A leading environmental charity has appealed to people across Cheshire to resist an 'unprecedented attack on nature and the laws that protect it'.   

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says the government is intent on changing or scrapping crucial environmental law which protect some of Cheshire’s most vulnerable wildlife habitats.

The proposed deregulation is linked to plans to create at least 38 'investment zones', meaning housing and commercial developments could be given the go-ahead at sites that before would have been unthinkable.

The charity also claims regulations designed to ensure clean rivers and beaches are under threat.

RSPB director of policy and advocacy, Jeff Knott, said: “These government proposals will rip up the laws that have for decades provided basic protection for our best wildlife sites, along with other laws protecting our air, rivers, wildlife and food standards.   

“It would appear that these zones would allow developers to build carte blanche on some of our last remaining wildlife sites.

“To us they look less like investment zones and more likes destruction zones.”

The charity is also concerned about plans to scrap a proposed scheme that would support farmers and landowners to use their land to absorb carbon and work towards net zero emissions.

Now the RSPB is appealing to people across Cheshire, and to its one million English members, to urgently contact their MPs to tell them how they feel.  

The UK's remaining wildlife is already struggling with more than 40 per cent of species in decline, making it one of the most nature depleted countries on the planet.

Jeff added: “Now we are readying ourselves to fight the biggest attack on nature in a generation and are calling on our partners, supporters, and people who love their local wildlife, to help by contacting their MPs and making themselves heard.”

“We are angry, yet we are immensely grateful for the support we have received on this, and we will continue fighting for the best outcome for nature.”