Apprenticeship Week: Developing the Skills for Nature’s Recovery

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Climate change, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Nutrient Neutrality, Science and evidence

To celebrate Apprenticeship Week 2025, Ecologist Apprentice, Annalise Machin, shares her apprenticeship journey with Natural England, highlighting the impact her developing skills will have for nature’s recovery. I have always had an interest in in the natural world, loving the …

Helping nature to recover and thrive in the Wye Valley in Derbyshire

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Climate change, Environmental Improvement Plan, Farming, Landscapes, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Nature Recovery Network, Wildlife

Ruth Keeley, Wye Valley Nature Recovery Project Senior Officer Back in 2022, Natural England and Defra announced five unique Nature Recovery Projects (NRP) across the Peak District, West Midlands, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Somerset. Since then, a further seven projects have …

Three churrs for the heathland bird survey

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Evidence, Monitoring, Natural Capital, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Science and evidence
Dartford warbler. Credit: Philip Ray

By Alison Giacomelli, Senior Specialist – Ornithology, Natural England Heathlands are home to the eerie sound of churring Nightjars, sweet melody of singing Woodlarks and the rattling song of Dartford Warblers. This year teams of volunteers and fieldworkers will be …

Guest blog: Showcasing successful onsite Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) project management

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity Net Gain, Biodiversity Net Gain – Hints and Tips, Climate change, Development, Uncategorized
A large pond seen through trees and wildflowers with new homes in the background: Ponds can play a key role in biodiversity net gain

In the run up to the first anniversary (12 February) of the introduction of BNG as a mandatory approach to development, making BNG a statutory requirement in all (non-exempt) Town and Country Planning Act applications we invited two open space …

Green Infrastructure: the catalyst for Urban Greening 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Climate change, Connecting People with Nature, Development, Environmental Improvement Plan, Flood Management, Green Infrastructure, Landscape, Landscapes and access, Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), Mapping, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Nature Recovery Network, Tree Planting, Wildlife

It’s two years since Natural England launched the Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework to support the creation of good quality Green Infrastructure. It’s well documented that we need to build a more sustainable future, and at the forefront of this movement …

'LUF-t off' for a more strategic approach to growth and Nature

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Net Gain, Environmental Improvement Plan, Farming, Flood Management, Landscapes, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Nature-based solutions, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, Species recovery, Tree Planting, Wildlife, wildlife and farming
Cator North Park, Kidbrooke Village, London, with integrated BNG, including wetland and wildflowers

By Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England As the country seeks long-term solutions to our most pressing problems – how to build much-needed homes and infrastructure, safeguard food production and halt and reverse the decline of Nature – we …

Saving species in Somerset; the work of the Somerset, Coast Levels and Moors Nature Recovery Project

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Climate change, Environmental Improvement Plan, Landscape, Landscapes, Monitoring, National Nature Reserve, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Nature Recovery Network, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Species recovery, Wildlife

By Simon Phelps – Natural England Over the past three years, the Somerset Coast, Levels and Moors Nature Recovery Project has been working hard to save some of our most threatened wetland species. I’m fortunate to not only be leading …

Natural England welcomes £22.1bn investment in Water Industry National Environment Programme

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: National Nature Reserve, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Protected sites and species, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, Species recovery, Wildlife
A weir that is to be removed within Dendles Wood NNR, part of the Dartmoor SAC, under the WINEP

The Environment Agency has published the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), detailing more than 20,000 actions that England’s 19 water companies must complete from now until 2030 to meet their environmental obligations.  Developed with guidance from the Environment Agency …

Partnership sees experimental 'Disco Scallop' method develop into full-scale, commercial low-impact fishery

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Marine environment
Scallops in a crab pot out of water showing the LED light in the pot

By Mark Duffy, Marine Principal Adviser, Natural England Over the past three years Natural England has supported and invested in the “Potting for Scallops” initiative to help sustainable fishing of the mollusc and protect seabeds. The technique in the initiative …

Forests beneath the waves: celebrating our magnificent kelp 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Climate change, Coast and access, Marine environment, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Protected sites and species, Wildlife

Marina Rees, Marine Higher Officer at Natural England When I joined the Thames Solent team as a marine lead adviser, I jumped at the opportunity to work on a project which delved into the world of kelp. I have long …