Yahoo News Eight-year-old North Tyneside wildlife campaigner joins London protest urging Government to act on climate change
An eight-year-old wildlife campaigner from North Tyneside joined a protest in London calling on the Government to act on climate change.
More than 350 charities, businesses and direct action groups took part in the Restore Nature Now march on Saturday (June 22), which saw an estimated 60,000 protesters march from Hyde Park to the Houses of Parliament, urging politicians to act to protect the environment. As the march went down Whitehall, boos could be heard as the crowd passed Downing Street, with many shouting their disapproval.
One of those marching was Seren Studholme from Wallsend, who joined a group of Northumberland Wildlife Trust supporters who travelled from the North East in the early hours of Saturday morning. Seren is already a keen conservationist who loves hedgehogs, and has her own hedgehog house in the family garden.
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She created her own placards especially for the march, which read: "We can bee the change", and "Protect Pollinators." The Redesdale Primary School pupil joined her mum Rhiannon on the march, with the aim of "making her voice heard for the little guys".
Rhiannon told ChronicleLive: "She used her voice from beginning to end shouting protect our pollinators all the way. She was super excited to see all the different costumes and puppets."
The pair have been inspired to go "bigger and bolder" should the march take place again next year, with them gaining inspiration from the two 3D birds which hovered at the front of the march; bright blue butterfly umbrellas; and animal masks and flags throughout. Seren is also hoping to fundraise for red squirrels, after raising £175 for Hedgehog Street from a book sale in her garden.
Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said that he was delighted Seren had joined the charity on the march. He said: "She represents the next generation of wildlife conservationists who are vital for the future of the planet and who knows, we may have a future wildlife presenter with us on our march."
Despite Rhiannon describing the march as having a "very upbeat carnival type of atmosphere", there was a serious message behind it.
Dame Emma Thompson, who led the march alongside BBC presenter Chris Packham, called on politicians to "act now" on climate change, telling Sky News: "When you think about the fact that we have known about this for decades and government after government have completely ignored the advice… all the scientists saying we are in deep, deep trouble.
"We are one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. But we are also one of the most rich, so this is not good for anybody.
"Anyone who has ever written about our country (has written) about the beauty of these islands and they are being despoiled, polluted and destroyed at an unprecedented rate.
"We have to take action now. There is not enough discussion about this. It has to come to the forefront of our politics at every level."
