Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Local Nature Recovery Strategies in England are a new approach to restoring and protecting nature. They are part of a nationwide move to create space for nature to thrive. Local Nature Recovery Strategies will create a national Nature Recovery Network (NRN). They are a requirement of the Environment Act 2021.

They aim to identify opportunities and priorities for nature restoration across Norfolk and will consist of:

• A habitat map showing where valuable areas for nature are currently located.
• A statement of biodiversity priorities - a locally-agreed list of priority areas where new and improved habitats would bring the most benefit
• A map of locations and actions showing where and how habitats can be created and connected, and how the wider environment and economy can benefit.

48 Local Nature Recovery Strategies are being created across the country over the next two years. Together, these will combine to form a national plan ensuring areas for nature are bigger, better and more connected, while providing a blueprint for the delivery of new duties and funding streams like Biodiversity Net Gain. 

How the strategy is funded

Funding to support the creation of Norfolk's Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) has been provided by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Contact us about the strategy

If you would like to contact us about Norfolk's LNRS, please email the delivery team on: naturalnorfolk@norfolk.gov.uk

The strategy will provide a blueprint for how Norfolk’s local communities, landowners, land managers, local authorities, private companies and government bodies can work together to broaden protection for nature in the planning system, and restore and recover it on the ground. This will include:

• Creating Ecological Networks: Establishing a 'Nature Recovery Network' to connect isolated habitats, creating corridors that promote species migration, genetic exchange, and adaptation to climate change. This approach recognises that a connected landscape is more resilient and beneficial for both wildlife and people.
• Enhancing Biodiversity: The protection and restoration of local wildlife, creating and improving habitats for native species.
• Green Space Access and Connection: Improving access to, and the quality of, green spaces and natural areas for local residents and tourists. This is both for the physical and mental health benefits they provide and to foster a deeper connection with, and appreciation for, the natural world.
• Using Land Sustainably: Promoting land use practices that are sustainable and nature-friendly. Including encouraging everything from sustainable agriculture and forestry practices to nature-based solutions in urban planning and development.
• Engaging With Communities and Partners: Involving local communities, landowners, land managers, local authorities, private companies, business, the third sector, and government bodies in the nature recovery process. This will ensure strategies are locally grounded, widely supported, and that they offer social, economic and environmental benefits.
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Using natural solutions to combat climate change, such as increasing tree cover to remove carbon from the atmosphere, restoring wetlands and peatlands, and changing the way farmland is managed.
• Opportunities for Education: Providing opportunities for environmental education and citizen science. This will help to increase community awareness and understanding of biodiversity issues and the importance of healthy ecosystems.

• Norfolk Residents and Communities: In both rural and urban spaces, a healthy natural environment provides us with food, clean water, clean air, and opportunities to improve our physical and mental wellbeing. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is therefore a crucial part of creating healthy and resilient communities, with direct and indirect advantages affecting virtually every aspect of societal well-being. By involving local communities in the development and implementation of the LNRS, it will foster a sense of local ownership, responsibility, and appreciation for biodiversity. Engaged communities are more likely to support and contribute to actions that lead to a net gain in biodiversity.
• Farmers, Land Owners and Land Managers: By helping farmers and land managers identify opportunities for nature recovery actions, the LNRS will be used to inform applications for funding from Environmental Land Management schemes, supporting Norfolk’s agricultural sector. It will also help steer opportunities for nature-based solutions such as flood risk management and sequestering carbon through new trees, woodlands and healthier soils.
• Developers and Planning Authorities: The LNRS will be used as a decision making tool to help guide mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain and other planning tools such as Green Infrastructure. By providing a strategic, coordinated, and long-term approach to nature recovery, the LNRS can ensure planning authorities deliver the best outcomes for wildlife, make sure that development is sustainable and that society's overall impact on nature is positive, contributing to a richer, more resilient natural world.
• Businesses, Local Economy and Green Tourism: The LNRS plays an important role in bringing green investment into the county from national and international funding sources, showcasing how nature underpins a thriving local economy and creating local opportunities for Norfolk businesses and Green Tourism to achieve their environment and social governance (ESG) objectives.

Norfolk County Council has been designated as the responsible authority for developing Norfolk’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). Under the shared banner of The Norfolk and Suffolk Nature Recovery Partnership, we will do this by working closely with:

• Districts and Boroughs
• Broads National Park
• North Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape (AONB)
• Local nature organisations
• Landowners and land managers
• Local stakeholders
• Private companies and the local economy

We are working closely with neighbouring Suffolk County Council, developing both Norfolk and Suffolk LNRS in a shared and joined-up way, reflecting the natural habitats that sit across both Counties. We will also work closely with Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire to ensure join-up across boundaries.

The LNRS will map the existing natural environment, and most significantly, identify opportunities for delivering nature recovery through habitat restoration, creation and expansion.

1. Stakeholder Engagement: Early in the process the Partnership will engage with local stakeholders, including conservation groups, landowners, land managers, government bodies, local authorities, business and community organisations. This process is crucial for ensuring the strategy reflects local needs and has broad support.
2. Developing the Strategy: The drafting of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), including mapping, setting priorities for action, and outlining specific projects and initiatives. This phase will likely involve both technical ecological assessments and broader consultation with stakeholders.
3. Collaboration and Consultation: Making sure the strategy represents the shared goals of the county is essential to its success. Stakeholder collaboration will therefore play a central role in shaping the strategy and will be ongoing throughout the process, culminating in a public consultation on the draft LNRS.
4. Implementation: Once the strategy is finalised and approved, projects and initiatives outlined in the strategy will begin, or continue, to be implemented. This will be ongoing over several years, with different projects having their own timelines. It is the ambition of the LNRS to inspire new nature recovery projects on the ground.
5. Monitoring and Review: After implementation begins, there will be ongoing monitoring of outcomes and periodic reviews of the strategy's effectiveness, leading to revisions and adaptations as necessary.

The government anticipates that responsible authorities will take 12 to 18 months to prepare and publish their strategy, with completion due by mid-2025.

October 2024

• Survey results from our Public and Land Manager surveys has been analysed, with results contributing to the longlisted biodiversity priorities. Responses from the public and landowners highlighted similar priorities in Norfolk, as well as corresponding results from the Suffolk LNRS surveys. 
• Work has continued on the structure and drafting of the final strategy document, with work ongoing with partners to contribute case studies of nature recovery work already taking place across the county. 
• Nearly 300 relevant plans and strategies from across Norfolk and Suffolk were consulted, identifying over 1600 existing nature recovery priorities which are being used to inform our biodiversity priorities and measures.  
• A long list of over 1500 species was created using key data and local expertise. This was reduced to a short list of 264 species using robust processes, supporting evidence and expert opinion. The shortlist has been organised into 25 key priority species and 15 habitat assemblages.  
• Regular meetings with the Steering Group have been ongoing to help guide the direction of the strategy work. The Themed Working Groups continue to be consulted at key points to contribute expert advice, support and relevant data. 
• Monthly Supporting Authority Liaison Group meetings have been established to provide updates and an opportunity for feedback for our Supporting Authorities. These are attended by representatives from Breckland District Council, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, Norwich City Council, South Norfolk District Council and Broads Authority. 
• Opportunities for contributing to mapped areas of potential opportunity were presented to experts, partners, landowners, sector groups and all survey respondents.  
• Planning for the intended March 2025 Public Consultation is ongoing.