Dear John,

I wrote to you recently about the destructive Planning and Infrastructure Bill storming through the House of Lords at the moment. It threatens precious wildlife and habitats.

The government is touting this bill as a “fix” for the housing crisis and a “win” for nature. In reality, it’s a wrecking ball for wildlife and habitats. The bill will allow developers to bulldoze nature and reap the profits, as long as they chip into a dubious “nature restoration fund”.

Since I wrote to you, the campaign has taken a shocking turn. The government is clearly rattled by the sheer volume of nature-lovers like you taking action against the bill. So rattled that ministers are trying to change their bill and hoping we'll shut our campaign down.  

It’s even been reported that the government offered some amends to persuade some of our fellow charities to say they’re in favour of the bill. But we think these amends are weak, vague and full of holes. That’s not good enough and we won’t be silenced.

We’re down to the wire and don’t have many chances left to challenge this destructive bill and demand proper improvements. Will you back our work to save nature by donating today?

We agree that we need truly affordable, sustainable housing. But nature isn’t to blame. The problem lies with our broken housing market.

With your help, we can keep the pressure on the government. We’re demanding a bill that actually protects our precious wildlife and habitats. We won't be bulldozed into agreeing to anything less.

If you help us today, we’ll be:

• in the right meetings with decision-makers, advocating for nature;
• mobilising supporters to demand their MPs take action; and
• strengthening our case by building evidence of the damage this bill could do.   

With your help, we won’t ever have to back down. If you can, will you join the fight today with a donation?

If the bill goes through without any improvement, we’ll see more nature-harming developments steaming ahead, ignoring the impact they’ll have on wildlife and their habitats. We know we need more affordable and sustainably built homes. But nature isn’t the enemy.

We’re demanding that the government goes back to the drawing board. We’re pressuring it to set out a better bill. One that doesn’t push wildlife to the edge while big companies reap the rewards.

So far, the government has ignored reasonable improvements Friends of the Earth and other organisations have suggested.  And we don't have many chances left  to challenge this destructive bill.

But we won’t let that stop us. And with you by our side, we can keep the pressure on. We’ll be in the right meetings with decision-makers, advocating for nature. We’ll mobilise supporters to demand their MPs take action. And we’ll continue to strengthen our case by building evidence of the damage this bill could do.

Will you join the fight for nature with a donation today?  

We understand why you support us. Because as a supporter, you already know that Friends of the Earth doesn't give up. Together, we’ve made change happen before, from saving the whale to battling for bees. And I really hope you’ll join us once again, for nature.

Paul de Zylva

Campaigner, Friends of the Earth

PS While parliament enjoys its summer recess, we won’t be putting our feet up. Join our fight today with a donation.