Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Access to Nature

Thursday 4 June 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tom Rutland thanked the Minister for her support regarding the Widewater lagoon nature reserve in his constituency, which is part of the new King Charles III England coast path.
  • The Minister acknowledged Tom Rutland's efforts in protecting Widewater lagoon and highlighted the coastal path's benefits for public health.
  • Tom Gordon inquired about steps being taken to address the felling of trees and closure of paths at Pannal primary school's forest school in Sandy Bank woods.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Rutland Lab East Worthing and Shoreham
Environment
Context

Tom Rutland worked on the protection of Widewater lagoon during his time in DEFRA. The King Charles III England coast path passes through Lancing's Widewater lagoon nature reserve.

Question

I thank the Minister for her answer and her kind words. The recently inaugurated King Charles III England coast path winds its way through my constituency, passing Lancing's wonderful Widewater lagoon nature reserve, which I worked with the community—including the World of Widewater committee—to save when it was drying up last summer. Can the Minister set out what health and tourism benefits the newly inaugurated path will bring to coastal communities such as mine?

Answer from Mary Creagh

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the work he did on the protection of Widewater lagoon—holding the water on the land when it is raining and ensuring that it is there during very dry spells is one of the challenges we face. The coastal path will boost everybody's mental and physical health, and will bring significant opportunity to his businesses in Worthing. We know that visitors to England's coastal paths already generate £350 million in spending in local coastal economies each year and support nearly 6,000 jobs.

Answered
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Q2 Tom Gordon Lib Dem Harrogate and Knaresborough
Education Environment
Context

Children from Pannal primary school found the path to their forest school in Sandy Bank woods cordoned off due to tree felling.

Question

Earlier this year, children from Pannal primary school went to their forest school in Sandy Bank woods, only to find that the path was cordoned off and trees had been felled. What steps is the Minister taking with her colleagues in the Department for Education and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure primary schools have access to forest schools all year round?

Answer from Mary Creagh

I am very happy to look into the case that the hon. Gentleman has mentioned. It depends on the ownership of the land—sometimes there is legitimate tree felling that has to be done at a certain time of year, normally before the bird nesting season—but if he gets in touch with me, I would be happy to look into that issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific steps or timeline for ensuring access to forest schools all year round

How: I Am Very Happy To Look Into The Case

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