Crawley is a very urban constituency, but with pockets of greenspace, woodland and a network of streams, there are still some lovely places for wildlife and people to enjoy. You can download the Crawley Constituency Map to look more closely.

We want the next government to commit to our top 5 priorities for action on nature. Here are some local examples of the importance of these priorities in your constituency.

Enable Healthy Communities

Improving access to natural, wildlife-rich places where we live, learn and work will transform people’s lives, improving health, happiness, and hope across communities. The Gatwick Greenspace Partnership (GGP) is a partnership project celebrating its 30^th year, funded by seven local authorities and Gatwick Airport. It works to benefit people and wildlife in an area over some 200 square kilometres covering Dorking, Horley, Crawley, Charlwood, Horsham and Gatwick Airport. The aim of GGP is to inform, educate and involve a diverse range of people from the local communities in our beautiful, natural surroundings. GGP want to see the local landscape more interconnected for wildlife and so successfully work with local land owners, including the Forestry Commission, the Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust, plus local authorities and Gatwick Airport to support them in managing their land more sustainably and in partnership with others. Access to a clean and healthy environment is a basic human right that should be guaranteed through law.

End River Pollution and Water Scarcity

We are all concerned about the polluted state of our rivers and seas, but risks around water availability are growing. Crawley constituency is situated in an area of serious water stress and is directly impacted by a policy of water neutrality. Evidence has shown that water abstraction for drinking water supplies is having a negative impact on the wildlife sites in the Arun Valley. One way of preventing any further negative impact is to ensure that all new development which takes place is water neutral i.e. does not increase the rate of water abstraction for drinking water supplies above existing levels. Whilst water neutrality is seen as red tape by some, the Sussex Wildlife Trust asks why all development shouldn’t be a sustainable as possible and adhere to water neutrality?

Tackle the Climate Emergency

We are in a climate and nature emergency, and the two are inextricably linked. Climate change is driving nature’s decline, and the loss of wildlife and wild places leaves us ill-equipped to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to these changes. Expanding Gatwick Airport and increasing flights will increase carbon emissions and works directly against the UK’s legally binding net zero targets and the expert recommendations of the Climate Change Committee, which advises ‘no net airport expansion across the UK.

Sussex Wildlife Trust members in this constituency: 687

Tell your election candidates you care about nature - we've set up a simple email action to help you contact all your election candidates and let them know why nature matters to you. Thank you for your support!