Nature-based solutions

Why I brought Europe's infrastructure and nature network to Bristol 

The Infrastructure and Ecology Network Europe came to the UK for the first time this September, marking its 30th anniversary. Louise McGowan reflects on bringing the conference to Bristol, lessons from colleagues in more than 40 countries, and why nature must be regarded as infrastructure.

Fighting Fire with Nature: How Healthy Landscapes Reduce Wildfire Risk

Bunding on The Roaches, Peak District, playing a key role in slowing the spread of a wildfire on valued peatlands. Credit: Chris Fry

By Ruth Waters, Regional Director for the North of England, Operations Directorate, Natural England The UK is facing a growing wildfire crisis this year, with prolonged hot, dry weather fuelling blazes across our moors, farmland and urban parks. This blog …

Otterly Brilliant: Occupational Therapy Supporting Nature-Based Health Delivery and Site Improvements

A woman and a person in a large otter mascot costume stand next to each other giving a double thumbs up, on a canal path with a canal boat and bridge in the background.

By Esther Smith, Senior Officer, Health and Environment (North East and Yorkshire) This blog outlines the importance of green spaces in improving health and wellbeing, with a focus on occupational therapy, while showcasing some of the amazing projects in this …

Putting the wiggle back into the River Kemp

Walcott wiggle after works completed. Credit: Severn Rivers Trust

By Denise Latham, Senior Officer, Catchment Sensitive Farming, Natural England What happens when a routine farm visit grows into something far more ambitious? Senior Officer Denise Latham shares the story of the Walcot Wiggle, how a conversation on a Shropshire …

Creating new wood pasture: What we’ve learned from Nature Returns

Wood pasture illustration of veteran and other open grown trees, decay habitats, scrub and structurally diverse open areas grazed by large herbivores. Reproduced from the Creation of Wood Pasture Systems Toolkit (National Trust, 2023) with permission of the National Trust. Credit: National Trust/Richard Allen.

By Jessica Elias, Natural England Nature-based Solutions are increasingly recognised as an effective way to respond to climate change while restoring nature and improving people’s wellbeing. Through the Nature Returns programme, we’ve had the opportunity to see how one approach …

Growing Green: How England's Cities are Putting Nature at the Heart of Development

A group of 10 people (mixed gender) stand together smiling outside of an old building with trees and shrubs.

By Nicola Brown, Senior Officer, Green Infrastructure  This blog explores the amazing green infrastructure work being done across the UK and Europe to ensure that our towns and cities are resilient enough to cope with the effects of climate change. …

Collaborating at scale for nature and people

Nature Returns site on Exmoor. Credit: Mike Morecroft

In this post, Mike Morecroft, Deputy Director for Climate Change Science at Natural England, reflects on the Resilient Landscapes and Seas partnership symposium held recently in Edinburgh, where conservationists, scientists and land managers from across the UK and beyond came …

Nature Returns: 4 years on

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Natural England, Nature, Nature Returns, Nature-based solutions

Nature Returns is a flagship programme led by Natural England, which is delivering practical solutions for nature and climate and building robust scientific evidence to support policy and investment decisions. Nature-based solutions address problems in ways that benefit both people and …

Reaching the global final – what a Thiess Riverprize nomination means for nature recovery 

By Helen Kirkby, NE Deputy Director for Cumbria Last night in Brisbane, the Cumbrian River Restoration Partnership Programme didn't win the Thiess International Riverprize, but reaching the final alongside projects from Chicago, Albania and the western USA represents something extraordinary …

From fences to freedom: England’s continuing beaver journey

By Stuart Otway, Principal Officer in Natural England’s Complex Cases Team and Delphine Pouget, Principal Officer in Natural England’s Species Recovery & Reintroductions Team In February 2025 Defra published its landmark policy on the wild release and management of beavers …