14 Jul 2025
Have your say on recovering nature in Hertfordshire!
Hertfordshire County Council is today, 14 July, asking residents for their views on a new Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for the county. This strategy is the culmination of over 18 months of work by the Hertfordshire Nature Recovery Partnership, with support from environmental and ecological experts, land managers, district and borough councils and other organisations and communities.
The strategy offers a comprehensive vision for nature in Hertfordshire. It aims to help us all to come together to recover and protect the county’s natural environment. Through working together to create more space for nature, we can improve air and water quality, mitigate flooding, tackle climate change and improve access to green space.
A lot of great environmental work goes on across Hertfordshire, but this strategy will help residents and organisations understand what kind of projects could be most effective in particular areas to support local biodiversity and improve certain habitats for wildlife.
You can take part in the consultation by:
Reading the Hertfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy draft
Signing up to the LNRS webinars in July and August:
- Monday, 21 July, 12pm – 1:30pm
- Monday, 21 July, 6pm-7:30pm
- Tuesday, 19 August, 12pm - 1:30pm
- Tuesday, 19 August, 6pm-7:30pm
Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Growth at Hertfordshire County Council and Chair of the Hertfordshire Nature Recovery Partnership, said:
“Nature across the UK is under real pressure, including here in Hertfordshire, and we need to act now to help it recover. The Hertfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is our guide to help everyone to do this, to come together to make Hertfordshire a real haven for nature.
“Many organisations have already worked together to identify what we think are the animal and plant species that most need our help, the types of habitats they need to thrive and which themselves are crucial, identify actions we can take to support those habitats and species and the places where action would have the most benefit.
“By sharing your thoughts on the draft, and your knowledge of your neighbourhood, you are helping to shape a better future for our local environment, for the benefit of us all. Please do have your say!”
Notes to editors
Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are a new, England-wide approach to targeting the restoration, enhancement and creation of spaces for nature. Each of 48 ‘Responsible Authorities’ across England must create an LNRS, as required by the Environment Act 2021.
The purpose of an LNRS is to enable a more joined-up, locally implemented approach to nature recovery by identifying strategic priorities for nature recovery designed for our county, the actions that need to be taken to achieve these priorities, and the areas in the county where these actions would be most impactful.
An LNRS is made up of the following:
- A strategy area description. This is to describe the area’s natural environment and biodiversity and the key pressures on nature in the area.
- A list of priorities and actions* for nature recovery in the area. This is to prioritise the actions that will have the most impact on recovering nature in the area based on ecological expertise. (* ‘Actions’ are referred to as ‘measures’ in the LNRS guidance.)
- A list of species. This allows us to bring awareness to some of the most vulnerable species in the area and identify ways to help them, and other species, recover and thrive.
- A map showing opportunities for nature recovery across the area. This is to show the areas where actions described in the strategy would have the most impact on nature recovery.
Accessibility
If you don’t have access to the internet, your local library with computer facilities can help you with accessing the strategy online. If you need to access a hard copy of the strategy, please get in touch with your local district, borough, town or parish council and let them know what parts of the strategy you need, or if you need any other help accessing the strategy, please get in touch at localnaturerecovery@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
The consultation goes live Monday, 14 July at 9am and will close on Monday 8 September at 11:45pm.
About Hertfordshire County Council
We are working to build a sustainable, inclusive and thriving Hertfordshire, as we deliver hundreds of services to the 1.2million people who live in the county.
We want to create a county where every resident thrives and achieves their aspirations, where economic growth, innovation and industry are supported, and our environment is protected for future generations.
Above all, we want to be a council that Hertfordshire’s people recognise as being on their side.
To find out more about our key priorities and our commitments to our residents visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/corporateplan
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