The stunt newspaper features stories where the UK exceeds climate targets, becomes an international surfing HQ with its pristine seas and reverses years of decline for wildlife such as hedgehogs, butterflies and bees. Other stories tell of a boost for farming profits through investment in nature and an end to the obesity crisis as people’s access to green spaces is improved.

Celebrities with a passion for nature have taken to Twitter posting photos of themselves reading the 2030 newspaper. They include TV presenter Chris Packham, conservationist Steve Backshall and Olympic rower Helen Glover, and youth environment activist Mya-Rose Craig (known as Birdgirl).

The coalition is using the April Fool’s Day action to highlight its State of Nature campaign, which is petitioning the Prime Minister to amend the Environment Bill to include a legally-binding target to halt nature’s decline by 2030. Launched exactly a month ago on 1st March the campaign has already achieved more than 100,000 signatures for its petition, enough to seek a debate on the issue in Parliament. The coalition are urging more people to sign to show the strength of public support for stronger protections for our natural world.

Dr Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Read all about it! Our News of the (Natural) World is our dream of a greener future. MPs have the power to make it come true. The Environment Bill is a once in a generation chance to set a legal target for nature’s recovery – a net zero for nature. We must take this opportunity to protect wildlife, improve our way of life, and strengthen our economy by investing in nature. We would be fools not to.”

Woodland Trust CEO Dr Darren Moorcroft said: “Nature is the cornerstone of our existence but, with 60 per cent of native species in decline, you’d be a ‘fool’ not to see it is being depleted at an alarming and serious rate. 

“This is no hoax, we’re in 21st Century UK and irreplaceable ancient woods continue to be threatened and damaged by development, while restoration and tree planting proceeds far too slowly. We need the Government to spring into action by amending the Environment Bill with a clause for turning around nature loss. Legally binding protection must be brought in to ensure wildlife and nature is secured for future generations so that 2030 sees these positive ‘News of the Natural World’ headlines becoming a reality and not simply another April Fool.”

Sandy Luk, CEO of the Marine Conservation Society, said: “April Fools’ Day is full of harmless pranks. What we’re doing to our natural world on land and at sea is anything but. If our governments don’t come up with bold plans and spring into action now, in 2030, the joke will very much be on us.”

The nature experts say putting nature’s recovery in law would be a net-zero target for wildlife with England becoming the first country in the world to have a legal target to tackle the nature crisis. It could not only reverse decades of decline for English nature it would be a rallying point and catalyst for other countries to adopt similar targets – making us real global leaders going into international climate and nature talks this Autumn.

The current targets framework in the Environment Bill does not match up to the Prime Minister’s stated ambition of halting the decline in nature by 2030. The deadlines are too far away and there is no detail about the objectives that will be set. A binding 2030 nature target, in combination with a strong and independent Office for Environmental Protection, would give the statutory certainty needed to inspire investment and coordinate action across the economy.