Natural England

How many mussels in Morecambe Bay? Understanding the value of mudflats and sandflats for birds, humans, and the ecosystems we share

Elizabeth Mitchell and Louise Whatley, 24 July 2023 - Marine environment, Monitoring, Natural England

By Louise Whatley, Marine Ecology Specialist and Elizabeth Mitchell, Senior Advisor for Engagement and Impact As summer sets in in earnest, millions of us will head to the coast. In between dropping our ice-creams on our feet and taking a …

How Natural England is working to achieve the government's nature targets

Marian Spain, 23 July 2023 - Natural England

As the government’s statutory advisor on nature conservation, Natural England is charged by the government to achieve its ambitious targets. We do this through advice to businesses, delivery projects with partners, grant funding and by regulation backed by UK legislation. …

Wendling Beck: Nature Recovery on a Landscape Scale

Natural England, 7 July 2023 - Biodiversity, Environment Act, Farming, Landscapes, Landscapes and access, Natural England, Nature Recovery Network, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Species recovery, Wildlife, wildlife and farming

In the heart of Norfolk farming country, Natural England has been partnering with an ambitious project to transform a large area of agricultural land into a haven for wildlife. The scheme aims to demonstrate that growing food is fully compatible …

Farmers key to success of magical new SSSI

Tony Juniper, 4 July 2023 - Biodiversity, Environment Act, Farming, Landscapes, Natural England, Nature Recovery Network, Protected sites and species, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Species recovery, Wildlife, wildlife and farming

Blog by Tony Juniper CBE, Chair The landscape that runs west from St Ives in Cornwall down toward St Just close to Lands End was until recently one of the most special places in England to remain unprotected. The complex …

Blueprints for nature’s recovery: all systems go! 

Natural England, 30 June 2023 - Biodiversity, Climate change, Environment Act, Landscapes, Natural England, Nature Recovery Network, Protected sites and species, Wildlife

Last December in Montreal world leaders agreed to a new Global Biodiversity Framework, signing up to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to protect 30% of land and oceans by the same date. A month later the UK …

Celebrating World Ocean Day 2023: Building Partnerships for Planet Ocean

Natural England, 8 June 2023 - Biodiversity, Climate change, Coast and access, Education, Marine environment, Natural England, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Species recovery, Wildlife

World Ocean Day is an annual event celebrated on 08 June that not only serves as a day of observance but also fosters collaboration and encourages year-round conservation action. This global celebration unites individuals and organisations from around the world, …

Restoring Britain’s pine martens: a position from Natural England, NatureScot and Natural Resources Wales

John Holmes, 2 June 2023 - Species recovery, Wildlife

John Holmes, Strategy Director, Natural England I confess I have never seen a pine marten, but I hope to one day. For now though, knowing they are out there, and that they are spreading gives me real hope for nature …

Assessing the health of the River Wye and its catchment

Emma Johnson, 30 May 2023 - Biodiversity, Farming, Landscapes, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, wildlife and farming

By Emma Johnson, Area Manager - West Midlands Team The Wye Valley is an iconic landscape, hugely important for biodiversity due to the wide range of rare river wildlife, loved by people and important for farming. It’s because it’s so …

Join us in celebrating England’s most important places for nature – National Nature Reserves

Jamie Neale, 19 May 2023 - National Nature Reserve

By Jamie Neale, NNR Week Coordinator, Natural England 2023 is a pioneering year for England’s most important places for nature, National Nature Reserves (NNRs). Between May 20th and May 29th, the very first National Nature Reserves Week (NNR Week) will …

Children & Nature Programme: the importance of integrating time spent in nature at school

Martin Gilchrist, 16 May 2023 - Education, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Science and evidence

Across government, we share an aspiration to create healthy, happy societies. One mechanism for achieving this is by improving the connection people have with nature, which provides better mental and physical health. For children, the effects are more profound, with …

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