Chris Packham leads protesters calling on the Royal Family to rewild their estates

• TV presenter Chris Packham was joined by around 100 children in a procession to Buckingham Palace to hand over a petition boasting over 100,000 signatures
• The petition is asking the Royal Family to rewild the UK lands that they own 
• The royals are the UK’s biggest landowners, with an estate that includes lands owned by the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the Queen herself 

TV presenter Chris Packham has led a children’s march to Buckingham Palace to hand deliver a petition asking the Queen to rewild royal lands.

The eco campaigner was joined by around 100 ‘school strikers’ in a procession across Green Park to the palace with a petition boasting 100,000 signatures in hand. 

The petition is aimed at urging the Royal Family to commit to rewilding its estates before the Cop26 climate summit in October. 

The royals are the UK’s biggest landowners, with an estate that includes lands owned by the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the Queen. 

The eco campaigner was joined by around 100 ‘school strikers’ in a procession across Green Park to the palace

The petition gathered over 100,000 signatures 

 It’s estimated that the family owns land equivalent to 1.4 per cent of the UK.    

Speaking outside the palace on Saturday, Packham said: ‘Frankly, my conscience is not clear.

‘On my watch as an environmentalist and conservationist, I have failed these young people – I have failed to act quickly and broadly enough to prevent the crisis that we find ourselves in.

‘The world that they are likely to inherit – unless we act urgently, properly and quickly now – will not be as pleasant as the one I inherited when I was their age. And that’s not something I want to take to my grave.

‘It’s the most harmonious, beautiful and peaceful demonstration I have been on for some time.

Speaking outside the palace on Saturday, Packham said: ‘Frankly, my conscience is not clear.’

The campaigners want the Royal Family to rewild their land, which is thought to make up around 1.4 per cent of the UK 

Two people gather to show the impact rewilding Royal land could have on species like bees

Environment Campaigners TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham outside Buckingham Palace with the other activists 

SOS from the Kids, who have performed on Britain’s Got Talent, write and sing songs as a form of environmental activism, and are set to perform at Cop26.

‘We’re asking our royal Family, denizens of the property behind us, to rewild the 800,000 acres of land that they have in the UK. If they were to do so it would be a very powerful message that would resonate with people all over the world.’

Among those who marched was 16-year-old Noah Macaulay, a sixth-form student from Hampshire and co-founder of choir SOS from the Kids. 

The group, who have performed on Britain’s Got Talent, write and sing songs as a form of environmental activism, and are set to perform at Cop26. 

‘The royal family has an amazing opportunity, because they own so much land, to lead by example and rewild that,’ the teen said. 

‘We’re asking our royal Family, denizens of the property behind us, to rewild the 800,000 acres of land that they have in the UK,’ Chris Packham said. 

It is hoped the march will encourage the Queen to adopt reclamation strategies 

More than 100 children joined Chris Packham to deliver the petition 

‘They could really, really help to improve nature and help biodiversity.’ 

A Royal Estates spokesperson said: ‘Members of the royal family have a longstanding commitment to conservation and biodiversity, and for over 50 years have championed the preservation and development of natural ecosystems.

‘The Royal Estates are constantly evolving and looking for new ways to continue improving biodiversity, conservation and public access to green spaces, as well as being home to thriving communities and businesses which form part of the fabric of the local community.’

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