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Natural England

Saving species in Somerset; the work of the Somerset, Coast Levels and Moors Nature Recovery Project

By Simon Phelps – Natural England Over the past three years, the Somerset Coast, Levels and Moors Nature Recovery Project has been working hard to save some of our most threatened wetland species. I’m fortunate to not only be leading …

Natural England welcomes £22.1bn investment in Water Industry National Environment Programme

A weir that is to be removed within Dendles Wood NNR, part of the Dartmoor SAC, under the WINEP

The Environment Agency has published the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), detailing more than 20,000 actions that England’s 19 water companies must complete from now until 2030 to meet their environmental obligations.  Developed with guidance from the Environment Agency …

Forests beneath the waves: celebrating our magnificent kelp 

Marina Rees, Marine Higher Officer at Natural England When I joined the Thames Solent team as a marine lead adviser, I jumped at the opportunity to work on a project which delved into the world of kelp. I have long …

Maximising the miracle and minimising the disaster – putting Nature at the heart of food security

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Climate change, Farming, Natural Capital, Natural England, Nature Recovery
A view of fields with arable crops, with established hedgerows and woodland in the distance

I was invited to speak at a historic event this week – the first major joint gathering of attendees at the two Oxford farming conferences: the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference. After more than a decade …

Celebrating 75 years of the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 

Lake District. Ashness Bridge with Skiddaw behind. Photograph: Paul Glendell

By Marian Spain, Chief Executive, Natural England We know now that access to nature is vital for our health and wellbeing, and when we feel a connection with nature, we’re more likely to care for it and help its recovery. …

Magic Maps: change to service platform  

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Evidence, Mapping, Monitoring, Natural England, Science and evidence

What is MAGIC?  The ‘Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside’ (MAGIC) service has been around since 2002. The MAGIC website provides geographic information about the natural environment from across government. The information covers rural, urban, coastal and marine environments across …

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.  …

New Nature Connection website brings together   policy, practice and research

The University of Derby and Natural England have been developing a Nature Connectedness Network and it has now gone public with the launch of its website! CLICK HERE  www.natureconnectedness.net As society becomes more aware of the mutual dependency between people …

Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project: Helping a post-industrial landscape bloom and buzz

By Dr Chloe Hardman, Senior Project Manager, West Midlands Team Bustling towns and cities, major transport routes, the birthplace of the industrial revolution. Where are we?  The northern edge of the West Midlands Conurbation, home to 2.9 million people.  Step …

Working together for Nature Recovery in Greater Manchester  

On-site at the Green Earth Allwood Farm Biodiversity Habitat Bank, from left, Northstone Development Director Jon England; Mayor Andy Burnham; Natural England Chief Executive Marian Spain; Natural England Chair Tony Juniper; and Green Earth Developments Co-chair Simon Towers

The launch of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has been a major achievement this year – this world-leading initiative means that for the first time, development must leave nature measurably improved. I was lucky enough to visit Greater Manchester to speak …