The APPG for Wetlands

A cross-party body of parliamentarians that seeks to recognise, celebrate and promote wetlands as a nature-based solution to the challenges we face.

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Wetlands works to increase awareness of and engagement with wetlands amongst parliamentarians, and to build support for policies and partnerships to restore, create, manage and protect wetlands into the future.

Meetings

2024

AGM, 6 February 2024. Details and minutes.

The AGM of the APPG for Wetlands took place on 6 February 2024

The annual general meeting brought together officers and members of the APPG, to reflect on the past year and think about the future of the group. This focused on stakeholder representation, and understanding the risks, concerns and barriers identified by those on the ground.

Officers were elected for the coming year, and we will begin working on a plan for the coming year to ensure the efficacy of the APPG.

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2023

Third meeting, 13 November 2023. Details and minutes.

The third meeting of the APPG for Wetlands took place on 13 November 2023

The meeting focused on water quality, providing an overview of the problem, discussion on where wetlands can be part of the solution and identifying what key policies can help businesses and industries create them at a large scale. Members were joined by speakers from agriculture, water industry and academia, as well as attendees from Environment Agency, Natural England and The Rivers Trust.

Having heard from stakeholders across sectors, it was that there is clear support and enthusiasm for the use of wetlands to address the poor condition of many rivers and bring life back to the UK’s waterways. During the meeting we discussed how treatment wetlands can be used to improve water quality and what barriers prevent scaling up their use. Much of the session featured discussion between attendees and speakers, with lively conversation around what needs to happen to encourage stakeholder buy in. Having opinions from government, business, industry and third sector meant that discussion points were considered from all angles.

Final question to the speakers posed what the number one issue to tackle for the creation of wetlands that could be addressed by government is. Answers varied from the state of access to evidence to the available incentives for wetland creation. Following this, the session closed with the chair concluding that there was a clear message that we need to work together more closely to address the issues raised in the meeting.

The next meeting will be the 2024 AGM, expected to occur in February.

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Second meeting, 18 May 2023. Details and minutes.

On 18 May 2023 the APPG for Wetlands visited Steart Marshes and Bridgwater Meads

The group first visited Steart Marshes, near Bridgwater, Somerset. Alys Laver, Site Manager, explained its multiple benefits to people and nature.

Working together in partnership, the Environment Agency and WWT created a vast 478 hectare wetland in Somerset– one of the largest wetland creation projects in the UK. Steart Marshes provides a home for wildlife and a special place for people to enjoy nature, while benefitting the local economy and protecting homes. These wetlands have increased the resilience of local communities to adapt to climate change, protecting nearby houses from flooding and reducing the risks of coastal erosion. A study by Manchester Metropolitan University found that Steart alsp stores as much carbon over four years as just over one million new trees grown for ten years.

The group then visited Bridgwater Meads, where Joe May, Project Manager explained how the site is connecting the local community with nature.

WWT’s Bridgwater Blue Heritage project uses nature-based solutions to manage rainfall and lessen flood risk, help nature recover and involve the local community. It hopes to build Bridgwater’s resilience to the growing climate threat by restoring and improving wetland habitat, enhancing green and blue infrastructure and promoting active travel, as well as enhancing wellbeing and celebrating Bridgwater's history. Bridgwater Meads is the first part of this project, taking a 20 ha floodplain grazing marsh on the edge of the town and turning it into a biodiverse wetland. Community action included helping design the vision for the site and planting 1,000 reeds.

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AGM, 8 February 2023. Details and minutes.

The AGM 2023 of the APPG for Wetlands took place on 8 February 2023

The meeting brought together officers and members of the APPG, with Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, to celebrate the successes of the group so far and plan for the year ahead.

The meeting opened with a summary of the group’s progress from the Chair, Siobhan Baillie MP. Siobhan noted the group has successfully built its membership to 45 parliamentarians and achieved a major policy win in the Government’s decision to implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 making SuDS compulsory for all new developments. She also explained plans to push for further wetland-friendly policies in the year ahead.

Siobhan’s address was followed by a rousing speech from Tony Juniper for whom wetlands originally inspired his love of nature. He explained wetlands are essential to delivering the Government’s targets for nature because of the speed at which they can be restored. This will also allow them to play a key role in adapting to climate change. He also noted the central role of businesses in driving wetland creation and praised WWT’s Blue Recovery Leaders Group for bring businesses together for wetlands.

A fruitful discussion followed in which officers and members brought forward insights how policy change for wetlands can be achieved in the year ahead.

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2021/22

Fourth meeting, 24 October 2022. Details and minutes.

The fourth meeting of the APPG for Wetlands took place on 24 October 2022

The meeting focused on the practical action needed to progress the evidence on how saltmarsh wetlands store carbon, fighting climate change. It also looked at how private finance for saltmarsh wetlands can be facilitated to create an investment product.

The group heard from three expert speakers:

• Angus Garbutt, Senior Ecologist; coastal specialist, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Angus
• Annette Burden, Wetland Biogeochemist, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
• Tom Dyke, Corporate Finance Manager, Triodos Bank

Angus explained the multiple investable benefits delivered by saltmarsh wetlands, as well as delving into the deep cultural connections we have with this evocative landscape. Annette then explained the current state of the evidence on carbon storage in saltmarsh, which is progressing, but remains highly variable. She noted it was possible to solve these issues, especially with the UK Government playing a coordinated role. Tom stressed the demand for saltmarsh creation from the private sector is there but work on the evidence is needed to create a product investors can be confident in.

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Third meeting, 7 June 2022. Details and minutes.

The third meeting of the APPG for Wetlands on 7 June 2022 saw MPs journey by boat to London Wetland Centre

During the boat cruise from Parliament MPs and peers heard how creating and restoring urban wetlands can boost mental and physical health while providing multiple other benefits, such as flood prevention, water quality improvements, and cooling during heat waves.

The group heard presentations from a range of expert speakers:

• Adam Nice, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Mental Health Foundation and Abimbola Junaid, Project Manager, Blue Prescribing Project, Mental Health Foundation
• Andy Graham, Senior Project Manager (Community Wetlands), WWT
• Sarah Fowler, Chief Executive, WWT

Adam and Abimbola explained how spending time in the blue spaces found in wetlands has been shown to be particular good for mental health compared to spending time in green spaces and how the joint Mental Health Foundation and WWT blue prescribing project is demonstrating these benefits for people with poor mental health. Wetlands can also make our communities more resilient to climate change and the increased rainfall and extreme heat this will bring, whilst bringing back biodiversity, explained Andy. Finally, Sarah set out the policy changes needed to support restoration and creation of urban wetlands, with the highest priority being making Sustainable Drainage Systems compulsory for all new developments.

The parliamentarians then enjoyed a tour of the urban wetlands of London Wetland Centre, where they saw first-hand how even small pockets of wetlands can boost biodiversity and provide a resource for people's wellbeing.

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Second meeting, 2 February 2022. Details and minutes.

The second meeting of the APPG for Wetlands took place on 2 February 2022, World Wetlands Day

The meeting focused on how nature-based solutions such as creating and restoring wetlands can reduce flood risk, while simultaneously providing numerous other benefits not achieved by grey infrastructure. This includes boosting biodiversity and providing green and blue space for local communities.

The group heard from two expert speakers:

• Julie Foley, Director, FCRM (Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management) Strategy & National Adaptation at the Environment Agency
• Professor David Gowing, Director of the Floodplain Meadows Partnership and Professor of Botany, School of Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences at The Open University

They explained how natural flood management can increase resilience to climate change, contribute to the delivery of national flood prevention policies and can be designed to deliver multiple benefits to communities. The meeting also explored barriers and opportunities to greater use of natural flood management; how its use can be scaled up; and what is needed to integrate natural flood management into standard flood prevention policies.

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Inaugural meeting, 28 October 2021. Details and minutes.

The inaugural meeting of the APPG for Wetlands took place on 28 October 2021

This first meeting of the APPG focused on the important role wetland creation and restoration can play in mitigating climate change and meeting the UK’s Net Zero goals, as well as the policy and funding framework needed to create and restore wetlands to address climate change.

The group heard from an interesting line-up of outside speakers:

• Dr Rachel Dunk, Principal Lecturer in the Department of Natural Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University
• Dr James Robinson, Director of Conservation at WWT
• Jerker Tamelander, Director, Science and Policy at the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands

They gave evidence on the carbon storage potential of saltmarsh; the multiple benefits of supporting wetland habitat creation; the role of the UK Government in facilitating opportunities for habitat creation; and the international perspective on blue carbon and how UK Government could show global leadership.

With COP26 days after the meeting this was a timely moment to highlight opportunities for the UK to drive forward ambitious action that can not only help the UK meet climate targets but also benefit biodiversity and human health and wellbeing.

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Contact

WWT provides the secretariat to the APPG and enquiries about the group can be directed to appg.wetlands@wwt.org.uk.

The Chair and Registered Contact for the group is Siobhan Baillie MP, who can be contacted at siobhan.baillie.mp@parliament.uk.

Current Officers

Please note

This is not an official website of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed on this webpage are those of the group.