Nature Minister Mary Creagh speaks at Oxford Nature Festival

Mary Creagh MP at Oxford Nature Festival

Nature Minister Mary Creagh MP gave the keynote speech at the Oxford Nature Festival on Saturday 27th June. The festival celebrates nature work in Oxfordshire and connects researchers, educators, cultural organisations, conservationists community groups, and practitioners.

Mary spoke on the dynamic work the government is is doing in the UK for nature recovery. Landscapes are being restored at scale, with over 10 million trees being planted, 3 new national forests being created, and an investment of £90 million in species recovery.

The Oxford-Cambridge Corridor, the location for one of three new National Forests – the first for 30 years – will see thousands of jobs supported and millions more trees planted.

The £30 million Big Nature Impact Fund is bringing investment from businesses, pension funds and financial institutions into nature recovery across England.

The government is also driving working nature recovery globally. It has expanded the Blue Belt programme to protect ocean ecosystems, backed the Blue Planet Fund to support ocean health in developing nations, and is working with partners to achieve 30 per cent ocean protection by 2030.