A Suffolk conservation charity has called on the Government to properly fund its aspiration that everyone in England should live within 15 minutes of green space or water.

Sara Holman, head of engagement at Suffolk Wildlife Trust, supported the blueprint for cleaning up air and water and boosting nature, announced earlier this week, but said the plans needed to be backed up by money and planning policy.

The trust is currently looking to raise £1m for a new nature reserve, known as 'Martlesham Wilds,' on a 300-acre site on the banks of the river Deben and has so far collected £250,000.

The Government has pledged to provide money to protect rare wildlife, such as hedgehogs and red squirrels, but she said Martlesham Wilds was not set to be supported by the initiative.

She added: "We entirely support the proposals but, as ever, these aspirations need to be supported by funding and planning policy.

"Our new nature reserve, Martlesham Wilds, would not be supported by this initiative, but it is exactly the sort of project that should be."

She agreed with the Government's assessment that being able to connect with nature provided benefits to health and wellbeing, which was one of the main motivations behind the blueprint along with the economic benefits.

She said: "We're working with communities to empower them to make and improve spaces for wildlife across the county.

"When people work together for wildlife, it's incredible what can be achieved.

"As Sir David Attenborough says, 'No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced'.

"It is vital, therefore, that people can have access to nature and wild spaces, and that wildlife becomes part of everyone's daily lives. As we lose our wildlife and wild spaces, we lose the connections we so desperately need. This has to change," she added.

A Defra spokesperson said: “Our Environmental Improvement Plan sets out our commitment for every household to be within a 15-minute walk of a green space or water – and this commitment reflects the ongoing work across government to deliver better access to nature across all sections of society.

“For instance, through the Levelling Up Parks Fund, we are improving the condition and availability of green space for over 100 communities in urban areas across the country.

"And the Green Infrastructure Framework, which was launched in January 2023, will help local authorities, developers and communities to consider green infrastructure in local plans and in new development.

"Further details of our plans to meet this new commitment will be made available in due course.”