The complex ecological relationships between species in a habitat are difficult to recreate quickly once a habitat is degraded or destroyed. With the pressure on our wildlife, the highest priority is to safeguard and enhance high quality nature sites and species populations. Landowners and land managers who are already doing this should be supported.
Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Gloucestershire County Council is the Responsible Authority appointed by Defra for the Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Before being published, the draft Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is required to undergo public consultation. The public consultation is open from 8th September 2025 to 19th October 2025.
You are invited to Have your say about the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
The public consultation on the draft LNRS has now closed. Thank you to all those who submitted comments. The final version of the LNRS is due for adoption at the January 2026 Cabinet meeting and will be published Winter 2026.
What is the Local Nature Recovery Strategy?
A Local Nature Recovery Strategy is a spatial strategy required by the Environment Act 2021 which will guide where and how nature recovery can best be achieved.
By law, each Local Nature Recovery Strategy must include:
- a statement of biodiversity priorities;
- a local habitat map;
- and be reviewed and republished every 3 to 10 years.
It should be emphasised that this is a high-level spatial strategy developed using the current best existing biodiversity information, rather than a field-by-field level guide.
How should the strategy be used?
The key uses of this Local Nature Recovery Strategy are intended to be:
- planning and development: a guide for developers, planners and others to support decision making on scheme design, master and strategic planning for green and blue infrastructure including the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain;
- public authorities: there is new duty on all public authorities to have regard to local nature recovery strategies ensuring that relevant policies, strategies and operations contribute to biodiversity conservation and recover nature;
- farmers, landowners and land managers: to show the best locations for habitat management, restoration and creation, and species-specific projects - opportunities which could be funded through agri-environment funding such as Sustainable Farming Incentive or Countryside Stewardship;
- community projects: provide information to help create nature and biodiversity projects, town and parish biodiversity action plans and policies.
The strategy does not force the owners and managers of the land identified to make any changes. Instead, the strategy shows the Priority Measures, which are opportunities and options for maintenance and creation of habitats, wildlife corridors and species-specific actions.
At the heart of the Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy are 6 key messages and a Statement of 10 Biodiversity Priorities along with ‘Potential Measures’ which describe the recommended actions and management options to achieve the biodiversity priorities. These are also expressed spatially through a series of interactive maps referred to as the Local Habitat Map which collectively aim to drive nature’s recovery.
Six Key Messages
The complex ecological relationships between species in a habitat are difficult to recreate quickly once a habitat is degraded or destroyed. With the pressure on our wildlife, the highest priority is to safeguard and enhance high quality nature sites and species populations. Landowners and land managers who are already doing this should be supported.
Maintaining good wildlife habitat and then increasing the size and connectivity of these habitats. This is the core theme of Nature Recovery as expressed in the Making Space for Nature report, with the aim of creating a resilient and coherent nature recovery network. Recommended areas to focus new habitat creation can contribute to meeting the goal of 30 by 30 - at least 30% of land to be protected for nature recovery by 2030.
Maintaining good wildlife habitat and then increasing the size and connectivity of these habitats. This is the core theme of Nature Recovery as expressed in the Making Space for Nature report, with the aim of creating a resilient and coherent nature recovery network. Recommended areas to focus new habitat creation can contribute to meeting the goal of 30 by 30 - at least 30% of land to be protected for nature recovery by 2030.
Climate change is already affecting our wildlife, with temperature, rainfall and growing season changes affecting the timing of natural events such as emergence, pollination and where species can thrive. Nature based solutions can help mitigate some impacts of climate change. Landscape-scale nature recovery can help some species to move northwards or to new niches in response to climate changes.
Climate change is already affecting our wildlife, with temperature, rainfall and growing season changes affecting the timing of natural events such as emergence, pollination and where species can thrive. Nature based solutions can help mitigate some impacts of climate change. Landscape-scale nature recovery can help some species to move northwards or to new niches in response to climate changes.
The need to re-naturalise our river corridors and their relationship with the floodplain, and where appropriate to remove barriers in rivers which impact on the movement of fish species and on sedimentation. Natural flood management can also help to reduce flood risk and build resilience against drought. We need to tackle water quality issues from both point and diffuse sources, and to protect and improve water quantity, for both surface water and groundwater.
The need to re-naturalise our river corridors and their relationship with the floodplain, and where appropriate to remove barriers in rivers which impact on the movement of fish species and on sedimentation. Natural flood management can also help to reduce flood risk and build resilience against drought. We need to tackle water quality issues from both point and diffuse sources, and to protect and improve water quantity, for both surface water and groundwater.
Including valuing scrub as a habitat and prioritising mixed habitats with different types and heights of vegetation – this variety is so important for many of our species.
Including valuing scrub as a habitat and prioritising mixed habitats with different types and heights of vegetation – this variety is so important for many of our species.
The importance of nature in our settlements, urban areas and new developments was emphasised by participants in our public engagement sessions, as well as by other stakeholders. Nature in amongst our urban areas and settlements is important for health and wellbeing, for nature connection, for climate change mitigation and for the connectivity of wildlife habitats.
The importance of nature in our settlements, urban areas and new developments was emphasised by participants in our public engagement sessions, as well as by other stakeholders. Nature in amongst our urban areas and settlements is important for health and wellbeing, for nature connection, for climate change mitigation and for the connectivity of wildlife habitats.
Ten Biodiversity Priorities
Outcome
Improve the condition of and increase the resilience, extent and connectivity of open habitats. Improve the abundance and variety of associated species.
Why
Different types of wildflower-rich grasslands are important in Gloucestershire – and are currently often isolated fragments.
Outcome
Improve the condition of and increase the resilience, extent and connectivity of open habitats. Improve the abundance and variety of associated species.
Why
Different types of wildflower-rich grasslands are important in Gloucestershire – and are currently often isolated fragments.
Outcome
Improve the condition of and increase the resilience, extent and connectivity of woodland habitats and tree cover. Improve the abundance and variety of associated species.
Why
Woodlands and trees support a wide range of species, provide shading, improve air quality and store carbon.
Outcome
Improve the condition of and increase the resilience, extent and connectivity of woodland habitats and tree cover. Improve the abundance and variety of associated species.
Why
Woodlands and trees support a wide range of species, provide shading, improve air quality and store carbon.
Outcome
Create complex and dynamic mosaics of scrub, grassland, trees and wetland.
Why
Many species need a variety of habitats rather than just one, so a mixture of trees, scrub and grassland provides a range of food sources and places to nest and will help species move and adapt to climate change.
Outcome
Create complex and dynamic mosaics of scrub, grassland, trees and wetland.
Why
Many species need a variety of habitats rather than just one, so a mixture of trees, scrub and grassland provides a range of food sources and places to nest and will help species move and adapt to climate change.
Outcome
Improve the ecological condition of ponds and lakes to support species diversity.
Why
Ponds are really important for species like newts, frogs and toads.
Outcome
Improve the ecological condition of ponds and lakes to support species diversity.
Why
Ponds are really important for species like newts, frogs and toads.
Outcome
Create more natural river courses and river banks, with better water quality, and dynamic mosaics of linked wetlands.
Why
Can we create more natural river banks and river courses, and help our rare fish survive?
Outcome
Create more natural river courses and river banks, with better water quality, and dynamic mosaics of linked wetlands.
Why
Can we create more natural river banks and river courses, and help our rare fish survive?
Outcome
Improve the condition of and increase the resilience, extent and connectivity of wetland habitats.
Why
Wetlands support a diverse range of species and can help store carbon.
Outcome
Improve the condition of and increase the resilience, extent and connectivity of wetland habitats.
Why
Wetlands support a diverse range of species and can help store carbon.
Outcome
Protect and enhance internationally important estuarine habitats.
Why
The Severn Estuary is internationally important for nature.
Outcome
Protect and enhance internationally important estuarine habitats.
Why
The Severn Estuary is internationally important for nature.
Outcome
Increase biodiversity and wildlife corridors in the land around our homes.
Why
The land around our homes can provide wildlife corridors, pollinator plants and more, and bring people into better direct contact with nature.
Outcome
Increase biodiversity and wildlife corridors in the land around our homes.
Why
The land around our homes can provide wildlife corridors, pollinator plants and more, and bring people into better direct contact with nature.
Outcome
Build the health of our soils and provide food sources for wildlife and habitat connectivity through our countryside.
Why
Biodiversity is important and can be supported everywhere, not just in “islands” of nature reserves. Protecting soils also reduces loss of sediment and nutrients to watercourses, reducing pollution.
Outcome
Build the health of our soils and provide food sources for wildlife and habitat connectivity through our countryside.
Why
Biodiversity is important and can be supported everywhere, not just in “islands” of nature reserves. Protecting soils also reduces loss of sediment and nutrients to watercourses, reducing pollution.
Outcome
Strengthen the resilience of rare and threatened species that need specific management measures.
Why
Some key actions are needed in specific places to help rare and threatened species.
Outcome
Strengthen the resilience of rare and threatened species that need specific management measures.
Why
Some key actions are needed in specific places to help rare and threatened species.
How the strategy was prepared
Gloucestershire County Council has led on public and community engagement for the preparation of the Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and commissioned the Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership to coordinate the input of local organisations, experts and other key stakeholders in the strategy preparation, and to work in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council to prepare the draft for consultation.
This strategy has been developed through a range of discussions, workshops and input of information from nature conservationists, planners, local authority officers and members, statutory agencies and public bodies, farmers, landowners, land managers, and members of the public in Gloucestershire.
All the feedback from the previous community consultation events and survey was collated and shared with the working groups preparing the strategy. You can see the feedback from the in person events here.