Local Nature
Recovery Strategy

In the West of England, we are the first region in England to launch a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and to create a Toolkit specifically to see the strategy put into action.

The LNRS sets local priorities for nature recovery and maps ‘focus areas’ where action to help nature will have the biggest impact. There is a single LNRS covering the unitary authority areas of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset. In total, there will be 48 Local Nature Recovery Strategies, covering the whole of England; joined together, the aim is that they will support delivery of a national Nature Recovery Network. LNRSs will have a role in the planning system. Local Plans will take account of them and they will incentivise the purchase of Biodiversity Net Gain units in areas that are most beneficial for nature.

Our Toolkit is a user-friendly set of resources, accessible via an app, that make the LNRS priorities and recommended actions accessible to all. Farmers, communities, businesses – anyone with a desire for a more nature-rich region – can get information directly from the Toolkit about what to do on their land or in their local area that will be best for nature, and options for how they could fund it. The LNRS has also informed our Priority Programmes for which we are seeking investment.