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Mental health and wellbeing

Green Infrastructure: delivering quality of life and environmental benefits for communities

Image shows a lush green canal/waterway running through the centre of a neighbourhood. Red bricked houses stand either side of the new development estate. Lots of trees and bushes grow beside it.

David Drake, Director, People & Nature at Natural England In January 2023, Natural England launched the Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework to support the creation of good quality Green Infrastructure which maximises benefits for people and nature. GI helps local authorities, …

Thriving Together: Nature and Community

Image shows Earnse Bay, a bright blue sky hangs overhead, with wispy clouds stretching into the distance. A brown sandy shore can be seen for miles. A group of people are stood in the distance, exploring the sand and dunes.

Image: Natural England At the edge of Barrow-in-Furness, on the north-west coast of England, lies the island of Walney. A wild and windy landscape, it features some nationally rare and important habitats. It is linked to the much larger Morecambe …

BNG lessons learned with Local Planning Authorities

Image shows a few newly built houses at a development site in Thakeham. A pond is at the forefront of the image with green grassy land around it and lots of vegetation, allowing for nature to thrive. A beautiful clear blue sky hangs overhead.

By Ruth Andreyeva, Director of Land, Water and Seas strategy Biodiversity net gain (BNG) became mandatory in England earlier in 2024, after many years of collaboration across industry and the public sector. We celebrate this milestone wholeheartedly, but we’re not …

Our Natural Health Service

Image shows Natural England’s Chief Operating Officer, Oliver Harmar, Senior Occupational Health Therapist, Tracy Metcalf and the Care Trust’s Chief Executive, Therese Patten. They stand together on a NHS site, all hold gardening tools, ready to get to work.

By Esther Smith, Senior Adviser, Health and Environment, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Area Team The links between health and nature have arguably never been clearer. The healing power of nature is taking centre stage for people’s health and nature’s recovery …

Joining up nature recovery and health priorities

A young boy, wearing a red mac and yellow trousers climbs over a fallen tree within a lush forest

By Ruth Lamont, Principal Adviser in Research Ethics & Dave Bell, Principal Adviser in Health, Wellbeing and the Environment, at Natural England We know that nature, human health and well-being are intrinsically linked, and this week, Natural England has released …

An awakening: the creativity of science through nature

Image shows Clare Warburton when she was younger leaning over to touch some pink flowers

By Clare Warburton, Deputy Director for Sustainable Development at Natural England International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS) is an annual UN event, which aims to highlight the work and achievements of women and girls in science, both now …

Wetland restoration: for people and planet

Image shows a common redshank bird standing within a grassy patch with white native flowers growing around it.

By Craig Ralston, Reserve Manager, Natural England World Wetlands Day, an annual awareness day, marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971. The adoption took place in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on …

Allonby Bay Coastal Connections Project: exploring and celebrating our coastal heritage

Image shows houses behind a grassy bank of the sea.

Our vision at Natural England, is of thriving nature for people and planet. Our aim is for everyone is able to enjoy nature’s benefits and act for the environment, wherever they live. We want to support people in recognising the …

The Countryside Code: CBBC Newsround

In the image, CBBC Newsround presenter, Shanequa Paris, stands in front of a small group of primary school children, who are sitting on a bench. One child is sat within a wheelchair. The children wear high visibility jackets. Around them, the camera and sound crew hold cameras and boom mics. All are within a small park and discussing the Countryside Code.

By Bruce Cutts Senior Advisor, Natural England The Countryside Code is a guide to the outdoors. Whether you’re in the countryside, enjoying the coast, our waterways or an urban park, it’s there to help guide all of us through nature. …

World Children’s Day: for every child, every right

School children, dressed in brightly red-coloured jumpers stand underneath a tree in a forest. They hold tablets and clipboards and investigate the tree

“Let’s give children opportunities to fall in love with nature because you protect what you love.” — Andrea Koehle Jones Today is World Children's Day and celebrates the power of children to change the world and to support their rights and participation …