Cheshire and Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy consultation

Background

We are developing the first ever draft of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Cheshire and Warrington, which sets out the priorities and actions for nature’s recovery over the next 5-10 years.

This public consultation will give the opportunity for the public, farmers and landowners, non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) and businesses in the LNRS area to comment on proposed priorities, measures and areas mapped for nature’s recovery.

What is the Local Nature Recovery Strategy

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is a statutory policy document, which Cheshire West and Chester Council has been designated as the responsible authority for the county of Cheshire with the support of Cheshire East Council, Warrington Borough Council and Peak District National Park Authority. There are 48 responsible authorities across England.

To reverse the nature emergency, the government has made legally binding commitments to reverse the decline of nature and set it on the path to recovery. This is important for nature’s own sake and for all the things that we rely on nature for, like clean water and food production. For nature to recover, targeted, co-ordinated and collaborative action will be required. The LNRS will help Cheshire Authorities to meet their enhanced biodiversity duties by steering broader action in the county, beyond impact of their own services.

Further information on the LNRS and the engagement undertaken so far is available here.

Find out more

You can read the full draft strategy here. Alternatively, a summary version is available here. The appendices, which contain further technical information, will be available post consultation.

How to share your views

• Fill in an online survey here.
• Attend a drop-in session to give your views.

Local habitat map

In addition to the Strategy document (Statement of Biodiversity Priorities), there is a Local Habitat Map, which displays the opportunity areas for nature recovery and the mapped actions (measures) to help strategic decision making and to direct investment into nature’s recovery in the Cheshire and Warrington LNRS area e.g. Biodiversity Net Gain, Carbon credits.

You can access the local habitat maps and surveys here. More information about this is available here.

What happens next

The Council will consider the feedback received to help inform any changes to the proposed strategy document and Local Habitat Map, to be finalised for Cabinet approval in the summer.

A summary of the consultation findings will be published on the consultation page alongside feedback on the changes made and the next steps.