MEP Ellie chips in at wildlife festival
A West Midlands MEP has urged people to do more to protect wildlife across the county as part of a major national campaign.
Ellie Chowns volunteered at the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s WildChild Festival at the Wolseley Centre, Stafford, helping youngsters dress up as their favourite characters from Wind in the Willows.
It formed part of the #WilderFuture campaign, which aims to protect wildlife across the UK, and also served as part of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Green Party MEP said she was "delighted" to help out at the festival. "Encouraging children to get outside and explore nature is something I’m really passionate about," she added.
"Kids have a natural love for wildlife and this festival is all about encouraging that.
"Sadly in the UK we have lost a lot of precious wildlife over recent decades. But I’m hopeful that we can change course; there is now much more awareness of the damage that has been done, and support for doing more to protect our wildlife.
"The Trust has been doing wonderful work looking after Staffordshire’s wildlife and wild places for 50 years. It’s an honour to help them celebrate their big birthday.”
The #WilderFuture campaign is calling attention to the fact that the UK has become one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world over the last 100 years.
Figures from the Wildlife Trusts show that 97 per cent of lowland meadows and the wildflowers, insects, mammals and birds that they supported have disappeared; while 80 per cent of the country's purple heathlands have vanished.
Visit wildlifetrusts.org/wilder-future for more details on the campaign.
