Every political party is failing to tackle a crisis that has left the UK as “one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world”, the leaders of four major charities have warned.

In a joint op-ed for i, the CEOs of the National Trust, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts and Woodland Trust, sounded the alarm over the decline of the UK’s natural environment, which they say must play a major role in this year’s general election.

UK species have declined by 19 per cent on average since the 1970s, with one in six species currently at risk of extinction, a landmark report published last year by the Government in collaboration with non-governmental organisations found.