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Details released of new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier – Natural England to work with invited farmers to develop applications

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Farming, Natural England, Nature, wildlife and farming
A tractor and combine harvester in a field with a wildflower border buffer strip and established wooded hedgerows to the left

By Peter Craven, Head of Agriculture  Defra has today announced the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) offer, one of three Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, to help incentivise farmers to deliver improvements for nature and support sustainable food production.  …

Offshore wind farms — our role in advising on the right place for low impact on marine and coastal nature

By Tamara Rowson, Natural England Offshore Renewables Industry Specialist Since 11 November delegates from across the world have been in attendance at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing on “delivering deep, rapid, and sustained emission reductions now to keep temperatures under …

Celebrating 30 years of the National Lottery supporting nature recovery projects

Bluebells by the River Rede in Northumberland (Image courtesy of Abi Mansley)

By Adelle Rowe, Natural England Director of External Affairs Today sees the 30th anniversary of the National Lottery and Natural England is reflecting on the transformative role lottery funding has played in projects that protect and restore nature and give …

Inspectors tackling wildlife crime

A tawny owl perched on a tree branch

By Samantha Johnson-Roberts, Natural England Wildlife Inspector Background There aren't many jobs that combine tackling crime with protecting species like dormice and otters, but here at Natural England there are 46 of us and I'm lucky enough to be one …

International use of England's biodiversity metric having global impact

An aerial view of the city of Uppsala in Sweden, where the Natural England biodiversity metric has been used

By Nick White, Principal Adviser on Biodiversity Net Gain, and Steve Panks, Principal Specialist Biodiversity Net Gain and Biodiversity Metrics, at Natural England, explore the global significance of the biodiversity metric and its role in nature recovery across the world.  …

To the ReSCUE: Understanding flight heights for seabird conservation and offshore wind expansion

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Climate change, Development, Monitoring, Seabirds, Wildlife
Bird target posts set-up either side of the runway at Predannack airfield

By Eddie Cole, ReSCUE Project Manager; Andrew Harwood, Senior Marine Ornithologist and ReSCUE Technical Lead; Lucy Hawken, Project Support Officer Reducing Seabird Collisions Using Evidence (ReSCUE) is a multi-year, multi-partner project led by Natural England, funded through The Crown Estate’s …

Biodiversity Net Gain: delivering benefits for health

A pond that has been installed at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service site in York. (Image courtesy of Alexis Percival)

This Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guest blog explores the essential role of nature in promoting overall health. Experts highlight its benefits for mental and physical well-being. They also discuss the broader benefits of integrating BNG into project planning from the …

Industry experts share experiences of Biodiversity Net Gain on small sites

A scrubland site where the new garages will be built, which will also provide the necessary on-site BNG. (Credit: KADS Design Services Ltd) 

In this Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guest blog industry experts sharing examples of BNG on small sites. They are:  Our guests discuss how they use the Small Sites Metric (SSM) calculation tool. It applies only to ‘small sites’ as defined …

Natural England’s role in licensing to control badgers to prevent the spread of bovine Tuberculosis

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming, Licensing, Natural England, Science and evidence, Wildlife, wildlife and farming

Current government policy is to enable culling or vaccination of badgers to control bovine Tuberculosis (bTB). The Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs has today (30 August) announced a refresh of the strategy for control of bovine …

Reflecting on the first six months of BNG

A development at Woodhurst Park, Bracknell, Berkshire, that has incorporated BNG on-site. (Image courtesy of Berkeley Group)

By Chris Kaighin – Deputy Director, Biodiversity Net Gain Services It has been six months since the world-leading initiative Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became mandatory for most planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act. BNG makes sure development …