Natural England

Clarifying the Facts: Tagging of hedgehogs and licensing requirements

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Licensing, Monitoring, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Species recovery, Uncategorized, Wildlife
Image shows a hedgehog amongst some dry leaves and green ivy

There has been some misinformation on social media recently regarding the tagging of hedgehogs to enable identification of individuals. This blog post from Natural England aims to set the record straight and provide clarity on this important issue. Background Marking …

With a lot of help from our friends: assembling an England Peat Map

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Mapping, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Peat, Species recovery

Contributors: Andrew Webb, Principal advisor, England Peat Map. Tom Hunt, Data engagement lead, England Peat Map. Sarah Parrott, Engagement and impact lead advisor, NCEA. Elizabeth Mitchell, Engagement and impact senior advisor, NCEA   How do you make a map of something that’s largely underground, …

The Magic of Heathland Summers: Nightjars, Nature Recovery, and the Future of our Landscapes

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Connecting People with Nature, Landscapes, Landscapes and access, National Nature Reserve, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Nature Recovery Network, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Protected sites and species, Species recovery, Wildlife
Image shows a nightjar bird, crouching low upon a wooden log. There are lots of grasses and other brown plant life behind it.

Victoria Hawkins, Heathland Connections Nature Recovery Project Senior Advisor, Natural England. Heathland Connections is an inspiring Nature Recovery Project and I feel fortunate to spend the best part of my day working on it. In this post, I want to …

National conversation needed on how to turbo-charge Nature recovery while building the homes the country needs

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity Net Gain, Development, Environment Act, Environmental Improvement Plan, Green Infrastructure, Natural England, Nature-based solutions, Nutrient Neutrality
Birds flying over a wetland

England doesn’t have enough houses, and also doesn’t have enough Nature. If we are to succeed in meeting our national needs, we require more of both. For too long we’ve been told that the only way to build more homes …

BNG lessons learned with Local Planning Authorities

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Net Gain, Biodiversity Net Gain – Hints and Tips, Development, Green Infrastructure, Licensing, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature Recovery Network
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

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Education, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England
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 …

National Nature Reserves – for inspiration and celebration!

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, National Nature Reserve, Natural England, Protected sites and species
Golitha Falls National Nature Reserve

By Mike Downey, Principal Officer for National Nature Reserves This week is a really exciting week in the calendar for England’s National Nature Reserves (NNRs). Monday 20th May marked the start of National Nature Reserves Week 2024, an annual celebration …

A new interactive website for our National Character Area profiles

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Development, Ecosystem Services, Green Infrastructure, Landscapes, Natural Capital, Natural England
NCA 36: Southern Pennines – Stoodley Pike

By Sally Marshall, Principal Landscape Adviser, Natural England Today (14 May 2024) we are excited to be launching a new interactive website for England’s National Character Areas (NCAs). This latest chapter in the long history of NCAs makes the valued …

A high five for everyone driving Nature recovery – but we must not rest on our laurels

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Climate change, Environment Act, Environmental Improvement Plan, Natural England, Nature Recovery Network, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Species recovery, Wildlife
Tony Juniper stands in a grassy field with lots of colourful wildflowers growing. A blue sky with white fluffy clouds hangs overhead.

Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England Today marks five years since I became Chair of Natural England, which seems to me an appropriate point at which to take stock of the important progress made towards recovering Nature in that …