Send a message to the Government
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
(note that The Epping Society have only just become aware of this, so have not had time to organise any local event but please do go on to the CPA website for full details)
Standing Up for Nature: Why Now Is the Moment for Epping to Get Active
Across the country, communities are rediscovering something powerful: when people come together to celebrate, protect and enjoy their green spaces, real change becomes possible. This spring, a growing national movement is urging residents everywhere — including here in Epping — to step outside, get involved, and show how much our natural environment matters to us.
A National Day of Action for Nature
On Saturday 18 April, the Community Planning Alliance (CPA) is coordinating a UK‑wide Day of Action for Nature, Parks and Green Spaces. More than 170 organisations — from the Woodland Trust to the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces — have already pledged support. Their message is simple: our green spaces are essential, and people want them protected.#
The CPA encourages communities to take part in any way that suits them. Activities can be large or small, ambitious or simple:
Tree planting
Nature walks
Litter picks
Arts and crafts
Wildlife surveys
A group photo on the village green
The strength of the day lies in its diversity. Every action, no matter how modest, becomes part of a national chorus saying: nature matters to us.
The CPA also invites people to photograph local green spaces at risk and send them to the Prime Minister — a symbolic reminder that these landscapes are not abstract policy points but real places loved by real communities. communityplanningalliance.org
Why This Matters: A Growing Rural Movement
The Times recently profiled Rosie Pearson, chair of the Community Planning Alliance, who has become a prominent voice in the fight to protect the countryside. Pearson describes a rising frustration shared by many: the sense that green spaces are being lost too quickly, and that communities are rarely listened to.
Her message is not anti‑development — it is pro‑nature, pro‑community, and pro‑balance. She argues that people across the UK are “sick to death of seeing the countryside concreted over” and want a more thoughtful approach that protects landscapes while addressing genuine housing needs. She also highlights a growing disconnect between young people and the outdoors, something many parents in Epping will recognise.
What stands out most in Pearson’s story is not anger, but energy. She speaks of human chains, nature trails, poetry in the park, even a “silent fish disco” in Bristol — creative, joyful acts of community that show how activism can be positive and life‑affirming. Her hope is to spark a grassroots movement that celebrates nature while defending it.
Why Epping Should Join In
Epping is uniquely placed to contribute to this national moment. Our town sits on the edge of one of the most treasured landscapes in the country — Epping Forest — and our residents have always cared deeply about the character, heritage and green spaces that make this area special.
But like many communities, we face pressures:
Development proposals that may reshape local landscapes
Increasing strain on green spaces
Concerns about biodiversity loss
A desire to keep Epping’s identity rooted in nature and community
Taking part in the Day of Action is a way to show that Epping values its environment — not just in principle, but in practice.
How You Can Get Involved
You don’t need to organise a large event. You don’t need a committee. You don’t even need a full afternoon. Here are simple ways to take part:
Join a local walk — even a short one helps reconnect us with the outdoors.
Take a photo of a green space you love and share it using the national hashtags #DayOfAction and #VoteForNature.
Bring neighbours together for a small litter pick or coffee morning on the green.
Visit a part of Epping Forest you haven’t explored before.
Encourage children and teenagers to step away from screens and rediscover the outdoors.
Every action — big or small — adds to the national picture.
A Moment of Hope
What the CPA and campaigners like Rosie Pearson are tapping into is something many of us already feel: a desire to protect what makes our towns and countryside special. The Day of Action is not about politics. It is not about protest for protest’s sake. It is about showing that people care — and that caring is powerful.
If Epping joins in, we add our voice to thousands of others across the UK. We show that our green spaces matter. We show that our community is active, engaged and hopeful. And we remind ourselves that the best way to protect the places we love is simply to step outside and enjoy them.
(note that some of you may have trouble viewing The Times article as behind paywall and only allows a number of free views per month)
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