Berkshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy

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When can I see the published strategy?

The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is now published. The strategy consists of 4 documents:

1. The Local Habitat Map Link

2. The Description of Berkshire

3. The List of Priorities and Measures

4. The Species Priorities List

Other background documents, such as methodologies behind the engagement and data collection, longlists and information obtained from workshops and consultations, are also available to view.

The Local Habitat Map, linked, allows the ability to view Baseline Biodiversity areas and also Opportunities for Biodiversity areas. If you are trained in GIS systems and would like to access these layers as GIS files, please email bnc@rbwm.gov.uk with the subject line: GIS file access for Berkshire LNRS.


What is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy and who has developed it?

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are spatial strategies to recover nature across England. There are 48 in total. Together, they form a Nature Recovery Network across England. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have been responsible for developing the Berkshire LNRS. Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council, Slough Borough Council, West Berkshire District Council, Wokingham Borough Council and Natural England have supported the creation. The Environment Act 2021 states that every county area must develop a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. See further Regulations and Guidance for LNRSs.

Find a blog here from Natural England for more information on Local Nature Recovery Strategies.


How is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy created?

Each Nature Recovery Strategy has collaborated at every stage with many groups, from landowners to public bodies, to eNGOs, community groups and the public. A combination of surveys, a Public Consultation, pins on maps, working groups and workshops collected information that has made this strategy. First, we mapped areas that are currently good for biodiversity, and wrote about the biodiversity of the area, including its history and future opportunities and threats. Then, our Priorities and actions for nature recovery were agreed and used alongside computer modelling to create a Local Habitat Map. These depict what needs to happen to achieve the agreed aims for nature. This links with delivery mechanisms, such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), other funding opportunities and to habitat management guidance. See more in the flowchart below.




What will the Berkshire LNRS be used for?

Our strategy is a blueprint for nature recovery, that will help us prioritise where and how we should invest and target action in the short-term. It will be a crucial delivery plan for the long-term ambitions of each Local Authority's Biodiversity Action Plans, climate strategies and more.

The Berkshire LNRS will help to guide:

  • Planning and development: How and where developers will deliver their new Biodiversity Net Gain duties - including the delivery of biodiversity offsetting and by identifying spatial allocations for nature.
  • Investment: It aims to help to attract and guide future investment across Berkshire.
  • Planning Policy: Planning Policy needs to 'take account' of the Berkshire LNRS in planning decisions


Why are Local Nature Recovery Strategies needed?

England is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. To recover our nature, we need to understand what should happen at a local level. That's what Local Nature Recovery Strategies are aiming to do - use local knowledge to develop a realistic and accurate plan of where nature recovery should and could occur, and help to deliver those ambitions.


What did our Berkshire community tell us they want to see in Berkshire's Nature Recovery?

As well as the longer documents that can be viewed when published, a local artist also created a visual representation of people's ideas for Berkshire's nature recovery, as told during workshops.

Visualisation of stakeholder views on Berkshire Nature Recovery. Credits to Natalie Ganpatsingh.






When can I see the published strategy?

The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is now published. The strategy consists of 4 documents:

1. The Local Habitat Map Link

2. The Description of Berkshire

3. The List of Priorities and Measures

4. The Species Priorities List

Other background documents, such as methodologies behind the engagement and data collection, longlists and information obtained from workshops and consultations, are also available to view.

The Local Habitat Map, linked, allows the ability to view Baseline Biodiversity areas and also Opportunities for Biodiversity areas. If you are trained in GIS systems and would like to access these layers as GIS files, please email bnc@rbwm.gov.uk with the subject line: GIS file access for Berkshire LNRS.


What is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy and who has developed it?

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are spatial strategies to recover nature across England. There are 48 in total. Together, they form a Nature Recovery Network across England. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have been responsible for developing the Berkshire LNRS. Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council, Slough Borough Council, West Berkshire District Council, Wokingham Borough Council and Natural England have supported the creation. The Environment Act 2021 states that every county area must develop a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. See further Regulations and Guidance for LNRSs.

Find a blog here from Natural England for more information on Local Nature Recovery Strategies.


How is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy created?

Each Nature Recovery Strategy has collaborated at every stage with many groups, from landowners to public bodies, to eNGOs, community groups and the public. A combination of surveys, a Public Consultation, pins on maps, working groups and workshops collected information that has made this strategy. First, we mapped areas that are currently good for biodiversity, and wrote about the biodiversity of the area, including its history and future opportunities and threats. Then, our Priorities and actions for nature recovery were agreed and used alongside computer modelling to create a Local Habitat Map. These depict what needs to happen to achieve the agreed aims for nature. This links with delivery mechanisms, such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), other funding opportunities and to habitat management guidance. See more in the flowchart below.




What will the Berkshire LNRS be used for?

Our strategy is a blueprint for nature recovery, that will help us prioritise where and how we should invest and target action in the short-term. It will be a crucial delivery plan for the long-term ambitions of each Local Authority's Biodiversity Action Plans, climate strategies and more.

The Berkshire LNRS will help to guide:

  • Planning and development: How and where developers will deliver their new Biodiversity Net Gain duties - including the delivery of biodiversity offsetting and by identifying spatial allocations for nature.
  • Investment: It aims to help to attract and guide future investment across Berkshire.
  • Planning Policy: Planning Policy needs to 'take account' of the Berkshire LNRS in planning decisions


Why are Local Nature Recovery Strategies needed?

England is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. To recover our nature, we need to understand what should happen at a local level. That's what Local Nature Recovery Strategies are aiming to do - use local knowledge to develop a realistic and accurate plan of where nature recovery should and could occur, and help to deliver those ambitions.


What did our Berkshire community tell us they want to see in Berkshire's Nature Recovery?

As well as the longer documents that can be viewed when published, a local artist also created a visual representation of people's ideas for Berkshire's nature recovery, as told during workshops.

Visualisation of stakeholder views on Berkshire Nature Recovery. Credits to Natalie Ganpatsingh.




Updates

Updates on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy regularly posted here. 


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  • Share The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is published! on Facebook Share The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is published! on Twitter Share The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is published! on Linkedin Email The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is published! link

    The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is published!

    3 days ago

    After 31 months of work, the Berkshire’s Nature Recovery Strategy launches today, 7th October. The Local Habitat Map, Description of Berkshire, List of Priorities and Measures and Species Priorities List as well as many other informative documents are now available for viewing. From today, the strategy also influences Biodiversity Net Gain and holds weight in Planning Policy. Work is now underway to encourage and support nature recovery projects within Berkshire, and deliver the aims of the strategy.

    Thank you again so much to everyone who has been a part of the creation of this document. Our Berkshire Nature Recovery Strategy... Continue reading

  • Share The Berkshire LNRS has been approved by RBWM Cabinet. on Facebook Share The Berkshire LNRS has been approved by RBWM Cabinet. on Twitter Share The Berkshire LNRS has been approved by RBWM Cabinet. on Linkedin Email The Berkshire LNRS has been approved by RBWM Cabinet. link

    The Berkshire LNRS has been approved by RBWM Cabinet.

    7 days ago

    On Tuesday 30th September, the publication of the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy was approved by the RBWM cabinet. The strategy will be published on 7th October!

  • Share Representing the Berkshire LNRS at the Newbury Show on Facebook Share Representing the Berkshire LNRS at the Newbury Show on Twitter Share Representing the Berkshire LNRS at the Newbury Show on Linkedin Email Representing the Berkshire LNRS at the Newbury Show link

    Representing the Berkshire LNRS at the Newbury Show

    18 days ago

    We were pleased to attend the Newbury Show 2025 and speak to farmers, landowners and community members about the strategy. Many were excited to see the published documents and map.

  • Share Berkshire LNRS completes Pre-Publication stage on Facebook Share Berkshire LNRS completes Pre-Publication stage on Twitter Share Berkshire LNRS completes Pre-Publication stage on Linkedin Email Berkshire LNRS completes Pre-Publication stage link

    Berkshire LNRS completes Pre-Publication stage

    about 2 months ago
    The Berkshire LNRS has finished its pre-publication phase, and has gained approval from Supporting Authorities of Berkshire to proceed to publication. The LNRS will now go through the RBWM cabinet on 30th September, with the aim of being published in October of this year. The team are also beginning to devise plans for the coordination of delivery of the strategy.
  • Share The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy has entered its Pre-Publication Stage on Facebook Share The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy has entered its Pre-Publication Stage on Twitter Share The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy has entered its Pre-Publication Stage on Linkedin Email The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy has entered its Pre-Publication Stage link

    The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy has entered its Pre-Publication Stage

    3 months ago
    This means the review of the Public Consultation has taken place, changes made to the LNRS documents and Local Habitat Map, and the final LNRS version has been drafted. Supporting Authorities are reviewing the strategy throughout July and if accepted, it will move to RBWM Cabinet in September.
  • Share LNRS Policy Update on Facebook Share LNRS Policy Update on Twitter Share LNRS Policy Update on Linkedin Email LNRS Policy Update link

    LNRS Policy Update

    8 months ago

    See the below DEFRA policy update regarding Local Nature Recovery Strategies.


    https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2025/02/05/local-nature-recovery-strategies-have-your-say/

  • Share Berkshire Nature Recovery Strategy approved for Public Consultation on Facebook Share Berkshire Nature Recovery Strategy approved for Public Consultation on Twitter Share Berkshire Nature Recovery Strategy approved for Public Consultation on Linkedin Email Berkshire Nature Recovery Strategy approved for Public Consultation link

    Berkshire Nature Recovery Strategy approved for Public Consultation

    10 months ago

    At the end of November, the pre consultation draft of the LNRS was approved by the Supporting Authorities of Berkshire, subject to some changes. Namely, these are Reading Borough Council, Slough Borough Council, Wokingham Borough Council, Bracknell Forest Council, West Berkshire District Council and Natural England. This was an important milestone for the project. The LNRS is now being updated with response to comments by SAs, before moving to the Public Consultation phase.

  • Share Pre Consultation Stage on Facebook Share Pre Consultation Stage on Twitter Share Pre Consultation Stage on Linkedin Email Pre Consultation Stage link

    Pre Consultation Stage

    12 months ago

    The next Berkshire LNRS Phase!


    We are excited to announce that the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy has reached a big milestone. A draft version of the strategy has now entered the Pre Consultation Phase: our fantastic supporting authorities (Wokingham, Slough, West Berkshire, Bracknell and Reading Borough Councils plus Natural England) are reviewing the documents. It will then be on its way to Public Consultation.


    This Public Consultation is planned to take place 2nd January - 15th February 2025. During this time, there will be an opportunity for the community of Berkshire to review the strategy documents in a public... Continue reading

  • Share Call to action on Facebook Share Call to action on Twitter Share Call to action on Linkedin Email Call to action link

    Call to action

    over 1 year ago

    Call to action

    We would like people to send the locations of parcels of land that would be suitable for additional nature recovery measures or management. This will help create a layer of areas more likely to be selected in our final map of prioritised locations.

    This applies to landowners and land managers, but also to community groups and individuals planning nature projects in specific areas.

    Please note, we are specifically looking for areas that could undertake nature recovery work, not areas which are already being managed for nature.

    If you possess maps: as GIS layers, PDFs or a scan... Continue reading

  • Share Our Data Prioritisation methodology on Facebook Share Our Data Prioritisation methodology on Twitter Share Our Data Prioritisation methodology on Linkedin Email Our Data Prioritisation methodology link

    Our Data Prioritisation methodology

    over 1 year ago

    An important part of our Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is the method of choosing which areas of Berkshire to prioritise for nature recovery. We cannot select everywhere: we have to decide where is most important to focus effort on first. Here in Berkshire, we decided to input priorities from all of our stakeholders (from our workshops and survey) and from documents existing on nature recovery from various councils, public bodies and NGOs, into a piece of software called Marxan. This undergoes a process called Systematic Conservation Planning.


    More on Marxan

    Marxan is a Decision Support software tool for conservation... Continue reading

Page last updated: 07 Oct 2025, 04:16 PM