AN 'ECOLOGICAL emergency' could be declared by the county council in the near future to improve Northumberland's environment.

The leader of Northumberland County Council hopes to declare an 'ecological emergency' to improve the environment for future generations.

It follows on from the declaration of a climate emergency in 2019, when plans were announced to become a carbon-neutral county by 2030.

Ecological emergencies focus specifically on the decline in wildlife rather than climate change and carbon footprint.

Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson aims to improve the county's action plan and aims to give greater priority to protecting nature and wildlife and enhancing habitats and biodiversity.

Cllr Sanderson said the council will work hard to ensure Northumberland’s natural resources are 'protected and enhanced', both now and in the future. This will include creating more green spaces and woodlands.

Slaley, Hexhamshire and Healey Community Environmental Group (CEG) was formed in 2019 to promote and act on constructive ideas to reduce climate change and improve biodiversity.

The group secured Northumberland County Council Community Chest funding for a long-term project to protect wildflowers and biodiversity in local roadside verges.

Verges are home to more than 700 wildflower species in the UK, accounting for nearly 45 per cent of the nation's total flora.

Most of the UK's grass road verges are ideal for wildflowers to grow, being generally undisturbed by human activity and the soil's nutrients being influenced by the amount of traffic on the road it sits beside. Wildflowers tend to thrive in poor-nutrient soil, meaning verges are ideal for attracting more pollinators.

Chairman of the CEG, Christopher Porter, said: "I fully support the Northumberland County Council Ecological Emergency initiative. Setting policy to stimulate individuals and groups to take responsibility for their environment, and acting as exemplars for others is crucial if we are to arrest the damage already done and gain future benefit.

"All small steps count, be it on verge protection, habitat creation, increasing biodiversity or wildlife protection. In many schools, we see a recognition of the issue which is great for the future, but we need to find ways for the majority to want to act and create a self-perpetuating culture of both ecological and environmental protection and enhancement."