Skip to main content

Protected sites and species

West Penwith Moors and Downs (Halow ha Gonyow Pennwydh West) SSSI – an update on nature recovery in West Cornwall

Rocks at Sperris overlooking the northern coastline of the West Penwith Peninsula. The rocks contain some of the scarce species of lichen, and the habitat surrounding them is the lowland heath feature which is currently in unfavourable condition due to the encroachment of Bramble and Bracken. It is a breeding site for the Dartford Warbler. Credit: Ty Berry

By Julian Donald – Natural England Senior Officer for West Penwith Moors and Downs The prosperity and wellbeing of the people of Cornwall relies on a healthy natural environment with farming, fishing and tourism driving the local economy. This blog …

Celebrating UK Fungus Day: A tale of Taiga-tooths and fungi that bite

In celebration of UK Fungus Day, Matt Wainhouse, Fungi Senior Specialist at Natural England shares some of our work on the conservation of tooth-fungi and some remarkable discoveries. Few great discoveries begin with a detour off the M4 in wet …

The Sand Dune Managers Handbook: second edition  

Image shows the handbook cover, with an image of a sand dune set at the bottom. The text reads: Sand Dune Managers Handbook

Natural England are delighted to announce the launch of the much anticipated second edition of the Dynamic Dunescapes Sand Dune Manager’s Handbook. This update has been written to support site managers and landowners to improve the condition of sand dunes …

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 …

We've enabled thousands of homes in the Tees area - and much more!

A view of some of the saltmarsh wetlands that are part of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area (SPA)

The Nutrient Mitigation Scheme (NMS) continues with our sixth nutrient credit round now open in the Tees. To date we have offered credits for over 6,000 new homes in the Tees catchment area and have mitigation ready to meet thousands …

Clarifying the Facts: Tagging of hedgehogs and licensing requirements

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 …

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

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 …

A simpler, clearer and faster way to decide when to consult Natural England on planning applications that might affect a SSSI

An aerial view of part of Chesil and the Fleet SSSI, which is designated for its coastal lagoon seagrass beds and vegetated shingle saltmarsh

By Sarah Middlehurst, Senior Officer, Natural England Today sees the launch of a new tool that will help local planning authorities (LPAs) decide when to consult Natural England on planning applications that might impact a SSSI. The new and improved …

National Nature Reserves – for inspiration and celebration!

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 …

Providing guidance to protect habitats and threatened native species

A Barbastelle bat

By James Marshall, Deputy Director for Norfolk and Suffolk As the government’s advisers on the natural environment, Natural England’s role is to ensure our environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of people and wildlife. Recent media reports …