The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Nottinghamshire and Nottingham is a blueprint which sets out the long-term priorities and actions to make sure nature and habitats can survive and thrive in the county and city. 

Nottinghamshire County Council was appointed by DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to lead the strategy on behalf of Nottingham City Council, district and borough council partners, East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and Natural England. 

The LNRS provides a framework for five years, when it is reviewed, and has been developed in line with guidance set out by the Government, as part of a nationwide drive to do more for nature. 

Work began on the Nottinghamshire strategy in late 2023 and a formal, six-week consultation with communities, farmers, landowners and environmental organisations, including Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, took place during this summer, and which included LNRS stands at the County Show and the Green Hustle in Nottingham city centre. 

Britain is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world due to changes in land and pesticide use, and because of pollution. 

However, the LNRS framework will encourage partners, residents and environmental organisations to continue to play their part and take more action for nature recovery in Nottinghamshire. 

Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said the county council had worked closely with partners, landowners and farmers to develop the strategy. 

He said: “The Local Nature Recovery Strategy sets out the most important actions for nature recovery which can be taken by the county, city and district councils, partner organisations and by Nottinghamshire residents. 

“We would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the strategy’s development work over the past two years; by responding to a survey or attending an event or workshop as your participation has helped to shape the direction of this partnership strategy. 

“We know there are already many people who are carrying out projects to restore nature in our county, but a lot more action can and should be taken. 

“We all have a responsibility to our children and the planet to protect the natural environment. The County Council will work with partners and stakeholders to help deliver the strategy, but we need everyone, including residents, to play their part. 

“I know nature and the environment mean a lot to the people of Nottinghamshire and I would encourage anyone who feels passionately about our county’s parks, open spaces and other natural habitats and their future to find out more about the opportunities for protecting and enhancing nature in the LNRS strategy, and how they can help to support it.” 

Cllr Corall Jenkins, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Waste and Equalities at Nottingham City Council, said: “We are proud that Nottingham is home to wildlife sites specifically designated for their nature conservation value, which help to protect some of our most highly valued and significant natural spaces and habitats. 

“Our natural world is precious, and we all have a responsibility to protect it. Working together with partners and communities, we’re committed to restoring habitats, enhancing biodiversity, and expanding access to green spaces. 

“The Local Nature Recovery Strategy is an important step towards putting nature at the heart of how our city and county grow – ensuring a healthier, greener future for everyone.” 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “As Mayor of the East Midlands, I am deeply committed to protecting and enhancing the natural world across our region. Nottingham and Nottinghamshire's new Local Nature Recovery Strategy is a brilliant next step in making sure we all understand how best to create a richer and greener future for our communities, now and in the future. 

“At the East Midlands Combined County Authority, we are looking forward to working with colleagues in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to put this strategy into action. Our Nature and Biodiversity Taskforce will play a pivotal role by bringing together local partners and experts who will help us to deliver real and lasting change for nature. 

“We know that wildlife and habitats do not stop at county boundaries, so we will continue to work closely with Derby, Derbyshire, and beyond to ensure that our efforts support a thriving and connected natural environment across our whole region.” 

Paul Wilkinson, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Chief Executive, said: “We depend on the natural world for our survival, yet nature has been squeezed out. 

“It is no longer enough to simply try to protect what wildlife we have left, we must create much more space for wildlife to thrive, and Local Nature Recovery Strategies are vital tools to helping secure nature recovery at scale. 

“Over the past 60 years Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and others have helped protect and enhance some of our county's most important places for nature, but the scale of the ecological and climate crises demands a more radical and urgent approach. 

“The new LNRS for Nottinghamshire will be vital in laying out the best options for putting nature into recovery and helping to identify and secure the investment needed to create a wilder future for everyone across the county." 

Victoria Manton, Natural England East Midlands Deputy Director, said: "The publication of Nottinghamshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to reverse nature's decline across the county. 

"Natural England is committed to working alongside Nottinghamshire County Council and all partners to turn this strategy into reality. By working together – the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), councils, landowners, farmers, businesses and communities - we can create a more resilient natural environment that benefits both wildlife and people. 

"The hard work now begins to deliver the ambitions set out in this strategy, and I encourage everyone to continue playing their part in building a greener, more nature-rich future for Nottinghamshire." 

More information about the Local Nature Recovery Strategy is available via the dedicated LNRS website  www.nottsnaturerecovery.co.uk, which also includes the Statement of Biodiversity Priorities and the online Local Habitat Map.