Head of Wildlife Trusts sets out vision for 'wild belt' buffer zones to boost nature, cut pollution, avert floods, and benefit swimmers

The UK’s nature-depleted rivers could be transformed by planting wildlife-rich belts of trees and other vegetation all the way along their banks, according to the chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts.

Craig Bennett’s “big idea” for “reimagining what rivers can look like” would see Labour introducing a policy to ensure rivers had a “vegetation buffer” of between five and 50 metres, depending on the location.

This would provide valuable habitat for nature, reduce the risk of flooding, cut down soil erosion on riverbanks, and absorb climate-warming CO2, he argued.