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State of Natural Capital Report for England is now published

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Evidence, Natural Capital, Natural England, Nature Recovery
saltmarsh, intertidal mud

The State of Natural Capital Report for England 2024 : Risks to nature and why it matters, a new report from Natural England, was published on 9 October 2024.  The economy and society are intimately dependent on the health of the …

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 …

Industry experts share experiences of Biodiversity Net Gain on small sites

A scrubland site where the new garages will be built, which will also provide the necessary on-site BNG. (Credit: KADS Design Services Ltd) 

In this Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guest blog industry experts sharing examples of BNG on small sites. They are:  Our guests discuss how they use the Small Sites Metric (SSM) calculation tool. It applies only to ‘small sites’ as defined …

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 …

Testing the Miyawaki Method in Our Urban Greenspaces

A project officer stands within the patch of newly planted trees

By Louise Butfoy, Trees Outside Woodland Project Officer, Kent Country Council As a Project Officer at Kent County Council, I’ve been working on the Trees Outside Woodlands project since its inception in October 2020. The project is funded by HM …

Drop in numbers of nesting hen harriers in 2024 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Hen Harriers, Natural England
A view of moorland landscape, which is breeding habitat for hen harriers

Hen harriers are very rare birds of prey found in moorland landscapes. They are rare because of illegal killing and disturbance, and Natural England monitors their numbers closely, tags individual birds to track their whereabouts, and supports efforts to tackle …

Progress in second year of the hen harrier southern reintroduction

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Hen Harriers, Wildlife
A captive female hen harrier sits on her eggs at the International Centre for Birds of Prey, 2024

The hen harrier southern reintroduction aims to establish a wild, farmland nesting population of hen harriers in the south of England. Supported by a conservation breeding programme, the project plans to introduce up to 100 juvenile hen harriers to a protected …

Natural England’s role in licensing to control badgers to prevent the spread of bovine Tuberculosis

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming, Licensing, Natural England, Science and evidence, Wildlife, wildlife and farming

Current government policy is to enable culling or vaccination of badgers to control bovine Tuberculosis (bTB). The Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs has today (30 August) announced a refresh of the strategy for control of bovine …

Reflecting on the first six months of BNG

A development at Woodhurst Park, Bracknell, Berkshire, that has incorporated BNG on-site. (Image courtesy of Berkeley Group)

By Chris Kaighin – Deputy Director, Biodiversity Net Gain Services It has been six months since the world-leading initiative Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became mandatory for most planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act. BNG makes sure development …

Green Infrastructure: delivering quality of life and environmental benefits for communities

Image shows a lush green canal/waterway running through the centre of a neighbourhood. Red bricked houses stand either side of the new development estate. Lots of trees and bushes grow beside it.

David Drake, Director, People & Nature at Natural England In January 2023, Natural England launched the Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework to support the creation of good quality Green Infrastructure which maximises benefits for people and nature. GI helps local authorities, …