Dinas Bran pupil joins campaign to 'save nature'

* The Senedd building in Cardiff where the petition was being handed in today.

A Year 7 student from Ysgol Dinas Bran has joined 2,000 members of the public and 350 organisations in calling on the Welsh Government for urgent measures to protect nature.

The pupil, named only as Grace, is amongst those handing in a petition at the Senedd today (Tuesday) demanding action after a United Nations report revealed one million species are at risk.

The event was led by a group of young people, including Youth Climate Ambassadors for Wales and was the culmination of months of campaigning by over 350 organisations across Wales, who say urgent action is needed to establish an independent watchdog, to speed up nature’s recovery.

During Great Big Green Week, 10-18th June, Climate Cymru toured around Wales in an electric vehicle, collecting hundreds of letters and messages from communities, children and young people, which left at the seat of the Welsh Government in Cardiff. 

In her message, Grace says: “Nature means everything to me. It means life, being able to live happily, being able to not stress about our future, being safe on our own planet, being…us, and who we’re meant to be.”

BBC presenter, Iolo Williams, said: “It’s fantastic to see this upswell of support across Wales for the protection of nature. We all know how critical it is for our health and wellbeing, for the future of our children and grandchildren, and for the sheer wonder of it. 

"Now, we need the Welsh Government to take the real action that this campaign is calling for. We need deeds, not just words. It’s important that politicians hear that we care about nature and how much of society wants to see nature thrive. I support Climate Cymru’s campaign to make that happen and I hope you, your business, or group can get behind it too.”

The letters and messages demand: “urgent action for nature including legally binding targets for nature's recovery and restoration, and an independent environmental watchdog” were presented on a giant scroll and hundreds of leaves. 

The Nature Positive campaigners believe this letter from organisations such RSPB Cymru, WWF Cymru, the Wildlife Trust Wales, community, faith groups, schools and individuals, to be the largest ever sent to the Welsh Government.