Plan to restore nature in England by 2030 criticised as ‘completely insufficient’

Critics accuse ministers of failing to take control of nature crisis and leaving it to private landowners to act voluntarily

The government's plan to protect and restore nature in England by 2030 has been condemned as pathetic" and completely insufficient" in the face of the spiralling environmental crisis.

The long-awaited plan published on Monday calls for landowners to voluntarily opt to protect and enhance nature, rather than creating legal protections for nature across more of the country's land, critics say.