Having grown up on my stepdad’s farm and previously worked as Parliamentary Officer for the NFU, I have always had a strong connection with our environment – and been a big advocate for work that enhances our beautiful landscapes and precious habitats.

That’s why I was pleased to hear of the work being done by the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) – who are incredibly active in our part of the world.

In collaboration with the Norfolk Rivers Trust (with whom I have supported in-land and on-farm wetland projects – see more here and here), Banham Zoological Gardens (part of ZSEA) was awarded a £95,300 grant from the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund in 2021 to help boost nature recovery across Norfolk. These funds, a key part of the PM’s 10 Point Plan to kickstart nature recovery and help tackle climate change, have been used to build a hatchery that will protect endangered white-clawed crayfish which, as many will know, have seen their local populations devastated in recent years. In years to come, this work could be seen as the real turning point in the fortunes of this precious Norfolk species.

Furthermore, I am delighted to hear that ZSEA is dedicating their newly opened Christmas grotto to protecting birds throughout the ongoing Bird Flu crisis, with all profits going into the increasing of defences for all the birds in their care at their various East Anglia sites – including Banham Zoo and Africa Alive.

I have been incredibly active on the Bird Flu crisis (please see more on my ‘Food, Farming and the Environment’ campaign page here) and, in addition to being vocal in my support of local farmers and producers that have been affected, I have also stressed the concern of local conservationists about Norfolk (and the UK)’s bird populations. This work by the ZSEA is vital therefore and I look forward to following the work they continue to do with partners across our region in the months and years ahead.

To learn more about all of my environmental work, please click here.