Celebrating five years of the People and Nature Surveys: What we’ve learned about England’s love for the outdoors 

By Sheldon Allen, Project Manager, Natural England’s People and Nature Survey Team  Nature and happiness – what's the connection?  What makes you feel happy? For most people in England, it’s time spent outdoors. Our People and Nature Survey for England (PaNS) …

Wildfires: Nature’s role in resisting the spark

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Countryside Code, Landscape, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Wildfire
Fire stops at a wet gully edge in Dove Stone 2018. Credit: Jon Bird (RSPB)

Updated (3 October 2025) By Sallie Bailey, Natural England’s Chief Scientist This year we have witnessed wildfires ravaging England’s uplands and heaths on a historic scale, with prolonged hot and dry weather providing the ideal conditions for blazes lasting weeks. …

Natural England Hen Harrier Programme - Update to Southern Reintroduction Project

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Hen Harriers
Female hen harrier incubating eggs

By Sofía Muñoz, Senior Officer, Hen Harrier Southern Reintroduction Background The Hen Harrier Southern Reintroduction Project was set up in 2018 with the aim of establishing a wild, farmland-nesting population of hen harriers (Circus cyaneus) in southern England.  The hen …

Collaborative monitoring helps confirm positive impact of nature-friendly farming for butterflies 

By Susanna Phillips, Principal Officer – Chief Scientist Directorate, Natural England  Research published recently in the Journal of Applied Ecology highlighted the positive impact that agri-environment schemes can have on butterflies. Agri-environment schemes are a key environmental policy mechanism in …

Accelerating Development and Nature Recovery: A Natural England Perspective on the Nature Restoration Fund 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Growth, Licensing, Natural England

Natural England welcomes the Government’s commitment to reform the planning system in such a way that it delivers sustainable development while unlocking new and more joined-up opportunities for nature’s recovery.   Bradley Tooze, Strategy Director at Natural England, outlines Natural England’s …

Reaching the global final – what a Thiess Riverprize nomination means for nature recovery 

By Helen Kirkby, NE Deputy Director for Cumbria Last night in Brisbane, the Cumbrian River Restoration Partnership Programme didn't win the Thiess International Riverprize, but reaching the final alongside projects from Chicago, Albania and the western USA represents something extraordinary …

How Natural England Are Working in Partnership to Help Farmers Save Crops, Wildlife, Habitat, and Lives

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming, Forestry Commission, Natural England, Nature, wildlife and farming
Chelsey holds up rainwater harvesting tank stickers provided by NFU.

By Stacey Branson, Farmer & Natural England Catchment Sensitive Farming Adviser I was in the main farmyard when we got the phone call about the fire. I walked out the farm gate to see flames racing across the neighbour’s wheat …

Designing and Delivering Woody Habitats to aid Nature Recovery: Six Principles for Success.

Principle 3 – go native: Land art displaying 14 different native trees and scrub species. Credit: Alisa Swanson

By Alisa Swanson, Natural England Creating new woody habitats, whether woodlands, scrub, wood pasture, wooded meadows or wet woodlands, can play a vital role in reversing biodiversity loss and building climate resilience across England’s landscapes. Natural England’s ambition is to …

Why access and inclusion matter in our protected landscapes  

By Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England  Earlier this month I had the pleasure of visiting Dartmoor National Park and meeting the inspiring Kats Koster-Shadbolt, winner of last year’s New Perspective Award at the Campaign for National Parks’ National …