Who the strategy is for and how to use it

Who the strategy is for

Different organisations and groups of people will be able to use the Local Nature Recovery Strategy in different ways:

• Local authorities and public bodies – to inform local plans, consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity and where, and to support policy development and planning decisions affecting our natural environment.
• Land managers and landowners – to show where opportunities are to do something significant for nature recovery, what the likely best actions could be, and which could provide opportunities for funding, such as through agri-environmental schemes or Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Developers – identifies opportunities to deliver mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) by creating, enhancing, or recovering habitat in locations which are mapped in the strategy.
• Environmental organisations – to identify where efforts and funding should be targeted for maximum impact, and where there are opportunities to align approaches and work together.
• Businesses – to understand how their activities fit within the local environment and to help inform corporate plans and invest in nature’s recovery, for example by identifying opportunities for collaboration, or how to support their staff, the local community and wider projects to deliver nature recovery initiatives.
• Community groups – to inspire new individuals/groups and help the many active community groups who already look after local sites to identify actions, and support applications for funding.
• Residents – to find out what they can do to support nature recovery. Private gardens, yards and balconies and communal spaces are particularly important for habitat connectivity, helping species move between areas.

How to use it

Find the location you are interested in on the LNRS local habitat map

This is your starting point. You could be working for a community project to improve nature in your local area, a farmer who wants to find out where and what kind of action you could take on your land to make space for nature, or a developer who wants to identify potential sites for Biodiversity Net Gain.

See what potential measures are being suggested in that area

A description of the measures can be found by clicking on them on the map. Note down the codes for the measures you are interested in then find more detail on the action proposed i.e. the species it will support and the wider benefits it will have in the 'Priorities & Potential Measures' Tables in the full Draft Strategy Document <LINK>.

This information should also be used for helping you to complete grant applications for carrying out potential future projects. The measures are not intended to be detailed instructions, but a guide for what appropriate action can be taken. Before undertaking any measure, it is important to get the permission of the landowner and specialist advice.