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

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Evidence, Marine environment, Monitoring, Natural England, Nature
Maerl researcher and academic Professor Jason Hall-Spencer showing Phumatolithon calcareum maerl. Credit Matt Slater

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 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: 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

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Net Gain, Biodiversity Net Gain – Hints and Tips, Development, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery
Members of a community work on a project to increase biodiversity on a London thoroughfare

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)

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Hen Harriers, Licensing, Monitoring, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Species recovery, Wildlife
A hen harrier in flight

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

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Development, Green Infrastructure, Growth, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery Network, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Tree Planting, Wildlife
River Cam near Logan’s Meadow. © Nick Rance, Natural England

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

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: 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
Tony walks with King Charles along a path in the Lincolnshire NNR. It's a beautiful sunny day, the King wears a light beige coloured suit. Tony has a blue shirt - he carries a pair of binoculars in his hand.

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

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Evidence, Farming, Nature, Peat, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Site of Special Scientific Interest, wildlife and farming
A view across Dartmoor with a large rocky formation in the foreground

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

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Education, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Wildlife
A health and nature walk at Gillespie Park in Islington from Happier Outdoors 2024. © Sally Oldfield.

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 …

Nature Towns and Cities: Creating Greener Neighbourhoods and Brighter Futures 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Connecting People with Nature, Development, Environment Act, Environmental Improvement Plan, Green Infrastructure, Growth, Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery

David Drake, Director, People & Nature at Natural England Did you know 47% of people do not currently have access to green space within 15-minutes' walk of home? Nature Towns and Cities aims to transform this reality, enabling millions of …

Welcoming the Corry Review — Nature recovery and sustainable growth through regulatory reform 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Growth, Nature, Nature Recovery
A pond is seen in a meadow

The Corry Review was set up by Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed, in October last year to examine whether the inherited regulatory landscape is fit for purpose and to develop recommendations to ensure that regulation across the Department is …