Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Priority 1. Conserve, enhance, and reduce the pressures on existing designated sites.

Measures

1. Survey, provide landowner advice, and facilitate habitat improvements on priority potential wildlife sites. ∆
2. Conserve, enhance and restore Local Nature Reserves and Local Wildlife Sites, bringing them into positive and sustainable management.
3. Develop the evidence base on the key threats and pressures affecting national and local designated sites.
4. Conserve, enhance and expand the network of protected wildlife verges.
5. Support wardens, public engagement and other practices to encourage people to walk dogs on leads and limit recreational disturbance in particularly sensitive areas of the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits SPA. ∆
6. Enhance farmland practices to support important wading birds and waterfowl such as golden plover in locations already identified and mapped to support the populations associated with the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits SPA. ∆ ◊

Priority 2. Deliver strategic, landscape-scale nature restoration and wildlife corridor projects through collaborative partnerships and landscape-wide interventions.

Measures

1. Create and expand habitats within Green Infrastructure corridors to improve connectivity of wildlife through the urban and rural environment. ∆
2. Investigate and implement opportunities for a strategic landscape scale nature restoration scheme across Yardley and Whittlewood Ridge.
3. Safeguard, restore and enhance disused railway Local Wildlife Sites and associated habitats to strengthen wildlife corridors through the wider landscape.
4. Enhance, restore and expand Local Wildlife Sites and priority habitats along the canal network, as important wildlife corridors through the wider landscape.
5. Investigate and implement opportunities for strategic landscape-scale river restoration schemes.
6. Eradicate or reduce the use of pesticides in both rural and urban environments, to lessen the harm to wildlife, soils and water quality.
7. Control Invasive Non-Native plant and animal Species (INNS) and report sightings to the Northamptonshire Biological Records Centre.
8. Retain deadwood in all habitat types including standing and fallen trees and branches to support associated species including bats, stag beetles and hedgehogs. ◊
    

Priority 3. Conserve, restore and enhance existing priority habitats and nature on farms and land holdings.

Measures

1. Enhance and restore native hedgerow habitats (this includes their grass buffers, trees and associated ditches) using traditional management practices.
2. Enhance and conserve all traditional pastureland, including its flora and associated species.
3. Enhance existing arable field flower margins to benefit important arable plant species like shepherd's needle. ◊
4. Identify, safeguard, and appropriately manage land used by golden plover and lapwing, for example by retaining winter stubble, growing spring cereals, and adjusting the timing of mowing, grazing and cultivation. ◊

Priority 4. Create new nature-friendly habitats on farms and land holdings, particularly where they buffer, expand and connect existing habitats and their associated species.

Measures

1. Create new hedgerows and re-establish former hedge habitats (this includes their grass buffers, trees and associated ditches).
2. Create new habitats from less productive agricultural land to improve biodiversity and expand or link to nearby priority habitats.
3. Create new arable field flower margins to support important arable plant species like shepherd's needle. ◊
4. Allow scrub to develop within the farmed landscape and ensure sustainable management.
5. Increase tree cover on farmed land to deliver wider environmental benefits and improve connectivity for wildlife across the farmed landscape.

Priority 5. Carry out farming and land management practices that support nature and nature-based solutions.

Measures

1. Implement Catchment Sensitive Farming practices to benefit the conservation of freshwater and wetland habitats, particularly in drinking water protected areas.
2. Implement soil conservation practices on farmed land to reduce soil and nutrient erosion and safeguard freshwater and wetland habitats.
3. Increase uptake of Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) by landowners not already in schemes to enhance habitats and species across the wider landscape.

Priority 6. Conserve, restore, and enhance existing woodland habitats.

Measures

1. Restore and enhance all Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) to semi-natural composition by gradual management cycles of thinning and harvesting. ∆
2. Improve woodland ecological condition by bringing woodlands into positive management, supporting greater diversity and abundance of woodland species, such as hazel dormice. ∆ ◊
3. Manage deer populations humanely to minimise negative impacts on woodlands, including on important species such as woodland wildflowers and woodcock. ◊
4. Safeguard and manage ancient and veteran trees, identifying successor trees or planting at least 3 ‘next generation’ trees nearby, to ensure long-term habitat to support associated species including bats and stag beetles. ◊
5. Enhance future resilience of new and existing woodland through the creation of diverse, mixed species groups using tree species best suited to individual site characteristics.
6. Restore woodland canopies affected by ash dieback through natural regeneration and, where necessary, diversification with native species, retaining mature trees to encourage natural disease resistance.
7. Control invasive non-native species (INNS) such as rhododendron and grey squirrel* to improve woodland’s ecological condition.
8. Conserve, enhance and restore historic parklands and wood pasture habitats, supporting veteran trees, their associated species-rich grasslands, and related species such as stag beetles. ∆ ◊
9. Conserve and enhance existing elm trees and ‘thickets’, particularly along woodland rides, edges, and hedgerows, to strengthen these habitats and support associated wildlife.
10. Conserve and manage existing traditional orchards. ∆

Priority 7. Create new woodland and tree habitats, particularly where they buffer, expand and connect existing woodland habitats and their associated species.

Measures

1. Create wet woodland, particularly where it joins existing woodland, helping species resilience. ∆
2. Create riparian woodland buffers along watercourses to reduce flooding and improve water quality through filtration of sediments and pollutants.
3. Create new catchment woodlands in key locations that will slow the movement of water, reducing flood risk. ∆
4. Target woodland creation to expand and connect existing ancient and designated woodlands, strengthening resilience, reducing fragmentation, and supporting woodland species such as bats and woodcock. ∆ ◊
5. Create grassland and scrub vegetative buffers to protect existing Ancient Woodland where woodlands can’t be expanded.
6. Create open areas within woodlands, such as rides and glades, to establish a mosaic of habitats and conditions that increase species diversity and abundance.
7. Create publicly accessible woodlands close to towns, reducing recreational pressures on existing woodland sites. ∆
8. Create new traditional orchards using locally significant tree varieties to support wildlife diversity and local habitat continuity. ∆
9. Develop and maintain landscape-scale deer management plans in new woodland creation schemes.

Priority 8. Conserve, restore and enhance existing grassland habitats.

Measures

1. Survey, safeguard and enhance un-improved, semi-natural and species-rich grasslands of all soil types. ∆
2. Improve sustainable management by conservation grazing and haymaking to enhance and restore semi-natural grassland, benefitting important grassland plant and animal species like green-winged orchid and dingy skipper. ◊
3. Improve amenity grassland management for biodiversity, including adopting new methods and practices, such as cut and collect.
4. Safeguard and enhance wet grassland habitats, reduce recreational disturbance and support associated species like curlew. ◊
5. Conserve and restore priority grassland habitat by controlling encroaching scrub.
6. Safeguard, enhance and restore ridge and furrow grassland.

Priority 9. Create new grassland habitats, particularly where they buffer, expand and connect existing grassland habitats and their associated species.

Measures

1. Create new, expand and connect dry neutral semi-natural grassland habitats, such as neutral meadows. ∆
2. Create calcareous grassland, particularly where it expands existing sites, to support species such as basil thyme, green-winged orchid, and liquorice piercer moth. ∆ ◊
3. Create, expand and connect heathland and acid grassland, to support species such as dyer's greenweed. ∆ ◊
4. Create and restore floodplain meadows to reduce flood risk and support associated species. ∆
5. Create wet grassland habitat for wading birds such as curlew. ◊

Priority 10. Conserve, restore and enhance freshwater and wetland habitats, and the land supporting them.

Measures

1. Conserve, restore and enhance large freshwater habitats, such as reservoirs, lakes and rivers.
2. Identify, conserve, restore and enhance small freshwater and wetland habitats, such as springs/flushes, fens, ponds, ditches and small headland streams, benefiting species like long-stalked pondweed and ivy-leaved crowfoot.
3. Restore watercourse biodiversity by creating tree and scrub areas along sections of exposed watercourses stretches to cool the water in summer. ∆
4. Restore backwaters, old channels and backchannels to provide fish spawning and riparian habitats that support species such as grayling and barbel. ◊
5. Remove barriers to fish passage on suitable watercourses to improve connectivity and support species such as grayling and barbel. ◊
6. Restore natural river processes and in-channel habitats, particularly in sections historically modified by hard engineering such as culverts and artificial banks.
7. Ensure proper management of water-based recreational pressures to reduce disturbance, pollution and damage to freshwater habitats.
8. Control Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) to safeguard freshwater and wetland habitats and associated species, by adopting INNS control techniques.
9. Eradicate mink or significantly reduce the mink population, benefiting watercourse wildlife including water vole. ◊
10. Complement Cherwell River restoration work by conserving, enhancing and creating associated habitats in the valley.
11. Identify and restore 'ghost ponds' to increase biodiversity including important pond plant species and to strengthen wider landscape resilience. ◊

Priority 11. Create new wetland habitats, particularly where they buffer, expand and connect existing habitats and their associated species.

Measures

1. Create, expand and connect wetland habitats to increase species resilience through rebuilding an ecological network. ∆
2. Maintain, enhance and create habitat buffers around main rivers and watercourses, and restore river channels, to reduce pressures like pollution and development, and maintain ecological functions including wildlife corridors. ∆
3. Create, enhance and restore habitats as part of new and ongoing Natural Flood Management projects to reduce flood risk, particularly in key river catchments. ∆
4. Continue the creation of water- and land-based habitats for great crested newts and associated wildlife through the District Licensing Scheme, particularly within Strategic Opportunity Areas.
5. Create in-channel habitats and vegetative edges where there aren’t any, such as in town centres where buildings adjoin the river, to provide a continuous wildlife corridor and increase habitat diversity.
6. Create lowland fen to retain and improve carbon storage and soil structure in areas with peaty soils.
7. Create wetland grazing marsh grassland with tussocky swards that hold water through the spring for breeding waders like redshank and snipe. ◊

Priority 12. Conserve, restore and enhance existing habitats within and around towns and settlements to support resilient, well-connected, biodiversity-rich and multifunctional urban habitats.

Measures

1. Local communities, businesses and individuals to retrofit nesting provisions, wildlife-sensitive lighting, and gaps in built structures to support urban species such as swifts, hedgehogs and bats. ◊
2. Conserve, restore, enhance and increase biodiversity in parks and public green spaces while retaining their historical or other character features. ∆
3. Promote and encourage positive management of wildlife in churchyards through Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Churchyard scheme, God’s Acre, Eco-Church or similar, to benefit important species including bats. ◊
4. Conserve, restore and enhance hedgerows in urban areas and settlements to support urban wildlife such as hedgehogs and to deliver wider environmental benefits. ◊
5. Conserve, restore and enhance priority habitats and biodiversity along active travel routes to strengthen wildlife connectivity through the urban environment.
6. Identify, safeguard and enhance existing open mosaic habitats, which are mostly found on brownfield sites, to support important species like picture-winged fly and dingy skipper butterfly. ◊

Priority 13. Create new habitats within and around towns and settlements to increase biodiversity and strengthen wildlife connectivity through multifunctional stepping stones.

Measures

1. Increase tree and shrub cover in all urban places to improve air quality in high pollution areas alongside other greening techniques. ∆
2. Encourage planting of pollinator-friendly native or naturalised species in urban areas.
3. Create, maintain and encourage the integration of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) networks into existing built structures and transport corridors to provide habitat creation opportunities and wider environmental benefits, such as flood management and water quality regulation.
4. Increase urban greening to create wildlife stepping stones across the urban environment.
5. Create hedgerows in urban areas and settlements to support urban wildlife such as hedgehogs and to deliver wider environmental benefits. ◊
6. Create new Country Parks, leading to the enhancement of existing and creation of new habitats, as identified in the Parks Strategy.
7. Increase the size and quality of the Country Park network by working with landowners to use adjacent land to link into existing Country Parks.
8. Increase the urban tree canopy using a variety of mechanisms such as planting trees in parks and streets, and planting orchards, spinneys and copses.
9. Create open mosaic habitats, particularly those that are connective across landscapes such as disused railways, supporting species such as picture-winged fly, dingy skipper butterfly and basil thyme.

Priority 14. Integrate nature into new developments to create resilient, well-connected, biodiversity-rich and multifunctional urban habitats.

Measures

1. Increase the adoption of nature complementary development schemes like ‘Building with Nature’.
2. Encourage greater investment in nature through all developments, above the minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, as detailed in the Environment Act.
3. Create habitats within new developments that connect with the wider landscape, ensuring new green infrastructure contributes to larger ecological networks and supports species movement.
4. All new developments to incorporate nesting provisions, wildlife-sensitive lighting, and gaps in built structures to support urban species such as swifts, hedgehogs and bats. ◊
5. Ensure land allocated for development avoids adversely affecting designated sites and priority habitats within or nearby. ∆
6. Ensure high quality quarry restoration plans lead to the creation of priority habitats most suited to their locality and geology. ◊
7. Create publicly accessible green spaces that provide a nature rich mosaic of habitats and reduce recreational pressures on the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits SPA and wetland sites. ∆ ◊
8. Create landscape-scale wildlife corridors along new road, rail and other key infrastructure routes to mitigate habitat fragmentation and support species movement.
9. Incorporate innovative tree planting and diverse landscaping into new developments that enhance urban biodiversity and support important species.
10. Install green bridges and underpasses across existing and proposed National Highways and Network Rail infrastructure to prevent or reverse fragmentation of ecological networks.
11. Integrate high quality Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) networks in new developments and transport corridors that provide water attenuation such as ponds or reedbeds which can support biodiversity, and wider environmental benefits such as flood management and water quality regulation.

Farmland species

These measures are designed to benefit farmland species not already covered by other habitat measures. Please note that species have been allocated to broad habitat types but may also be associated with other habitats, meaning relevant species may not be presented here.

Measures

15.1. Implement harvest mouse population assessments and recovery projects. ◊
15.2. Support barn owl populations by putting up nest boxes in suitable locations and creating and maintaining tussocky grasslands to provide corridors of linking habitats. ◊
15.3. Create ground-feeding opportunities for turtle dove during the breeding season by planting low-growing wild plants or spreading seeds. ◊
15.4. Sensitively manage and restore blackthorn-dominated hedgerows and woodlands for the brown hairstreak butterfly. ◊
15.5. Plant disease-resistant elm trees to support the white-letter hairstreak butterfly and associated dependent species. ◊
15.6. Implement polecat monitoring and research projects. ◊
15.7. Create winter feeding opportunities for tree sparrow by sowing wild seed mixes and retaining winter stubble. ◊
15.8. Increase young successional hedgerow trees and small woodland patches in the farmed landscape to benefit hedgerow bat species such as Natterer's bat. ◊

Woodland species

These measures are designed to benefit woodland species not already covered by other habitat measures. Please note that species have been allocated to broad habitat types but may also be associated with other habitats, meaning relevant species may not be presented here.

Measures

15.9. Create and enhance rides and glades within woodlands for wood white and black hairstreak butterflies. ◊
15.10. Support hazel dormouse populations through monitoring and recovery projects, including the use of nest boxes, habitat connectivity measures, and reintroductions or translocations where appropriate. ◊
15.11. Enhance habitat in areas where adders have been previously recorded to support and strengthen vulnerable populations. ◊
15.12. Create and manage woodland-scrub mosaics to benefit nightingale, including sympathetic management of woodland edges. ◊

Grassland species

These measures are designed to benefit grassland species not already covered by other habitat measures. Please note that species have been allocated to broad habitat types but may also be associated with other habitats, meaning relevant species may not be presented here.

Measures

15.13. Create and enhance open mosaic and grassland habitats for dingy and grizzled skipper butterflies at key sites and to create habitat connectivity. ◊
15.14. Carry out feasibility studies, habitat enhancements and plan reintroductions of small blue butterfly, to develop a network of habitats across the wider landscape to sustain future colonies. ∆ ◊
15.15. Enhance farmed land management, such as changing to late hay cut and providing plots in winter cereals, to support skylark. ◊
15.16. Survey for red-shanked carder bees and create flowering meadows, field margins and road verges to connect habitats to support resilient populations. ◊

Freshwater and Wetland species

These measures are designed to benefit freshwater and wetland species not already covered by other habitat measures. Please note that species have been allocated to broad habitat types but may also be associated with other habitats, meaning relevant species may not be presented here.

Measures

15.17. Investigate suitability and feasibility for water vole introduction. ◊
15.18. Identify and conserve existing black poplars and plant new trees at suitable new sites. ◊
15.19. Create osprey platforms and common tern rafts to provide breeding sites. ◊
15.20. Investigate suitability and feasibility for beaver reintroduction to improve riparian woodland and wetland habitats. ◊
15.21. Conserve, restore, expand and create reedbed habitats of sufficient size to support bitterns. ◊
15.22. Identify and implement suitable ark sites to support existing populations and potential reintroductions of white-clawed crayfish. ◊