How a victory for a small bog could herald a new era for conservation

Against the odds, a tiny wildlife retreat has won the day in a battle with developers. It is a sign that attitudes may finally be changing for the better, says Graham Lawton

By Graham Lawton

Les Gibbon/Alamy

AS LOCKDOWNS gradually ease across the world, I find myself in a growing state of anxiety. As you may have heard, this pandemic presents a historic opportunity to reinvent our world along more sustainable lines. I agree – but am gripped by fear that we will blow it.

Happily, some positive action has been taken. For example, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced plans to close much of the city centre to private vehicles, creating one of the world’s largest car-free urban areas. Other cities have made similar moves.

But I can’t imagine this will go …