ACCESS citizens’ survey reveals public support for UK nature recovery

Published on 24 September 2026

A new ACCESS citizens’ survey reveals broad public support for policies to protect and restore nature in the UK.

We are very pleased to share the new ACCESS Citizens’ Survey on Nature, Land Management & Environment UK Report. Almost 3,000 people across the country were surveyed about their feelings, concerns and opinions, and their experiences in nature in December 2025 and January 2026. The findings reveals broad public concern about the state of nature, and support for policies to protect and restore nature, in the UK.

More than 75% of participants were worried about the potential loss of wild animal and plant life in the UK – and 57% thought there would be less variety of wildlife over the next 25 years.

Over 65% of participants supported the UK’s 2030 target to protect 30% of land, as well as nature recovery policies including stricter regulations for house building and infrastructure to protect nature (68%), subsidies for farmers and wildlife charities to support nature (66%) and planting more trees in urban areas (73%).

The survey also showed that worry about nature depletion and support for nature recovery targets varied by demographic group, suggesting a need for targeted messaging and tailored interventions.

Dr Alice Moseley (ACCESS Leadership Team, University of Exeter) said:

“Our results are directly relevant for policymakers, offering new insights about support for different kinds of policies and management practices…Worry about nature depletion translates into support for national targets for nature protection, with around two thirds of respondents supporting the UK’s national target to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.”

Professor Birgitta Gatersleben (ACCESS Co-Director, University of Surrey) said:
“These findings have implications for bodies such as local authorities, national park authorities and nature agencies with responsibilities for protecting and managing natural spaces. Overall, our survey provides support for the continued development of a variety of strong and multi-stranded policies to protect and restore nature.”
The citizens’ survey was conducted to complement the work of the ACCESS Nature Recovery Task Force of UK academic and government social scientists. The Nature Recovery Task Force ran from September 2024 to September 2026. Its full report and executive summary will be published in October 2026.

Professor Michael Winter OBE, Chair of ACCESS Task Force on Nature Recovery, said:
“Alongside our work focussing on nature recovery policy, it was helpful and informative to see such a high level of public concern for nature revealed in the survey.”

 

Read the survey report in full.
View associated Slide Decks for different parts of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland), as well as for the UK as a whole.