Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Trade Update – UK-Gulf Cooperation Council FTA [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 22 March 2023.

A trade update on the UK-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement.

The third round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) took place between 12 and 16 March.

The round was hosted by GCC in Riyadh and held in a hybrid fashion. A number of UK negotiators from across the Government travelled to Riyadh for in-person discussions and others attended virtually.

Draft treaty text was advanced across the majority of chapters. Technical discussions were held across 13 policy areas over 30 sessions. Good progress was made and both sides remain committed to securing an ambitious, comprehensive and modern agreement fit for the 21st century.

An FTA will be a substantial economic opportunity and a significant moment in the UK-GCC relationship. Government analysis shows that, in the long run, a deal with the GCC is expected to increase trade by at least 16%, add at least £1.6 billion a year to the UK economy and contribute an additional £600 million or more to UK.

The fourth round of negotiations is expected to be hosted by the UK later this year.

His Majesty’s Government remains clear that any deal we sign will be in the best interests of the British people and the United Kingdom economy.

March 23, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New traffic commissioner appointed for the West Midlands Traffic Area [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 22 March 2023.

Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper has appointed a new Traffic Commissioner and two new Deputy Traffic Commissioners.

Miles Dorrington has been acting Traffic Commissioner in the West Midlands Traffic Area, since the retirement of his predecessor, Nick Denton, in June 2022. He will now be deployed as the permanent Traffic Commissioner.

The Senior Traffic Commissioner, Richard Turfitt, said of his appointment “I am delighted that Miles has been appointed as a permanent member to the traffic commissioner team. He brings with him significant experience of this jurisdiction from many years as a Deputy Traffic Commissioner, and as a tribunal judge in other jurisdictions.”

In addition, the Secretary of State has appointed two new Deputy Traffic Commissioners to support the Traffic Commissioners. Catherine Moxon and Dr Paul Stookes come into the role with valuable legal experience.

Catherine is a barrister with experience in both criminal and civil practice. She now specialises in regulatory law. She sits in the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service and chairs the School Admission and School Exclusion Panels.

Paul is a solicitor-advocate with over 25 years’ experience in public, civil and criminal law. Paul works as a law and policy advisor to the UK Environmental Law Association, and is a lead assessor for the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment full membership programme.

Catherine will be deployed in the north of England and Paul in the Southeast of England.

Richard Turfitt said of the appointments “Catherine and Paul will strengthen the team of full time and part time commissioners, providing invaluable support and experience. I genuinely look forward to working with them.”

The role of the traffic commissioners

Traffic commissioners are responsible for the licensing and regulation of bus, coach and goods vehicle operators, and registration of local bus services. Where appropriate, they can call operators to a public inquiry to examine concerns about vehicle and driver safety.

They also deal with professional drivers at conduct hearings.

March 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK net zero start-ups keen to tap into Malaysia’s tech ecosystem [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 March 2023.

10 UK net zero start-ups pitched their technologies for up to $1 million investment and entry into an accelerator programme for green start-ups.

The UK-Malaysia Digital Innovation Programme Demo Day kicked off in Sunway City, Kuala Lumpur today where 10 UK net zero start-ups pitched their technologies in-person for up to US$1 million investment and entry into the Sunway iLabs’ Net Zero Lab, an accelerator programme for green start-ups. The initiative also saw UK tech companies connecting and exploring opportunities with the wider tech ecosystem including Malaysia government bodies and venture capital funds.

The event was attended by Minister of Economy YB Rafizi Ramli, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific Natalie Black, Deputy British High Commissioner David Wallace as well as Sunway Group’s Group Chief Executive Officer of Digital and Strategic Investments Evan Cheah.

The programme is held in partnership with Sunway Innovation Labs (Sunway iLabs), the innovation arm of Sunway Group, MyDigital Corporation and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, and delivered by IoT Tribe. Through the programme, UK start-ups will be able to pilot and scale their innovative solutions alongside Malaysian corporates to digitalise analogue systems, optimise energy use through AI and improve food security. The initiative will also help realise Malaysia’s digital ambitions towards a fully digitalised economy as outlined in the MyDigital Blueprint and the 4IR policy.

YB Rafizi Ramli, Minister of Economy said:

The first step to instilling a culture of innovation is understanding that innovation is simply looking at a day-to-day problem, and asking, ‘How can I make this better?’

All the best creations in the world start from that simple question. And programmes like the UK-Malaysia Digital Innovation Programme could help shape a society where its people are comfortable with asking that question, and seeing themselves as creators rather than just passive consumers. This is one step forward in mainstreaming the culture of innovation.

David Wallace, Deputy British High Commissioner to Malaysia said:

The UK’s bilateral trade with Malaysia totals £5.9 billion with digital, technology and cyber being the fastest growth sector. By connecting UK digital tech businesses with leading Malaysian corporates, and aggregating complementary strengths and resources, the Programme is a catalyst for commercial partnerships and investments.

Natalie Black, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, said:

With its fast-growing technology sector and strategic location in ASEAN’s booming digital economy, Malaysia is a top destination for cutting-edge tech companies looking to expand and diversify their reach within the region.

That’s why we’ve brought 10 UK Net Zero tech businesses here for the UK-Malaysia Digital Innovation Programme Demo Day, bringing to fruition the innovative partnership we started with Sunway during last year’s London Tech Week.

Today’s event marks the final stretch of our inaugural UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week and an exciting new chapter for collaboration between our two tech ecosystems.

Matt van Leeuwen, Chief Innovation Officer of Sunway Group and Director of Sunway iLabs, said:

Sunway is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions in line with the Malaysian government’s commitment of being carbon-neutral by 2050. This is a really ambitious target, which means we have to think and act differently in order to achieve this. In addition to our internal initiatives, Sunway is looking to partner with global startups to co-create solutions that can be tested and validated in our extensive ecosystem, with the ultimate objective to scale these in the Malaysian and wider Southeast Asian market. We launched the Sunway iLabs’ Net Zero Lab, a cross-border investment programme, to source and accelerate climate tech innovations that have a positive and sustainable impact on our communities and the planet.

Sunway iLabs is committed to supporting Malaysia’s green transition. It recently launched the Net Zero Labs and is increasing investments in climate tech solutions, such as carbon storage and utilisation, and large-scale implementation of renewable energy. This programme is supported by Khazanah, Japanese External Trade Organization Kuala Lumpur (JETRO KL), Deep Tech Labs and the Department for Business and Trade.

Through the UK-Malaysia Digital Innovation Programme, Sunway hopes to instigate some of that so they can start investing in some of the solutions they see coming out of the UK, to help them achieve their goals by 2050.

The UK-Malaysia Digital Innovation Programme is part of the wider UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week held across Jakarta, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The week’s activities brought together cutting-edge UK tech companies and business and government representatives from across the region.

The leading UK start-ups shortlisted to showcase their disruptive technologies in Malaysia include Agave Networks, Filia, Inferrix, Informed Solutions, Permia Sensing, ProtectBox, Singular Intelligence, Voltvision, Voyage Control, Wootzano.

The event was well attended by over 100 stakeholders from across the Malaysian tech ecosystem. Besides senior representatives from Sunway Group, the event attracted other Malaysian corporates, investors and Malaysian government agencies such as MyDigital Corporation and MDEC. The event provided a valuable opportunity for exchange between UK and Malaysia as both countries move forward together towards a net zero future.

March 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK-Kuwait inaugural Strategic Dialogue 2023: joint communiqué [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 March 2023.

The UK Foreign Secretary and the Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait held the inaugural UK-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue in London on 20 March 2023.

The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, and the Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait His Excellency Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, held the inaugural UK-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue in London on 20 March 2023.

The two Ministers reviewed key areas of collaboration between the United Kingdom and the State of Kuwait, noting the breadth and depth of the bilateral relationship as well as the shared history and the strong people-to-people links that underpin this.

The UK and Kuwait reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral defence and security partnership. They welcomed the longstanding bilateral cooperation to bolster cyber defences against the growing threat posed by state and non-state actors. The Foreign Secretary reiterated the UK’s commitment to Kuwait’s security and territorial integrity, as well as to peace and stability around the world, and commended the positive role that Kuwait plays in regional security and beyond.

UK and Kuwait share a strong trade and investment relationship. The total volume of trade almost doubled last year, while the London based Kuwait Investment Office, a stalwart of the City’s financial sector, marks its 70th anniversary this year. Ministers explored priorities for future areas of investment. The recent announcement that Kuwaiti nationals may travel visa-free using the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme from February 2024 will further strengthen business, tourism and people-to-people links.

The two Ministers exchanged views and explored opportunities on a number of key foreign policy priorities, including Yemen, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), and Ukraine.

They discussed ongoing peace talks that seek to end the conflict that has ravaged Yemen for over eight years. Discussing the OPTs, both Ministers expressed grave concerns at the rising level of violence and instability and stressed the need to resolve this longstanding conflict on the basis of the two-state solution.

On Ukraine, the two Ministers welcomed the overwhelming international support for last month’s UNGA Resolution calling for Russia to end hostilities and withdraw from Ukraine, and humanitarian assistance, including supporting reconstruction efforts.

The Strategic Dialogue complimented and built on the work of the longstanding UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group, the 19th session of which was co-chaired on 14 February 2023 by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East and North South Asia, the UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, and His Excellency Mansour Al-Otaibi, Deputy Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait.

March 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC52 – Statement on situation of human rights in Belarus [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 March 2023.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the situation of human rights in Belarus, delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador Rita French.

Thank you, Mr President.

Thank you, Deputy High Commissioner, for your report reminding us once again how Lukashenko’s brutal and systematic campaign of repression continued unabated throughout 2021 and 2022.

Individuals exercising their human rights are systematically detained, intimidated and harassed by the Lukashenko regime. The number of political prisoners now surpasses 1400.

Civil society and independent media continue to be targeted, with lengthy sentences delivered after closed trials or trials in absentia. The UK strongly condemns the recent sentences handed down to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ales Bialiatski and the leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Both of whom I have had the privilege to meet in person.

This repression continues and increases in 2023. Lukashenko has signed new laws, allowing the regime to confiscate property of those who engage in “unfriendly activities” and expanded the scope of the death penalty to include crimes of high treason by state or military officials.

The UK also urges the Belarusian authorities to end their support for Russia’s illegal war.

Deputy High Commissioner,

How can the international community support those championing human rights in Belarus in the midst of continued, severe repression?

Thank you.

March 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : HRC52 – Interactive Dialogue with High Commissioner on Venezuela [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 March 2023.

Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Venezuela.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you High Commissioner for your recent visit to Venezuela and for your important update.

The UK shares your serious concerns about the human rights situation in Venezuela. Civic space remains significantly curtailed and freedom of expression restricted. Prisoners, particularly human rights defenders, unlawfully and arbitrarily detained, and restrictions on the rights of women and LGBTI people persist. However, we welcome the recent decision by the Supreme Court of Justice to decriminalise same-sex relationships in the military.

The proposed NGO and International Cooperation bills, which would limit further the civil and democratic space, are deeply concerning. We urge constructive dialogue with the international community to ensure this space is protected in accordance with Venezuela’s international obligations.

Human rights are also about the millions of vulnerable Venezuelans unable to access adequate health care, nutrition and water; this crisis will have long-term impacts on the lives of all Venezuelans.

We call for the respect of human rights and an end to impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations. This will be particularly important ahead of elections in 2024.

High Commissioner, how can the international community support access to justice for victims of human rights violations?

Thank you.

March 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : HMRC publishes simplified VAT guidance for overseas sellers [March 2023]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 22 March 2023.

HMRC has published new simplified VAT guidance for overseas sellers sending goods to the UK.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published simplified VAT guidance for overseas sellers, with a new translation aimed at Chinese retailers that sell goods online into the United Kingdom.

The guidance, Selling goods using an online marketplace or direct to customers in the UK has been translated into simplified Mandarin to support sellers exporting goods from China to comply with UK import and VAT regulations.

In 2022, the UK imported £83.3 billion in goods and services from China and Hong Kong. Online shopping accounted for 26.5% of all UK retail sales in 2022, with a substantial number of goods being bought from international sellers via online marketplaces.

HMRC is encouraging UK agents and shipping companies to share the simplified guidance with their customers.

The information explains when and how VAT and import duties must be charged to customers by international sellers. It explains the different processes for direct to customer sales, and for sellers using online marketplaces.

Marc Gill, HMRC’s Director for Individuals and Small Business Compliance, said:

We have been working closely with international partners to better understand what information overseas sellers need in order to comply with their UK tax obligations.

We have acted on feedback from businesses to simplify and compile this online guidance into one, easily accessible place on GOV.UK. We have also recently published a simplified Mandarin translation of our guidance following research conducted with Chinese businesses.

By making our VAT and import duty rules easier to understand, we will be able to increase tax compliance levels for online sellers. We are asking UK freight, customs and shipping agents to help us reduce the tax gap by sharing this simplified guidance with their customers. By working together, we can help everyone pay the right amount of tax at the right time.

HMRC’s updated guidance has been published following detailed consultation and research with overseas sellers and brings together all relevant guidance in one place on GOV.UK. By making the process clearer and easier to follow, it will support overseas sellers to comply with their tax obligations and help HMRC to reduce the tax gap.

In 2018, HMRC signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the General Administration of Customs China (GACC). During the 10th UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue in 2019, HMRC agreed to provide Chinese businesses with appropriate tax and customs guidance.

In 2020, HMRC commissioned research with Chinese online sellers. The report, Knowledge and attitudes of online sellers in China to UK tax compliance, was published in 2021. Recommendations from that research led to the development of new guidance and its translation into simplified Mandarin.

March 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Armed Forces Families Fund grants improving lives for Service Families [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 22 March 2023.

Further funding programmes will open from April 2023.
Funding includes:

£2 million awarded to 54 projects specifically for Service pupils across the UK to deliver real change for Armed Forces communities.

£900K for 18 projects enhancing early years learning for Service children aged 0-5.

£500K for 12 projects that will make a difference for the partners of our serving personnel, addressing their particular needs and challenges.

In January 2022, the MOD published the Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022-2032, a 10-year strategy for improving support to Armed Forces families.

Following the launch of the strategy, the MOD created the Armed Forces Families Fund, a dedicated fund to deliver against the eight themes of the strategy: Family Life, Service Life, Family Home, Education, Health and Wellbeing, Childcare, Support to Partners and Spouses, and Non-UK families.

Addressing the challenges Service children face

54 projects from across the UK were awarded a total of over £2 million to help address the challenges that Service children can face in conjunction with meeting the objectives set out in the Armed Forces Families Strategy.

This impactful programme will deliver real change to Armed Forces communities by improving the educational pathway of Service children.

Stanchester Academy’s project, ‘Safe Space and Support’, will provide a bespoke, supervised safe space for Service children. It will also be used as a meeting place, homework room and dining area, as well as a location for an additional Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) to provide one-to-one tutoring.

The project was designed following consultation with parents and pupils who ranked a safe space and Emotional Literacy Support, alongside one- to-one tutoring, as being the most impactful where Service families are concerned.

Case study: Stanchester Academy (ODT, 248 KB)

Transforming Service children’s futures

Headteacher Gregg Mockridge said:

We would like to thank The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and the Armed Forces Families Fund and mention how grateful we are to receive this grant. These grants are allocated for very specific projects, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to transform the futures of our Service children.

Teacher Rebecca Hendry was delighted to be awarded the funds, saying:

We have a high number of pupils that transfer to our secondary school in later years or mid-way through the year. Many of our students experience having a parent deployed or based elsewhere and away during the week. By funding a specialist ELSA staff member and offering them extra tuition combined with a safe space, we can ensure that they have all the support needed to help them.

As part of this project, a member of staff will also be trained as a ‘Bounce Forward Armed Forces Resilience Champion’, who will lead ‘Building resilience within military families’ sessions and other community events to help improve the lives of Service children and their families.

Supporting Service children’s wellbeing

Peter Davis, Head of the Armed Forces Families Team, said:

We are really pleased with the breadth of work funded in this round of the Education Support Fund. Service pupils’ needs and the challenges they face have been properly considered in each of the 54 projects that will take place across the UK. From tackling the negative effects of separation, to allowing Service children the best chance of building resilience and developing their academic skills against a backdrop of mobility; these projects will make a positive difference to the wellbeing of Service children in many valuable ways and will contribute significantly to the implementation of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Strategy.

Further funding available from April 2023

The Armed Forces Families Fund will reopen for applications from April 2023.

The Service Pupil Support Programme will open in early April.

This programme will award grants to projects that meet one of the three key aims:

Addressing the needs of SEND pupils through early identification and intervention using a collaborative and coordinated approach.

Closing the gap in attainment between Service and non-Service pupils, using data-led evidence.

Identifying and addressing the needs of small cohorts of Service pupils within educational settings.

Further rounds of the Early Years Programme and Supporting Partners programme will open in Summer 2023; along with a specialist programme that will award a small number of strategic grants linked to themes within the wider Armed Forces Families strategy.

Find out more

For a full list of all projects funded under the Armed Forces Families Fund, access the Trust’s website, www.covenantfund.org.uk
March 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Mayor of London statement following Baroness Louise Casey Review [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 21 March 2023.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Following a series of scandals, I asked for this independent review to be conducted by Baroness Louise Casey because I was deeply concerned about the cultural issues and systemic failings within the Met.

“The evidence is damning. Baroness Casey has found institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia, which I accept. She has described the Met as defensive, resistant to change and unwilling to engage with communities.

“As Mayor, I’ve already acted to put the Met on a path of far-reaching systematic and cultural reform, with the appointment of a new Commissioner and leadership team who acknowledge the scale of the problems and are committed to change. But clearly much more needs to be done, and fast.

“I have been determined as Mayor to shine a light on the true extent of the cultural problems in the Met as this is the only way to properly address the deep-rooted issues and regain the trust of Londoners. This review simply must be a turning point and I expect all the recommendations to be implemented quickly and in full.

“I want to assure Londoners that I’ll be unflinching in my resolve to support and hold the new Commissioner to account as he works to overhaul the force. The Met has many committed, professional police officers and staff who want to be part of this change. I see police reform as a critical part of my mayoralty and I will not be satisfied until Londoners have the police service they deserve – one that is trusted, representative and delivers the highest possible service to every community in our city as we work to build a safer London for everyone.”

March 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Mayor brings back beavers in Ealing, bees in Bexley and bats in Barnes as he sets out plans to rewild London [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 20 March 2023.
- 22 London projects, covering an area five times the size of St James’s Park, receive funding from the Rewild London Fund to return nature to the city
- Mayor’s London Rewilding Taskforce identifies 11 potential 100 hectare ‘rewilding opportunity zones’ to be explored as London’s first dedicated rewilding area on top of ‘on top of the £1.45m invested so far through the Rewild London Fund’
- Mayor commits another £1m this year to deliver more rewilding in London
On World Rewilding Day (Monday 20^th March), The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has reiterated his support for restoring London’s natural biodiversity by committing a further £1m to rewilding the capital.

The new funding comes as the Mayor announces the 22 recipients of his Rewild London Fund. The £850,000 fund, delivered by the London Wildlife Trust with commitment from Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, will go to projects focusing in and around London’s Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs). These include:
- Bringing Beavers Back to Ealing: Citizen Zoo, alongside Ealing Wildlife Group, Ealing Council and Friends of Horsenden Hill is reintroducing beavers back to West London after a 400 year absence. The chosen site in Ealing will be transformed into a flourishing and immersive wetland, combatting the climate crisis and creating a biodiverse ecosystem for plant and animal diversity. Rewild Funding will help drive the project forward.
- Thamesmead Pollinator Corridor: a partnership project between North West Kent Countryside Partnership (NWKCP), The Ridgeway Users Group, University Of East London, Bow Arts and Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) working with communities to create a pollinator corridor through Thamesmead. The project aims to boost numbers of the rare Shrill Carder Bee and other pollinator species by increasing the amount  of forage plants and nesting sites needed by these species.
- Palewell Beverley Brook Restoration: Barnes Conservation, part of Barnes Common Limited, is improving 1.25km of the Beverley Brook to encourage natural processes along the waterway and improve habitat for insects, fish, bats and birds as well as increasing connectivity between Richmond Park National Nature Reserve and Barnes Common Local Nature Reserve.
- Yeading Brook Unbound: as part of the Crane Valley Partnership and in collaboration with local groups and volunteers, Harrow Council’s ambitious, large-scale Yeading Brook Unbound project will make lasting changes – both major and minor – to the brook, its margins and adjoining areas within SINCS, parks and neighbouring allotments along the watercourse.
- Beckton Park Meadows: This project is kick-starting delivery of opportunities to create more space for nature in Beckton Park that were identified through  feasibility and community design work funded by the Mayor’s Green and Resilient Spaces Fund. 3,000 square metres of wildflower meadow will be created. The improvements are part of a wider masterplan for Beckton Parks that will increase biodiversity and help to tackle climate change.
All together, these 22 projects will enable around 116 hectares of priority habitat to be restored or created, the equivalent to five St James’s Parks.

Today’s further £1m funding will build on this success by establishing a new competition for rewilding projects that restore habitats and support species reintroduction, as well as supporting the creation of a pilot large-scale rewilding scheme. This will be a site of at least 100 hectares (the equivalent of 140 football pitches) designated for the reintroduction and restoration of nature and wildlife.

Areas that could be suitable for the pilot rewilding scheme have been identified by Mayor’s London Rewilding Taskforce in their recommendations report, launched today. They include the Colne Valley and Ruislip Woods in the west, Enfield Chase in the north, the Thames Marshes in Bexley and Havering in the east and the Croydon and Bromley Downs in the south of the capital.

The recommendations of the Taskforce emphasise the role that rewilding can play to help reframe the relationship between people and the urban nature around them. The Taskforce emphasises that allowing nature to recover will bring positive outcomes to Londoners, ranging from health and well-being benefits, providing nature-based solutions to challenges like air pollution and flooding, and addressing the climate and ecological emergencies.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “We are now facing dual climate and ecological emergencies worldwide, which further threaten our ability to survive on our planet. Despite the harm inflicted on the natural world, we have the power to make amends, and I am committed to ensuring that London is at the vanguard of efforts to reverse the trends of declining biodiversity and the destruction of nature.

“Rewilding allows nature to take the lead and is an exciting way to create healthier ecosystems and allow humans and wildlife to live together more harmoniously. I’m proud that London is leading the way once again and excited to see what can be achieved with this further £1m of funding. We’re cleaning up our city, re-establishing lost species and reconnecting people and nature as we build a greener, fairer city for all Londoners.”

Mathew Frith, Director of Research and Policy at London Wildlife Trust, Rewild London Fund partner and Rewilding Taskforce member said:  

“This funding enables an exciting tranche of biodiversity projects to further progress nature’s recovery in the capital. They will help strengthen, enhance and extend the important network of over 1600 Wildlife Sites* that forms the foundations of nature conservation in London, and thereby contribute to a wilder, greener city.

“London Wildlife Trust is pleased to have partnered with the Mayor of London and Amazon to both set the ambitions of the Fund and select the successful projects. We look forward to overseeing the delivery of these which should raise the bar for the critical restoration of priority wildlife habitats and the recovery of populations of species, from harvest mouse to tawny owl, and bumblebees to beetles, to make London a better place for nature, which people can experience close to hand.”

Nick Swallow, Citizen Zoo Fundraising Operations Officer said: “Across Europe and North America, beavers are known to thrive alongside urban communities. Bringing a range of benefits from increasing resilience to the challenges of climate breakdown to enriching people’s daily lives, as they encounter these magnificent mammals in their local greenspaces. With the GLA’s support and alongside our partners Ealing Wildlife Group, Ealing Council and Friends of Horsenden Hill, we hope to challenge the perceptions of Londoners and demonstrate how London too, can embrace these ecosystem engineers as we strive for a healthier, wilder future in which our Capital can become a leader in urban rewilding, which will greatly benefit not only wildlife populations but local communities too”

Nicky Gavron, co vice-chair of the London Rewilding Taskforce said: “This is such an exciting initiative. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with such an accomplished Taskforce and GLA team on this report. From the Green belt to our iconic parks, riverbanks, gardens, balconies and window boxes, there’s an opportunity to let nature lead and wildlife – from bumblebees to beavers, thrive in our city. Ensuring wild nature is at the centre of how we design, live, play, and work within cities is fundamental to improving our spaces, health, and quality of life for all London’s communities.”

Ben Goldsmith – co vice-chair of the Taskforce said: “There is no good reason why all people should not have ready access to nature, whether or not they live in our largest cities. Each one of us needs nature for our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. The Mayor has shown great leadership in launching our London Rewilding Taskforce, which seeks to weave nature back through the fabric of our city. I can’t wait to witness the recovery of an array of plants and wildlife across London!”

Zak Watts, Director, EU Sustainability, Amazon: “These projects will provide a much-needed boost to biodiversity in the city, while new woodlands, wetlands, ponds and meadows aim to increase resilience to the effects of climate change. For Londoners, these projects offer a vital way to discover and reconnect with nature.”

“This is all part of a wider commitment through Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, as we invest in ways to accelerate nature’s recovery in communities where we live and work. We’re excited to see the positive results they bring.”
March 22, 2023