Government Commitment

England is widely considered to be one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world following historic and ongoing declines. Government has made legally-binding commitments to end these declines and for nature to recover. This will require targeted, co-ordinated and collaborative action.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has appointed 48 responsible authorities to lead on preparing a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for their area. Together these 48 strategy areas cover the whole of England with no gaps or overlaps. Each local nature recovery strategy will agree priorities for nature recovery and propose actions in the locations where it would make a particular contribution to achieving those priorities.

Read more at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-nature-recovery-strategies/local-nature-recovery-strategies

Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council have been formally appointed by Government as one of the responsible authorities for preparing a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for their respective counties.

This means that they will be working together to help improve wildlife habitats and reverse the decline of biodiversity across the region, working with local communities to develop a tailored nature recovery strategy for their areas.

Read more at: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/news/2023/07/norfolk-and-suffolk-councils-given-authority-and-funding-to-help-natures-recovery

Andy Millar from Natural England has been appointed as senior advisor for nature recovery in Norfolk and Suffolk. He recently ended an article with: ‘A Nature Recovery Network will be constructed both from the top and bottom, from the very large to the very small, including the small steps we take individually at home that together we build into something bigger. So, let’s all get out there and make it happen.’:

Read more at: https://www.wildeast.co.uk/a-network-of-nature-recovery.

Harleston is already taking steps to build such a ‘bottom up’ framework with our Nature Recovery in Harleston initiative. We are at the forefront of helping deliver the Government plans.

I am in contact with the Norfolk County Council Cabinet member responsible for the Strategy and I am promoting our successful Nature Recovery in Harleston.