Healthy Land, Secure Future: A Land Use Framework for Nature, Climate and Communities

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Growth, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Planning
Landscape shot showing a path through two stone fences with green fields either side in the Yorkshire countryside. The sky is bright blue and sunny and a flock of birds are in flight.

By Hannah Wood, Strategy Deputy Director, and Fin Rylatt, Land Use Framework lead,  Natural England In this blog post, we explain how the new Land Use Framework sets out a path to clearer, more integrated ways of managing England’s land. The new Framework shows how nature, food production, clean energy and housing can complement each …

Growing trees and farming together for nature recovery – new agroforestry principles launched

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Agroforestry, Farming, Forestry Commission, Landscape, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Tree Planting, Woodland
Veteran cherry trees, Alfrick, Worcestershire. Credit: Geoff Newman

By Alisa Swanson, Natural England Agroforestry — the practice of combining trees with farming — is gaining renewed momentum as a practical way to increase tree cover and restore nature without sacrificing productive land. This post explores how Natural England …

My Day at the Coast with the King: Launching the King Charles III England Coast Path

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Coast and access, Connecting People with Nature, Mental health and wellbeing, National Nature Reserve, Natural England, Nature, Parks, trails and nature reserves
A group of people in Natural England and England Coast Path uniform in conversation with King Charles III in a walled garden.

By Neil Constable, Programme Manager, King Charles III England Coast Path Team This blog post is a personal reflection by Neil on the official launch of the trail at Seven Sisters in Sussex on 19 March. Neil describes his 16-year …

Smarter Planning and Licensing Systems: Delivering Better Results for Bats and People

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Growth, Nature Recovery, Planning, Wildlife
• A Daubenton's bat hunting an insect at night. Credit: Paul Colley via iStock/Getty Images

By Mike Smith – Deputy Director, Wildlife Licensing and Reform This blog outlines how Natural England is modernising the bat licensing system. It explores how we are building evidence to strengthen the planning system to deliver better outcomes for bat …

A Rare Fungi Discovery at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve: The First UK Sighting of the Blue-Based Earthtongue

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Fungi, National Nature Reserve, Nature, Nature Recovery, Science and evidence, Wildlife
Yew tree at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve

By Liz Frost, frequent visitor and fungi specialist, with Rachel Guy, Kingley Vale NNR Reserve Manager In mid-December 2025, amateur fungi enthusiast Liz Frost made an extraordinary discovery at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve in West Sussex — spotting a …

The First Five‑Year Evaluations of Strategic Licensing for Great Crested Newts

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Growth, Licensing, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Species recovery, Wildlife
Close-up of a male great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)

The first ever five-year evaluations of strategic licensing for great crested newts have just been published. This blog, written with NatureSpace Partnership, explores the successes so far and shows that the schemes are creating high‑quality habitat for great crested newts, …

Landmark for Nature recovery receives the royal seal of approval

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Landscapes, National Nature Reserve, Natural Capital, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Wildlife
Secretary of State, Emma Reynolds, Tony Juniper and His Majesty, King Charles III at the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve

By Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England Nature recovery has taken a major step forward this week with the unveiling of one of the country’s most important National Nature Reserves by a long-standing champion of the natural world – His …

Healthy Outdoors: Strengthening the Evidence for Nature Based Health Interventions 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Environmental Improvement Plan, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Wildlife
4 female volunteers in high vis carrying bags of garden waste.

By Dave Bell, Principal Officer: Health & the Environment, Natural England  As studies continue to show the profound benefits of nature and outdoor activity for public health, the Healthy Outdoors guide has been created to address a critical evidence gap: the need for …

Introducing Explore: helping local councils make better decisions for people and places

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Growth, Nature, Planning

Local authorities make a wide range of decisions that shape how places grow and how communities thrive, often working across complex systems and competing priorities. To support this, Natural England and partners have developed Explore: a practical framework that brings …

How Biodiversity Net Gain helps people and places thrive

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Net Gain, Development, Growth, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Wildlife
Volunteer in wellies and winter outdoor gear on the bank of a river, climbing away from the river.

By Greg Shaw, Senior Officer – Biodiversity Net Gain (Strategic Solutions and Biodiversity Net Gain Team). Across England, many communities face depleted green spaces and health inequalities. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) can offer a clear link between development, wellbeing and …