Natural England

Action to restore or create at least 38,877 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat has been undertaken since January 2023

Natural England, 19 May 2025 - Biodiversity, Climate change, Environment Act, Environmental Improvement Plan, Evidence, Landscape, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Nature Recovery Network, Protected sites and species, Wildlife

By Dr Ruth Hall, Principal specialist for habitats at Natural England Today, for the first time we can start to understand our progress towards the Environment Act habitat target, which is to restore or create at least 500,000 hectares of …

Creating Nature Towns and Cities conference

Natural England, 16 May 2025 - Climate change, Connecting People with Nature, Environmental Improvement Plan, Green Infrastructure, Growth, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Nature Recovery Network, Wildlife

Nature Towns and Cities is a partnership between Natural England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Trust working to ensure everyone in the UK can access the benefits of nature and green spaces. We're delighted to invite you …

Protecting one of England's rarest marine habitats: Natural England's work on maerl

Angela Gall, 15 May 2025 - Biodiversity, Evidence, Marine environment, Monitoring, Natural England, Nature

By Angela Gall, Marine Senior Officer Hidden beneath the waves along the south coast of Cornwall lies an ancient marine habitat, maerl beds. These pink, twiglet-shaped rhodoliths are free-living, calcified red seaweeds forming intricate, three-dimensional structures on the seabed. They're …

A new peat map for England

Natural England, 12 May 2025 - Climate change, Environmental Improvement Plan, Landscapes, Mapping, Monitoring, Natural England, Nature Recovery Network, NCEA, Peat, Science and evidence

By Dr Ruth Waters, Director for Evidence, Natural England, and David Jones, Senior Responsible Officer for the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment, Defra England’s peat deposits are one of our most valuable national assets. They’re our largest carbon store, they …

Guest blog: Benefits of engaging local communities in BNG

Natural England, 7 May 2025 - Biodiversity, Biodiversity Net Gain, Biodiversity Net Gain – Hints and Tips, Development, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery

Rosie Whicheloe, Senior Planning Ecologist for a local authority in London, explains how she’s looking at the benefits of public engagement in BNG for the communities in which they live. Delivering social value alongside BNG is incredibly important in urban …

Conclusion of Hen Harrier Brood Management Trial (updated)

John Holmes, 14 April 2025 - Hen Harriers, Licensing, Monitoring, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Species recovery, Wildlife

The experimental trial of hen harrier ‘brood management’ has ended, concluding that this activity has contributed to increased numbers of nesting hen harriers on some grouse moors. However, illegal killing of hen harriers has continued, and a range of approaches …

Wild in the City - the Cambridge Nature Network

Justin Tilley, 9 April 2025 - Connecting People with Nature, Development, Green Infrastructure, Growth, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery Network, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Tree Planting, Wildlife

By Justin Tilley, Principal Manager, West Anglia team We often talk of ‘being in nature’ as if it’s a special place, away from our everyday world. In Cambridge, Natural England is supporting a major initiative that’s helping wildlife prosper in …

Two more years: extending ambitions for Nature recovery

Natural England and Tony Juniper, 8 April 2025 - Biodiversity, Biodiversity Net Gain, Climate change, Connecting People with Nature, Environment Act, Environmental Improvement Plan, Evidence, Farming, Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), Marine environment, National Nature Reserve, Natural England, Nature, Protected sites and species

By Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England I was delighted to be invited to serve a third term as Chair of Natural England and look forward to continuing to lead the organisation as it adopts and implements a new …

Using our evidence to plan our approach to the management of Dartmoor's SSSIs

Dave Slater, 7 April 2025 - Biodiversity, Evidence, Farming, Nature, Peat, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Site of Special Scientific Interest, wildlife and farming

Today we have published a Review of the evidence for the management of Dartmoor’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). As an evidence-led organisation, we use this to inform our advice to farmers and stakeholders on Dartmoor. Our job is …

Happier Outdoors: London’s Free Nature Festival

Natural England, 5 April 2025 - Connecting People with Nature, Education, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Wildlife

By Laura Brown, Higher Officer for Health and Environment, Natural England What is Happier Outdoors? Happier Outdoors began in 2023 as part of my work as the Health and Environment Higher Officer for London. I’m lucky to spend a lot …

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