief Executive Paul Wilkinson—the very same Paul Wilkinson that spoke on behalf of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts at our 2006 AGM about the need for a wide-ranging Environment Act!

With the many challenges facing nature and our shared environment, alongside the raft of new legislation passing through parliament we are calling upon people’s support to help lobby councillors and MPs with increasing frequency. Whilst some people will happily add their name to petitions or write to their representative, a significant number question whether such lobbying is worthwhile. Claims such as ‘they never listen’ or ‘they’re just in it for themselves’ are often offered as reasons not to engage but in my experience it is worthwhile.

Fighting wildlife’s corner can be a slog and a thankless one at that, but from my work with MPs it is clear that they are very much aware of the level of concern for nature and the environment amongst voters. Far from simply being in it for themselves, most MPs seem to genuinely want to improve life for their constituents.

Getting legislation such as the Environment Act and before that, The Marine Act, through Parliament shows that MPs do listen – but with so many competing pressures, we must continue to not only give wildlife a voice – but ensure it is heard loud and clear.

Politicians can and will deliver change, but only if we make them.

If enough of us speak up, and are willing to repeat ourselves, over and over if necessary, we can force change.

In a recent interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Chef and food campaigner Jamie Oliver spelled out the fact that governments rarely change tack of their own volition. When asked if he felt that politicians will change policy, he recounted the fact that on numerous occasions he’d been advised by people in high office that policy would be changed ‘if we make them’ – the implication being that they won’t make tough choices unless put under enough pressure.

Whether it comes to securing ambitious targets for nature’s recovery; a right to access nature on our doorstep; preventing damaging pesticides wiping out pollinators or ensuring our landscape isn’t blighted by a new race to extract damaging fossils fuels through fracking; our elected members won’t make the right decisions without lobbying, persuasion and when necessary, peaceful protest. We simply must make them!