Huge sand drawing in Scarborough to highlight loss of UK wildlife

UK Youth for Nature joined forces with Sand In Your Eye, RSPB and others on the beach

Author: Karen LiuPublished 24th Mar 2022

A huge sand drawing on Scarborough beach has been created to highlight young people’s alarm at the loss of wildlife in the UK.

UK Youth for Nature joined forces with Sand In Your Eye, RSPB and others, to create a giant image in the sand depicting an oak leaf, a curlew, a salmon, and a beaver in the shape of the UK.

The drawing was created yesterday (Wednesday 23rd March) ahead of Earth Hour on Saturday (26th March). It also coincides with United Nations nature negotiations taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. The drawing was washed away later that day by the tide, symbolising young people’s alarm about the disappearance of wildlife in the UK.

This comes at the same time as campaigning by the Global Youth Biodiversity Network in Geneva to voice the same message to governments meeting there to discuss the future of the natural world.

The young people involved say they are increasingly alarmed at the loss of wildlife in the UK, and internationally. According to the 2019 State of Nature report by environmental organisations, 41% of the UK’s species are declining and 13% of them are at risk of national extinction.

They also say that the four governments of the UK countries need to do far more at a local, regional and national level to halt the loss of wildlife and pollution of habitats, to restore lost animals and plants, and to ensure that farms and the countryside are a better home for wildlife as the climate changes.

The group is calling on governments across all four nations to set a target of 2025 to halt all nature loss in the UK, and to put it into recovery by 2030. They are calling for greater ambition in the UK’s commitment to put aside 30% of land for nature.

UK Youth for Nature said: "The UK Government claims that land for nature already comprises 28% of UK-land. The reality is that only 5% of this land is in a good enough condition. The Government must act urgently to make sure 30% is reality not rhetoric."

UK Youth for Nature will also be working with local wildlife and conservation organisations, to develop regional policy asks relevant to Yorkshire and North East England, with the drawing as a springboard.

Talia Goldman, Co-Director of UK Youth for Nature, said: “For years we’ve seen nature remain one of governments’ lowest priorities in the UK. When today’s young people are older, some of the most iconic species of the British countryside could already have been lost forever.

"Our drawing is a loud and clear message to our governments: this year the UN experiences that heal our souls. From the largest whales to the tiniest fungi, biodiversity is literally our life support system. Protecting it is the greatest promise any of us can make to the future.

"Whale and Dolphin Conservation is proud to support this important initiative. It is a reminder that, even in a country as nature-depleted as the UK, there is still hope for nature recovery, if we act now.”

Beccy Speight, CEO of RSPB, said: “Climate change is one of the greatest threats to our wildlife, but restoring nature is also one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis. Young people have been some of the most vocal and persistent campaigners for action on both nature and climate and it’s vital that their voice is heard, understood and acted on.”

UK Youth for Nature says the organisations supporting this drawing include RSPB, WWF, Wildlife and Countryside Link, the Woodland Trust, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Fidra, Soil Association, Froglife, The Conservation Volunteers, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Northern Ireland Environment Link, Scottish Seabird Centre and Curlew Action.

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