Saplings in prisons and bogs on military ranges: Labour’s plans for nature-friendly state land

Tree nurseries could be built at prisons and military ranges could be turned into heathland or peat bogs as part of an ambitious plan to make government land more nature-friendly, the environment secretary has said.

Speaking ahead of elections this week in which Labour is under pressure from the Green party, Emma Reynolds said such projects showed the government’s intent in restoring natural habitats.

Under a scheme due to be confirmed in the coming weeks, land owned by the Department for Transport around roads and rail lines would have more “green bridges” to help wildlife move safely. Another possibility would be a greater use of solar panels on government buildings.

The projects would aim to bring wider improvements, with the tree nurseries on Ministry of Justice land intended to also help with prisoners’ welfare. Peatland restoration on military sites, as well as new stone dams, would restore natural habitats but also limit flooding and so allow more consistent training.

The plan was, Reynolds said, “just one example of how the government is delivering better outcomes for nature and the environment for future generations”.

An MP from 2010, Reynolds lost her seat in 2019 before returning to parliament in 2024 and she replaced Steve Reed as environment secretary in last September’s cabinet reshuffle.

Keir Starmer’s government has faced criticism from some opponents, especially the Greens, for supposedly prioritising economic growth over the environment. Reynolds rejected this, saying policies such as the plans for the government estate, plus the reintroduction of species such as beavers and the golden eagle, showed a huge commitment to restoring nature.

“These are decisions that we are making, that I am making now, that will have an impact for generations and generations to come. So that’s really important,” she said.

Reynolds contrasted this with what she said was a less wholehearted embrace of environmental issues by the Greens since Zack Polanski became leader, with an increased policy focus on areas such as economic inequality.

“I would dispute the kind of priority they seem to be giving at a national level to environmental issues,” she said. “I also think they’ve got a terrible record in local government on these things.”

Reynolds pointed to objections from some local Green parties to solar farms, intended to carry electricity from offshore wind generation. “They are not prepared to take any of the sometimes difficult decisions that we need to take as a country to put in place green infrastructure,” she said. “I will not take lessons from a Green party that rarely talks about nature; that, frankly, is a party of protest.”