You can set up your own campaign during the planning process to protect the nature that you love.
It can be daunting thinking about starting your own campaign, but it doesn’t need to be. Remember, you don’t have to go it alone. If you are worried about a development proposal harming wildlife in your local area, the chances are that other people will feel the same as you.
Here are some useful steps to setting up a campaign:
Start by researching the proposed development and the decision-making process surrounding it. Carefully read all of the documents submitted with the planning application to understand what is being proposed and why. Familiarise yourself with the different stages in the process and when they will happen (eg deadlines for public comments) so that you don’t miss any key opportunities to influence the application.
Use our country planning system guides to help you get your head around the planning process from start to finish. This research will help you to identify key issues to highlight in your campaign.
Find other like-minded people who are passionate about opposing or influencing the development and who are willing to help you organise and run the campaign. Aim to build a small and active team that can divide up tasks, keep the momentum going and keep each other’s spirits up. Without this, it can be a lonely battle. Think about the skills and roles that your team will need: for example, someone to make social connections, someone to drill down into the data, someone to set a strategy, someone to bang the drum, someone to keep spirits strong.
Take a look at our tips for engaging and connecting with others in your community (part of our wider ‘Take action for nature’ resources) for ideas on where to start.
I have heard it described as a relay race – do your bit and pass on the baton to the next person so it’s a team effort. That way you feel you don’t have to do it all yourself and are achieving things (however small)” -Local nature champion
Decide what you want to achieve with your campaign. It is important to be clear about this from the start, to ensure that you focus your campaigning around achieving this goal. For example, this could include stopping the development altogether or modifying the plans to make the proposal more nature friendly.
Work with your team to develop a strategy for achieving your goals. How can you influence the outcome most effectively? Power mapping can be a useful exercise to help focus your strategy, by identifying key stakeholders with influence over the decision-making process (see our How to use power mapping in your community to influence planning guide). Think also about the resources you will need to run your campaign – money, time, volunteers, skills and so on.
Develop a clear message that explains why you are opposed to the development and what the potential negative impacts are. This message should be concise, easy to understand, and focused on the most compelling reasons why the development should be opposed or modified. There are lots of great examples out there if you need inspiration, such as the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and RSPB Tipner West: Don’t Cross the Line campaign.
Reach out to other groups in the community who may be affected by the development proposals, such as environmental organisations, neighbourhood associations and local businesses. Involving less obvious groups and individuals such as recreational groups and local artists can also help you build a broader, more creative campaign. Building a diverse coalition can really help you amplify your message and gain more support.
If the site or the species that may be affected by the development have any cultural links, locally or nationally, highlight these in your campaign to help encourage interest and connect others to your cause.
For example, Nightingales have a strong cultural connection, featuring in many famous poems, songs and stories, including Keats’ ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ and Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet.’
Use a variety of tactics to raise awareness about your campaign and the issues surrounding the development. This could include creating flyers or posters (which you could ask local businesses and residents to display), speaking at public meetings, writing letters to local newspapers and reaching out to local media (radio and TV).
You could also attend community events (as well as organising your own), post on local/community social media accounts, and approach existing local organisations to see if you can speak at their meetings or if they could distribute your campaign materials. Take a look at our How to get the best results from campaigning to protect nature in planning guide for more ideas.
Building an online network was brilliant, with campaigners across the country retweeting (now ‘X’) and just voicing support. It all helps.” - Penny, Essex, local nature champion
Reach out to your planning authority, local politicians, and other decision-makers who will be involved in the planning process. Make sure that they understand your concerns and that you have the support of the community behind you.
Speak to people, I got the leader of the council to come and see the site just with me because I asked.” - Local nature champion
If you want to campaign online, sites such as change.org can host your campaign action. They can also be a useful source of information and offer lots more tips on how to campaign successfully.
You don’t have to do everything at once. Starting small and scaling-up as needed can be an effective use of your time, energy and resources. You have the power to effect real change in your local area and are best placed to achieve it. Good luck!
