Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Introduction

A healthy natural environment is key to our own wellbeing. It provides us with clean air, nutritious food, fresh water, carbon storage, flood control, attractive neighbourhoods, places for recreation, business opportunities, and much more, as well as the simple joy of being close to nature itself.

Our natural environment is the combination of physical components such as air, temperature, landforms, soils, and bodies of water, along with living components including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Yet, nature is in crisis in the UK. Nearly one in 6 of our wildlife (16.1%) is now threatened with extinction. We often hear about losses of the Amazon Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, yet we are losing familiar wildlife that we cherish close to our homes, including the hedgehogs, hazel dormouse and skylark.  

The Government produces the State of Nature report to assess the situation. Despite the evidence of species decline, the report says:

“We have never had a better understanding of the State of Nature and what is needed to fix it.”State of Nature 2023

Local Nature Recovery Strategy background

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are a tool designed to guide action for nature recovery. They were introduced by the Environment Act 2021 to help achieve the targets set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).

The LNRS Local Habitat Map maps existing areas for nature, practical actions and focus areas for nature recovery across West Northamptonshire. Working with various participants, data and evidence, the LNRS identifies local priorities and ways to achieve them (potential measures/practical actions).

Many of these actions also provide wider environmental benefits, like air quality improvements and reducing flood risk. Therefore, the strategy highlights the sites and actions that will provide the greatest benefit for nature recovery and the wider environment.

How West Northamptonshire is embracing the challenge

Since being adopted as a Responsible Authority in June 2023, we are preparing to embrace the challenge of habitat and species decline by producing the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. A Nature Recovery Strategy Officer was appointed in January 2024 to lead the development in collaboration with partners and communities.

Once the LNRS is published the Officer will work with the Northamptonshire Local Nature Partnership, government bodies, local people, businesses, landowners, and organisations to deliver priorities and actions for West Northamptonshire.

To deliver this strategy within the Council, we look to inspire a ‘Together with Nature’ approach through our public services. This is alongside our responsibilities under The Environment Act 2021 to deliver the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, enhanced Biodiversity Duties and deliver Biodiversity Net Gain.

Last updated 11 September 2025