‘We should protect our local environment’

I AM pleased to give my strong support to ‘Swifts Over Macclesfield’, a new initiative organised by our RSPB Macclesfield Local Group, to help reverse the decline in the swift population in our area.

The group is actively campaigning for Cheshire East Council to encourage developers of sites in Macclesfield town centre to have dedicated nest boxes for swifts installed in their buildings, to help encourage the return of this much-loved species to our area in greater numbers.

I facilitated a recent meeting between the group and planning officers, and I will continue to work with them, to help identify suitable sites in the town centre that will help take forward this important project.

As well as encouraging biodiversity, we should go on protecting the local natural environment.

In my role as the Forestry Minister at the exciting proposals to develop a new Northern Forest, stretching from Liverpool to Hull.

Tackling plastic pollution is another important priority for many local residents. I am pleased that the Government is consulting on banning the sale and distribution of plastic straws, stemmed cotton buds and plastic drinks stirrers in England.

These measures would further help reduce harm from plastics to the natural environment.

Locally, I would encourage more local residents to support the ‘Macc-Tastic, Less Plastic’ initiative, which was launched at this year’s Barnaby Festival, to help reduce the amount of plastic waste created in our area.

I will continue to actively support the Government’s 25 year environment plan, which aims to leave our natural environment in a better state than we found it.