Dorset's natural environment and the general election

Dorset’s parliamentary candidates are turning their attention to the natural environment, following a campaign by Dorset Wildlife Trust. Dorset’s biggest conservation charity, with over 25,000 members, has been putting five searching questions to the candidates from the 3 main parties in the run-up to this spring’s general election.
 

Future Governments face crucial challenge

Simon Cripps, Chief Executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “The next Government and elected representatives will face many challenges. How they respond to these challenges could affect how well nature survives, whether on land or at sea. The health of the natural world is vital for our future and wellbeing. We all depend on it for food, clean water, a comfortable climate, enjoyment and many other things. We wanted our members to see how their candidates rose to the challenge.”
 

Addressing Dorset's pressing issues

The questions deal with the pressing issues for Dorset’s environment and its people: climate change, land management, wildlife protection, access to nature and the health of our seas. You can read the candidates’ replies in full at www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/ge  and make your own judgement about who to support. As an independent charity DWT does not support any political party. The web page will gradually be displayed more prominently as the election approaches.

Wildlife on the political agenda

Simon added: “We know that people who live in this beautiful county are concerned about their natural environment and it is only right that the politicians should listen. We hope that people will also ask one or more of the questions themselves when the candidates turn up on their doorstep. This is a great opportunity to bring Dorset’s natural world to the forefront of the political agenda.”
 

The five questions:

1.What do you propose, to answer the challenge of climate change and its effects on wildlife?
2. What role do you see for environmentally friendly farming in Dorset’s food production?
3. What is your view about the 66,200 new homes proposed for Dorset and what action would you take, if elected, to ensure the protection of wildlife from the impacts of new developments?
4. How would you support access to nature and opportunities for volunteering for all?
5. How will you ensure that the good intentions of recent legislation will succeed in protecting our precious marine wildlife and sustainable livelihoods?
 

Find out more....

Click here to read the candidates' full responses to our questions.
Click here to learn about what's being done to protect marine life around the Dorset coast.