Here are some tactics you can use to get the best results for nature when running a planning campaign.
Campaigning doesn’t have to be all bells and whistles involving lots of people and activities – you can campaign effectively at an individual level or with short, focused actions too. Whatever level of campaigning you choose to do to protect nature during the planning process, here are some suggestions of tactics you could try.
For top tips on getting started with a campaign, also check out our How to set up your own campaign to protect nature from a development threat guide.
Elected councillors act as the link between the public and the council. They represent your views on issues important to you, such as development proposals, and can influence planning decisions by submitting comments on planning applications and speaking at planning committees (find contact details for your local councillors here). It’s therefore really beneficial to get them interested in your campaign.
You can also contact your local elected representative(s) who represent your views at the national level. In England that will be your MP (Member of Parliament), in Wales your MS (Member of the Senedd), in Scotland your MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) and in Northern Ireland your MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly).
Take a look at our tips on contacting your local representative (part of our wider ‘Take action for nature’ resources) for advice on writing to or emailing any of your elected representatives and using social media effectively.
You can find out who your elected representatives are and write to them using handy websites such as WriteToThem and TheyWorkforYou.
Once my parish council knew what was present in the parish they were genuinely astonished and wanted to protect it. Most people have no idea what wildlife is in an area – they think that ‘it’s just a field’ when it’s home to Skylarks, Grey Partridges, Barn Owls, etc.” -Local nature champion
Putting your main request at the beginning of an email makes it stand out in a busy inbox whereas an ask in the last paragraph might get missed! If you’ve got a bit of extra time, consider writing a letter – this may seem a bit old fashioned but a well-written letter (especially a hand-written one) can make you stand out from the crowd.
Meeting your local elected councillor in person can be even more effective in getting your message across. Offer to meet them on or near the proposed development site to help explain why it’s important, ideally at a time when wildlife might be present that could be threatened by the development.
Be clear what you would like your local councillor to do after your meeting – eg to support your campaign and submit comments on the planning application. Depending on what was agreed at the meeting, it’s usually a good idea to follow up with an email or phone call to them. You could send a simple thank you, or even a polite nudge if they promised to do something but haven’t. This will remind them of the issue and show that you take it seriously.
Take a look at our tips on meeting with your local politician (part of our wider ‘Take action for nature’ resources) for advice on how to organise a meeting and how to get the most out of the conversation.
You could also take pictures and share your activity on social media. Ask your elected representative if they’ll join you for a photo and post it on social media – don’t forget to tag them in your post as well as clearly stating what you want them to do as a result of your meeting.
Getting local media coverage for your campaign can be a great way to get your message out to a wider audience and build momentum, especially if you’re able to get the local newspaper or radio station to champion your cause. Be sure to explain why you are opposed to the development and why you believe it would be harmful for nature and the community.
Most elected councillors avidly follow local media and are keen to keep a good profile for obvious reasons, therefore some local coverage can really help to swing their opinion in a campaign’s favour.
Take a look at our tips for contacting your local media (part of our wider ‘Take action for nature’ resources) for lots of helpful advice on writing a letter to the editor, getting your story in the media and writing a press release. Also see our How to use local media to promote your planning campaign guide for tips on radio/TV interviews and maintaining interest in your campaign.
With social media at our fingertips, it’s very easy to spread the word and promote your campaign to a much wider audience. Platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and so on are important campaign tools which offer the opportunity for instant updates and can be a very effective method of calling supporters to action. You could also consider setting up a website or blog to communicate with supporters and build a wider audience for your cause.
Use social media (eg a neighbourhood Facebook group) to tell your community about the development and encourage them to submit comments. Make it easy for people by posting the planning application reference number and a link to the planning authority’s webpage. You could provide advice on what they could include in their response or give them a template that could be adapted with their own personal message. The easier you make it for people, the more likely they are to take action.
Closed Facebook groups are a useful tool for organising small groups in flexible ways” -Local nature champion
Attend public meetings and speak out about the proposed development. This could include council meetings eg planning committee meetings and parish council meetings, public consultations, and any other events where the decision-makers will be present. Be sure to make your message clear and concise and emphasise the most compelling reasons why the development should be opposed or modified.
Petitions can be an effective way to demonstrate the strength of public opposition to a proposed development. Use online platforms like Change.org to gather signatures and keep data confidential. If you choose to collect signatures via paper petitions on a street stall or at an in-person event, you must consider GDPR issues when collecting and storing people’s personal details. Alternatively, you could give people the option of using their phones to sign your online petition using a QR code on a poster/flyer, or even just take along a tablet with the online petition page open ready for people to sign.
Councillors are politicians, they need votes! Get evidence (ie petition) of numbers of supporters, this will have a demonstrable effect.” -Local nature champion
Organise events that raise awareness about the potential harmful impacts of the proposed development, eg hold a public meeting/site visit, webinars, or other events that engage your community and build support for your campaign. You could encourage people to get involved by asking them to note down their ideas and concerns, or to vote for different actions. This is also a good way of ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard in the process.
Make an effort to talk to people in person, rather than social media or online (walking around and starting conversations, having a public meeting)” -Local nature champion
Each campaign is unique, so the tactics that work best will depend on the specifics of your local area and the development proposal itself.
