The British countryside has been labelled “racist and colonial” by woke wildlife charities.
The claim was made in a report about racism and its impact on the natural world submitted by the Wildlife and Countryside Link. According to the report, the British countryside had “racist colonial legacies” and this had created an environment it said was “dominated by white people”.
The report added that the countryside was also a “white space” and one that was ruled by “white British cultural values”. According to the Telegraph, the report had been submitted in response to a call for evidence from an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) of MPs.
One section of the report said: “Cultural barriers reflect that in the UK, it is White British cultural values that have been embedded into the design and management of green spaces, and into society’s expectations of how people should be engaging with them.”
The report added that a perception that green spaces were dominated by white people “can prevent people from ethnic minority backgrounds from using green spaces”.
Going forward, the report concluded there had to be a rights-based approach to accessing green spaces and that the Government had to create a “legally binding target for access to nature”.
The report from the Wildlife and Countryside Link, whose members include the WWF and RSPCA also suggested that the government should ensure everyone has access to a green space 15 minutes from where they live.
As well as looking at whether the countryside is “racist”, the report also assessed the impact of the British Empire.
The report claimed: “Colonialism has driven the exploitation and erasure of the rights and knowledge of indigenous people, and the assertion of white, Western values and knowledge at the expense of other values and knowledge.”
The report’s claims come as attempts are made to make the countryside more inclusive and more welcoming.
Last year, DerbyshireLive reported that signs pointing to Mecca were installed on a Peak District hiking trail to encourage more Muslims to explore the countryside.
The move came after a group called Muslim Hikers was targeted by online abuse. Following their ordeal, bespoke outdoor prayer mats have been developed and signs installed on the trail.
Speaking about the situation, founder of Muslim Hikers Haroon Mota said: “Working with Wiggle and Adidas Terrex has allowed us to take a huge step in the right direction when it comes to promoting inclusivity in the outdoors.
“Everyone should feel empowered to get outside and enjoy nature, and the prayer mats and signs have made it easier for us within the Muslim community to do this without having to worry about the practicalities of prayer.”
Express.co.uk has contacted the Wildlife and Countryside Link for comment.
