Access to Nature Green Paper

Earl of Kinnoull Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

I could not agree more with the noble Lord about responsibility. I live in Cumbria, as noble Lords know, where there is damage, litter, the leaving opening of gates and sheep worrying, because people sometimes do not understand when they go to the countryside how to be responsible. I am really keen that we increase access. I do not need increased access to nature, because I have plenty and I enjoy walking. Plenty of people do not. They are the people we want to get out into nature, because we know how good it is for them. At the same time, an education process about responsibility in the countryside is incredibly important.

[The Earl of Kinnoull (CB)]

My Lords, the current 2p piece has an image on the back of a red squirrel. I wonder, as a serious point, whether the Green Paper could look at the establishment of red squirrel enclosures as one way of getting people access to nature. There are one or two red squirrel enclosures in England that have positive economics; I am not aware of any that have negative economics. The sad thing is that the vast majority of citizens in England have never seen a red squirrel, which is on the 2p bit. This might be a way through. Would it be something that the Green Paper could look at?

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

I am very happy to consider a number of things to go in the Green Paper. Anything that encourages people to get out into nature is clearly to be welcomed. In fact, one member of my staff yesterday admitted to me that she had never seen a grey squirrel. Living in Cumbria, that is—