Berkshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Share Berkshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy on Facebook Share Berkshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy on Twitter Share Berkshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy on Linkedin Email Berkshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy link



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 and together, they will cover the country in a Nature Recovery Network. 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.

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


When can I see the published strategy?

We are currently in the Pre-Publication stage of our Berkshire Nature Recovery Strategy. This means that it has been drafted, consulted on and edited, and is now obtaining support to be published. We anticipate publication could be this October (2025). Once published, the strategy will be available on this website.


How is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy created?

Each Nature Recovery Strategy has collaborated with many groups, from landowners to public bodies, to eNGOs, community groups and the public. 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 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?

Once published, our strategy will be a blueprint for Berkshire's Nature Recovery Network 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.
  • Agri-environment funding: It will help shape how future funding for farmers and land managers will be used under the new Environmental Land Management Scheme.
  • Nature-based solutions: It may strengthen local ambitions for nature-based solutions to climate change by identifying priority areas for trees, wetland and other key habitats.
  • Investment: It aims to help to attract and guide future investment in Berkshire's Nature Recovery Network.



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

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




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 and together, they will cover the country in a Nature Recovery Network. 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.

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


When can I see the published strategy?

We are currently in the Pre-Publication stage of our Berkshire Nature Recovery Strategy. This means that it has been drafted, consulted on and edited, and is now obtaining support to be published. We anticipate publication could be this October (2025). Once published, the strategy will be available on this website.


How is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy created?

Each Nature Recovery Strategy has collaborated with many groups, from landowners to public bodies, to eNGOs, community groups and the public. 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 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?

Once published, our strategy will be a blueprint for Berkshire's Nature Recovery Network 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.
  • Agri-environment funding: It will help shape how future funding for farmers and land managers will be used under the new Environmental Land Management Scheme.
  • Nature-based solutions: It may strengthen local ambitions for nature-based solutions to climate change by identifying priority areas for trees, wetland and other key habitats.
  • Investment: It aims to help to attract and guide future investment in Berkshire's Nature Recovery Network.



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

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


Updates

Updates on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy regularly posted here. 


Thank you for sharing your story with us.

You need to be signed in to share your story.

All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

Cancel
  • 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

    15 days 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

    5 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

    8 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

    9 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

    about 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

  • Share Farmer and Landowner Workshops completed on Facebook Share Farmer and Landowner Workshops completed on Twitter Share Farmer and Landowner Workshops completed on Linkedin Email Farmer and Landowner Workshops completed link

    Farmer and Landowner Workshops completed

    over 1 year ago

    Our three workshops for farmers, landowners, land managers and foresters have been completed.

    Below is a map of where representatives at the workshops managed land across Berkshire




    We saw representatives from the following sectors:

    Central Berkshire - (29 attendees)

    • Parish council representatives
    • Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust Representatives
    • Ecologists– Reading Borough Council
    • Farmers/Landowners x 5
    • BioCap
    • Forestry Commission
    • University of Reading – agro-environment group x3
    • Farmer cluster facilitator
    • Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead officers – Natural Environment Team and Equalities and Diversity team
    • Berkshire College of Agriculture
    • Atomic Weapons Establishment ecologist




    East Berkshire - (48 attendees)

  • Share Community workshops launched on Facebook Share Community workshops launched on Twitter Share Community workshops launched on Linkedin Email Community workshops launched link

    Community workshops launched

    over 1 year ago
    We are excited to make our seven community workshops, plus our survey, live today. These are opportunities for residents, community groups, businesses and NGOs to have their say on their priorities for nature recovery in Berkshire.
  • Share More workshops coming on Facebook Share More workshops coming on Twitter Share More workshops coming on Linkedin Email More workshops coming link

    More workshops coming

    over 1 year ago
    • 6 free Borough specific engagement events are being planned for April. These will be promoted to the public, community groups, harder to reach groups, businesses etc). These will primarily stakeholder collect priorities for nature. There will be light refreshments provided. These will be run in conjunction with a local group, e.g. the Wokingham event with Earley Environmental Group. The West Berks event may be held at the BBOWT Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre. These will include stakeholders from different disciplines. Stakeholder engagement working group is contributing to the design of these. A stakeholder engagement plan has been drafted by Just Ideas.
  • Share Workshops live! on Facebook Share Workshops live! on Twitter Share Workshops live! on Linkedin Email Workshops live! link

    Workshops live!

    over 1 year ago
    • 3 free farmer/landowner engagement workshops are now live: Wasing Estate, Windsor Great Park and Reading University Farm for farmer landowner workshops (18th, 12th and 6th March respectively). These will be catered. Opportunities to discuss priorities for nature, learn about LNRS and BNG, and to register interest in land being included in the LNRS. Farmer engagement working group is contributing to planning and advertisement of these workshops.
Page last updated: 24 Jul 2025, 11:04 AM