BARROW mayor Cllr Helen Wall has been named in Cumbria Wildlife Trust's '60 Nature Heroes' list and has shared her thoughts on how to improve nature in Barrow.

Cllr Wall was honoured to be named in this list by the wildlife trust and is keen to see Barrow improve its attitude towards nature in regard to both animals and plant life.

She was nominated as 'a genuine and effective campaigning voice for wildlife – possibly the best in Cumbria politics'. She's a passionate nature lover who works to find solutions to important questions about how we coexist with and benefit nature across Cumbria.

Cllr Wall wants to see the return of red squirrels and less 'Astroturf like grass' in Barrow - which has led to talks of grey squirrel contraception and a month without mowing.

"It is a massive honour to be named in this list," she said.

"I had such an incredible year in 2021, I had my 70th birthday, I became a great grandmother, and I was made mayor of Barrow, this was the icing on a wonderful cake when they told me the news.

"I feel so honoured they thought of me."

Cllr Wall wants to see an improvement in wildlife, not just in Barrow, but the whole country. She stated that Britain has one of the highest nature depletion rates and as a community we should be looking at more ways to help nature recover to make up for what is destroyed by road building and industry.

She wants to see council improve as well in this regard and continues to push the agenda of nature in local democracy.

"The future for councils and their involvement with nature and climate change is challenging and we have to get it right," she continued.

"Every council will need a Local Nature Recovery Strategy and it will be a big job to engage with people and persuade them that grass looking like Astroturf is not a good thing, while a scarlet pimpernel growing in a pavement crack can be the most beautiful thing you see that day."

Cllr Wall is one of many people in Cumbria working hard to give wildlife and wild places the respect and care they deserve. Across 2022, Cumbria Wildlife Trust is going to highlight some of these people to show that anyone and everyone can take a stand for nature.