Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help tackle the depletion of wildflowers.

In England we have set four legally binding targets for biodiversity including to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 then reverse declines by 2042 and restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, such as wildflower meadows, also by 2042.

We have set out our plan to deliver on these ambitious targets, along with our other environmental targets, in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23) published 31 January 2023. Here we link the different objectives, plans and mechanisms for recovering nature.

Our agri-environment schemes provide incentives for creation and management of wildlife-rich habitat. Since 2011, over 130,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, including wildflower meadows, have been created. Our new Environmental Land Management schemes will reward farmers and land managers for delivering environmental outcomes such as conserving and restoring such habitats.

Furthermore, our Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) provide protection for many species-rich grasslands. Additional sites are included in Natural England’s designation programme published on GOV.UK. The EIP23 confirms our commitment to delivering the 25 Year Environment Plan goal to restore 75% of our SSSIs to favourable condition by 2042. It also sets two interim targets on protected sites which support the delivery of that 2042 goal and contribute to the achievement of statutory species targets.

We are supporting grassland creation and restoration, including through our Green Recovery Challenge Fund. For example, Plantlife’s ‘Meadow Makers’ project, which was awarded over £700,000 in the first round, has restored 500 hectares of species-rich grassland at over 100 sites across seven landscapes.