Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Have your say
Lancashire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy public consultation is now open and will close on 31 Mar 2024.
The survey should take between 10-15 minutes to complete.
You can also use the interactive map below to drop points to tell us; where nature matters to you, where nature recovery should be prioritised and where local nature recovery projects are already underway.
This is a chance to share your experiences and views about Lancashire's natural environment and the biggest environmental issues we face locally.
We'll use this information to help inform the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Drop a pin on the map:
Open the interactive map full page
About Local Nature Recovery Strategies
Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are locally led collaborative strategies to drive nature's recovery and provide wider environmental improvements established by the Environment Act 2021. Each local nature recovery strategy will:
- agree priorities for nature’s recovery
- map the most valuable existing areas for nature
- map specific proposals for creating or improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals
There are 48 local nature recovery strategies covering the whole of England with no gaps or overlaps. Together they will underpin the Nature Recovery Network a major commitment in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.
In May 2023, the Defra Secretary of State appointed Lancashire County Council as the “responsible authority” to lead the preparation of the Lancashire LNRS.
The Defra Secretary of State has also produced regulations on the process for preparing, publishing, reviewing and republication of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy and statutory guidance on what each Strategy should contain.
Supporting authorities
A supporting authority for a local nature recovery strategy is where the strategy area wholly or partly includes the area to which the authority relates, an authority listed in section 105(2)(a) to (e) of the Environment Act 2021 and Natural England. We will be actively collaborating with the supporting authorities throughout the development of the LNRS.
In Lancashire, we have 16 supporting authorities:
- Blackpool unitary
- Blackburn with Darwen unitary
- Burnley district
- Chorley district
- Fylde district
- Hyndburn district
- Lancaster district
- Natural England
- Pendle district
- Preston district
- Ribble Valley district
- Rossendale district
- South Ribble district
- West Lancashire district
- Wyre district
- Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Progress
March 2024 update
The Lancs LNRS Team have had a busy few months and work is progressing well. The Step 1 Map – Area is of Particular Importance for Biodiversity was published to coincide with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) becoming mandatory for major developments. We've created a story map to explain exactly what we have included in this first of our LNRS maps. We hope the story map will inform, engage and inspire you to think about the important nature areas that we have in Lancashire.
Within the LNRS structure, Task and Finish Groups have been set up including a People & Nature Group lead by Nature England (and Jenny Griggs, NE Senior Advisor – Social Inclusion) in conjunction with the Lancs Local Nature Partnership). The People and Nature group will help us to make sure we undertake inclusive engagement with communities, above and beyond the LNRS public engagement survey and provide opportunities to ensure groups from all backgrounds (e.g., health, education, the arts, environment and conservation) are an integral component of the strategy.
Natural England recently carried out several People & Nature Roadshows across the County (South Ribble, Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde, Burnley, and Lancaster) to ensure engagement with the Town & Parish Council, Health, Education, VCFSE, Active Lifestyles and Community/Place-Based sectors; to help more people connect with, benefit from, and take action for nature across the county.
Our Task & Finish groups have also been working on the content of our Statement of Biodiversity and sharing existing opportunities and constraints to inform our Local Habitat Map.
Our public consultation survey is now live. We want your views on Lancashire's current state of nature, hopes for the future and where you think recovery should be prioritised. The information you provide in this survey will inform the strategy. Nature will only thrive if we value it, so have your say today.
The survey closes on 31st March 2024.
December 2023 update
The governance structure has now been finalised with our steering group working towards our ambition of a collaborative, locally led, data-driven, spatial strategy for nature's recovery in Lancashire. The task and finish group leads within this governance structure are due to be appointed shortly.
Moreover, a stakeholder mapping workshop recently took place to identify key stakeholders to engage in the development of the LNRS through our public consultation. This is due to launch in January/February 2024. Additionally, an online habitat map will be developed the public to comment on.
In order to effectively engage, a communications plan is being written up with the communications team at Lancashire County Council. Our LNRS officer has been attending various stakeholder engagement meetings to introduce the LNRS including:
- Nature Recovery on NHS Estates Northwest Conference.
- Lowland agricultural peat workshop in Preston.
- Planning Advisory Service Nature Recovery Governance Toolkit workshop.
- Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Committee.
Finally, Lancashire Wildlife Trust has recently published an article on the LNRS in their latest Lapwing Magazine.
September 2023 update
Preparation of the Lancashire LNRS is underway. The Lancashire LNRS Team are in the process of finalising the governance structure and steering group members. We have contacted each supporting authority in preparation for the first supporting authority meeting. The team are visiting the existing Local Nature Partnerships in the region providing updates on progress and have put out a request for their strategically significant documents, expertise and project data to understand the current condition of our areas of particular importance for nature recovery. We are strengthening our existing nature recovery links throughout Lancashire explaining the roles and input required at each of the 5 process steps in developing the collaborative locally-led spatial strategy for nature's recovery.