Natural England chair backs ‘biodiversity net gain’ plan to boost wild areas

Tony Juniper says he has high hopes for scheme obliging new developments to factor in 10% nature increase

Demand for nature is exceeding supply but new wildlife areas can be created by regulations to ensure housing estates bring about biodiversity net gain", according to the chair of England's nature watchdog.

Tony Juniper said the post-pandemic surge in people visiting wild places for their mental and physical wellbeing - and to walk lockdown puppies - was concentrating footfall in relatively few nature reserves, which were increasingly used like public parks.