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Biodiversity

Further increase in English Hen Harrier numbers recorded in 2023

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Hen Harriers, Species recovery, Wildlife
Hen harrier chicks in their nest

By John Holmes, Strategy Director, Natural England. The Hen Harrier, an iconic bird of upland landscapes, is one of our rarest birds of prey. Driven to extinction in mainland Britain in the 19th century, since recolonising England in the 1960s …

Homes England plays an active role in delivering biodiversity net gain

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Development, Natural England
An Aerial view of a development site in progress. Lots of new houses are being built amongst greenery

In this blog, we explore what biodiversity net gain means to some of our stakeholders and how they overcome issues they encounter. Lisa Palframan – Senior Technical Manager with Homes England (HE) explains how HE are building experience in delivering …

A promising first year of the hen harrier conservation breeding programme and reintroduction

Close up shot of a female hen harrier bird

 A recap   In Autumn of 2022, ten captive  hen harriers were transported to the UK from a rescue centre  in France for Natural England’s conservation breeding programme (Hen harrier Reintroduction NE Blog). This forms an important step in the Southern …

Farming for Nature Recovery

Two Marden Farmers harvesting yellow rattle seed amongst the tall grasses. There are trees in the background.

Across the country, Natural England is working closely with farmers and landowners to deliver nature recovery at a landscape-scale - restoring and enhancing England’s wildlife-rich places. A fine example of this is within our Sussex and Kent team, where we …

Preparing the market for statutory biodiversity credits

A view overlooking Iford Biodiversity Project, one of the statutory biodiversity credit pilots

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a government strategy to develop land and contribute to the recovery of nature. As set out in part six of the Environment Act 2021, it is a way of making sure the habitat for wildlife …

Dartmoor: achieving a future with thriving agriculture and thriving nature

Sheep grazing on dartmoor - the landscape is brown and poor condition where the sheep have been overgrazing. there are 5 sheep white within the picture, hills rolling in the background.

By Dave Slater, NE Regional Director for the South West Since our previous blog reflecting on the condition of Dartmoor’s special habitats there has been a lot of public discourse on what should happen on Dartmoor’s sites of special scientific …

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 …