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Blue Plaques for Nature

Remember the Blue Plaques action in Wave 1?

It was so successful we've repurposed it! This time the Blue Plaques will honour nature. One species at a time. Blue Plaques for Nature will allow us to both prompt awareness and discussion of the drastic decline in many species.

This action can be used by XR Local Groups to:

ADD 3 IMAGES - ONE BLANK, ONE WITH QR AND ONE WITH SPECIES - ADD YOUR TEXT HERE

Blue Plaques for Nature ~ Templates

There are two folders - one for XR groups and one for non-XR groups. Both folders contain:

  • Written instructions on how to use the templates with a step-by-step 'How to' video
  • Pre-prepared templates with a QR code or the Restore Nature Now logo - simply download and print!
  • An editable template for you to create your own Blue Plaque for Nature
  • A folder where you can upload your photos
  1. XR groups - the QR code points to the XRUK website - Restore Nature Now page
  2. Non-XR groups - the QR code points to the Restore Nature Now website

Restore Nature Now march ~ Sat 22nd June, London

Nature is in crisis and the UK is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries. Extinction Rebellion is joining with Chris Packham and many of the biggest environmental NGOs such as the RSPB, National Trust and The Wildlife Trusts for the Restore Nature Now march on Saturday 22nd June in London.

Find out more and get involved

Blue Plaques for Nature Info

The iconic English Heritage blue plaques commemorate a notable person who once lived in a particular place. The Blue Plaques for Nature will do the same for non-human animals and plants. There are over 1,000 English Heritage plaques in London and many other cities have long been operating their versions of the scheme, with more than 200 plaques in each of Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol.

When should the Blue Plaques go up

Get your Blue Plaque ready so they can all be launched together, nationwide, on the weekend of 25th-26th May, and from then onwards, in the lead up to the Sat 22nd June march. This action can also be continued after the Restore Nature Now march to keep raising awareness and as publicity for your local events.

Should you go for early morning/guerrilla posting under cover of darkness, or with a song and dance ceremony? Again this is up to you. Could you put up five in the early hours of Saturday 25th morning for your neighbourhood to wake up to? Or perhaps your local group would like to stage an unveiling ceremony. Whichever you choose, seas the day! Make sure you take photos, upload them to the dedicated folder linked below, and spread them widely on social media.

How to create a Blue Plaque for Nature

You can download and print using the ready-made templates, edit a template and print your own or you can order one to be made commercially.

  1. Print a ready-made plaque from a suite of examples here (link).
  2. Editing and printing your plaque: details of how to edit (add).

In both cases, these plaques can be printed on a standard domestic A4 printer. You can glue the plaque onto cardboard to strengthen it, or laminate it to make it waterproof. See the photos below for ideas of how to leave space on the cardboard or laminate to give you easy options when attaching your Blue Plaque.

  1. Order a commercially made Personalised Heritage Blue Plaque for £14.99

How to place a Blue Plaque

It’s up to you how permanent you wish to make the fixing and you need to balance the permanency against any possible damage you may cause and whether you have permission to do so. Easy to remove, no-damage options, which are of course therefore much less long-lasting, would include the use of blue-tac, double-sided sticky tape, string or wire twists around railings.

Where to place a Blue Plaque

Almost anywhere! The power of the Blue Plaques for Nature rests on them staying in place to get passers-by talking and thinking and on their wider impact via an image on social media. So think carefully about where you choose.

In some places, the plaques may remain in situ for longer, in others they're likely to be more quickly removed. However, given that the wording on these plaques is not directly political, nor is it targeting a particular individual, the Blue Plaques for Nature may be allowed to stay up for longer than, for example, the Wave One Dirty Water plaques.

You could place a Blue Plaque for Nature on a fence post by your local playground, or by the stile on a favourite woodland walk. Perhaps a café, corner shop, community centre or church hall in your neighbourhood would like to put one in their window. And lastly, of course – how about your own house? Have you always secretly wished you lived in a blue plaque house? This is your chance! Remember - always to take a photo of whichever location you choose and where possible, upload it to social media.

You can also upload it to Dirty Water's Google drive. Then we can share your photos with others and use them for other actions.

Upload photos here:

Photos/social media (Add link to store photos, and links for who to tag. NB – can we ask people to also tag @MPforNature on X?)

Further information and reading

More than 100,000 known wildlife species depend on freshwater ecosystem. And that's not counting the seas/oceans!

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