Nature recovery drive ‘ will be the biggest in England’s history’

THE “BIGGEST programme for nature recovery in England’s history” has been launched with a North Yorkshire- based project at its forefront.

The Nature Recovery Network ( NRN), led by Natural England, aims to bring together government, farmers, landowners, conservationists and businesses in partnership to restore protected sites and provide an additional 500,000 hectares of new wildlife- rich habitat across the country.

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural

England, said: “We are firing the starting gun on England’s Nature Recovery Network, backed by the biggest ever collaboration between government, business and charities to drive forward the biggest programme for nature recovery in England’s history.”

Mr Juniper said it was time to change our approach to the natural world which had for “far too long been in decline”.

“Wemustchangeourapproach to move beyond preserving what little remains and to embark on restoration at scale,” he said.

The NRN will work towards linking together nature- rich places, restoring landscapes in towns and the countryside as well has creating new habitats for everyone to enjoy.

“Our vision is for a network of organisations and people to create a network of places that will bring huge benefits for wildlife, landscapes and people,” Mr Juniper said.

“It is an ambitious idea, but the fact is that in different parts of the country it’s already happening, and we should take great encouragement from that.”

One of the places Mr Juniper referred to is the Yorkshire Dales National Park and North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ( AONB) which is part of the Tees Swale: Naturally Connected project.

The project, which puts farmers “at the heart of nature recovery and nature recovery at the heart of farming” works with 300 farmers across 850sq km over five years.

The AONB and National Park teams, along with project partners, farmers and landowners are working to restore meadows and peatland, revive rivers, improve habitat for wading birds, manage rushes and create a landscape richer in trees and scrub.

The project came about following a survey in 2017 which found that only 60 per cent of some of the most important habitats in Swaledale outside of Sites of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSIs) were in good condition.

Sir John Lawton, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tees Swale: Naturally Connected programme, and President of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said: “The Tees Swale: Naturally Connected programme embodies the principles set out in the Making Space for Nature report and puts it into practice on a grand scale, creating a nature recovery network through a collaboration between farmers and landowners and conservation bodies. It’s one of the most exciting projects I’ve been involved with.”

Natural England is now calling for more organisations to get involved in the programme which will not only ensure existing protected sites are in the best possible condition, but recover threatened animal and plant species, create and connect spaces such as wetlands, meadows and peatlands.

“Achieving nature recovery is a complex task that can only be realised through partnerships,” said Mr Juniper.

We must change our approach... to embark on restoration at scale. Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England.