What does the future hold for Natural England?

As environment secretary Michael Gove launched a consultation to improve the fate of the UK’s wildlife on development sites, he reiterated the government’s pledge to “leave our environment in a better state for future generations”.

The words are starting to ring hollow for many in the conservation sector, who have been watching Natural England’s shrinking budget and staff for some years. The organisation now lacks permanent leadership, with the departures of chair Andrew Sells and chief executive James Cross, and has seen large numbers of staff moved to parent department DEFRA to deal with Brexit preparations.