Skip to main content

Biodiversity

Wendling Beck: Nature Recovery on a Landscape Scale

In the heart of Norfolk farming country, Natural England has been partnering with an ambitious project to transform a large area of agricultural land into a haven for wildlife. The scheme aims to demonstrate that growing food is fully compatible …

Farmers key to success of magical new SSSI

Photo shows Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, stood within a green open field. He wears a white checked shirt and stands with his hands on hips. There are trees in the distance.

Blog by Tony Juniper CBE, Chair The landscape that runs west from St Ives in Cornwall down toward St Just close to Lands End was until recently one of the most special places in England to remain unprotected. The complex …

Blueprints for nature’s recovery: all systems go! 

An open grassy meadow, with yellow wildflowers growing. Trees stand on the horizon, and some branches hang overhead.

Last December in Montreal world leaders agreed to a new Global Biodiversity Framework, signing up to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to protect 30% of land and oceans by the same date. A month later the UK …

Celebrating World Ocean Day 2023: Building Partnerships for Planet Ocean

World Ocean Day illustration banner

World Ocean Day is an annual event celebrated on 08 June that not only serves as a day of observance but also fosters collaboration and encourages year-round conservation action. This global celebration unites individuals and organisations from around the world, …

Assessing the health of the River Wye and its catchment

A picture containing grass, cloud, outdoor sky

By Emma Johnson, Area Manager - West Midlands Team The Wye Valley is an iconic landscape, hugely important for biodiversity due to the wide range of rare river wildlife, loved by people and important for farming. It’s because it’s so …

Nature Recovery: led by evidence. Chief Scientist Report 2022

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Science and evidence, Wildlife

Dr Tim Hill, Chief Scientist at Natural England, tells us about the publication of Natural England’s fifth Chief Scientist Report. Never before has good quality science, evidence and analysis on environmental change been so important for nature, society and the …

How new fire management partnerships are helping nature to recover at Hatfield Moors

Hatfield Moors - photo shows the moors recovering with native plants springing up across the moor

Almost three years on from a serious wildfire at Hatfield Moors near Doncaster, nature is in recovery thanks to an ever-stronger partnership between Natural England and South Yorkshire and Humberside Fire and Rescue Services. A new, jointly written Wildfire Management …

Natural England’s Nutrient Mitigation Scheme, devised to protect our waterways from pollution and enable home building, has now launched

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Protected sites and species, Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site at Mordon where new wetlands likely to be created

By Mike Burke, Programme Director – Sustainable Development Nutrient pollution is an urgent problem for freshwater habitats and estuaries which provide a vital home to many species including wetland birds, fish, and insects. Increased levels of nutrients such as nitrogen …

Measuring biodiversity net gain - Publication of Biodiversity Metric 4.0

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity
A river at sunset with plants in the foreground, trees lining the river banks and a metal bridge in the distance

By Mike Burke, Programme Director – Sustainable Development Hot on the heels of the recent policy updates and associated guidance from Defra last week, we're pleased to share the publication of the biodiversity metric 4.0, another important milestone for biodiversity net …

Update on the Hen Harrier Brood Management Trial

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Hen Harriers, Licensing, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence
Brood managed hen harrier.

By John Holmes, Strategy Director, Natural England Natural England is involved in several initiatives under the Hen Harrier Action Plan, one of which is the brood management trial. Brood management involves taking the eggs or chicks of some Hen Harriers …