image text reads: Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Image of butterfly.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Nottinghamshire and Nottingham

Creating a greener Nottinghamshire for everyone

We are responsible for producing the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Nottinghamshire (including the city). Working closely with local district and borough councils, Nottingham City Council, East Midlands Combined County Authority and key stakeholders, we have set out how and where we can best protect and enhance nature locally. The LNRS is our map for nature's recovery in Nottinghamshire and will contribute to the National Recovery Network.

Our strategy

Our strategy is representative of Nottinghamshire habitats and species to ensure the best chances for nature and wildlife to improve and thrive.

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been put together by consulting experts and non-experts alike over the 2-year period since work started in Autumn 2023.

We prepared a draft strategy which went live for a six-week public consultation period from 6 May to 16 June 2025 so that everyone could read the draft LNRS and have an opportunity to provide feedback.

Thank you to everyone who filled out a survey or attended an event during the public consultation.  We received over 400 responses to the online survey, as well as over 50 individual email responses. All comments were recorded and analysed, and a report was prepared on the public consultation.  The comments from the online survey, as well as the feedback from the 320 people who attended the series of public and online events held across the County during May and June, were used to make appropriate amendments to the draft and help us develop the final version of the strategy.  This was approved by the county council as the responsible authority in September 2025.

The final LNRS documents and online map were published on 10 November 2025.

To find out more about the LNRS please go to our Notts Nature Recovery website [opens in a new tab] where you will be able to:

There's also a short summary document, which provides a quick overview of the key points of the LNRS, and how it has been developed, as well as FAQs and user guides to help different groups use the LNRS.

If you want to be kept informed of progress, or you know of any relevant organisations or groups that we should involve, please contact the LNRS Coordinator, email: 

What is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy?

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are a new England-wide system of spatial strategies established by the Environment Act 2021. 

The main purposes of these strategies are to:

  • help reverse the ongoing decline of nature in England by establishing priorities for nature recovery.

  • identify locations to create or improve habitats that are most likely to provide the greatest benefit for nature and the wider environment.

  • inform the delivery of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and guide local planning policy for nature recovery.

Key elements of the strategy include:

  • Biodiversity Priorities Statement: identifying priorities for nature's recovery.

  • Local Habitat Map: mapping the most valuable existing areas for nature and highlighting specific proposals for habitat creation or wider environmental improvement goals.

Production of the Strategy

We are committed to recovering nature in Nottinghamshire. Our Local Nature Recovery Strategy consists of an online document and map to inform and guide nature recovery across the county.

The proposed actions will help address the global biodiversity crisis and provide benefits for residents, as local green spaces are important for physical and mental health.

There were three key elements in developing the strategy:

  • Research: identifying local priorities, opportunities and challenges for nature recovery.

  • Mapping: creating The Local Habitat Map.

  • Engagement: discussing nature recovery with key stakeholders and the wider public.

We work with local stakeholders, including:

  • Ashfield District Council

  • Bassetlaw District Council

  • Broxtowe Borough Council

  • Gedling Borough Council

  • Mansfield District Council

  • Newark & Sherwood District Council

  • Nottingham City Council

  • Rushcliffe Borough Council

  • East Midlands Combined County Authority

  • Natural England

  • Environment Agency

  • Forestry Commission

  • National Farmers Union

  • Country Land & Business Association

  • Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

  • Notts Biodiversity Action Group

  • RSPB

  • Canal and River Trust

  • Trent Rivers Trust

  • National Trust

  • Woodland Trust

  • Nottingham Trent University

  • University of Nottingham

  • East Midlands Chamber

Timescales

The final version of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Nottinghamshire and Nottingham was approved by the County Council Cabinet on 10 September 2025 and was published on 10 November 2025.

The strategy is a statutory document and will remain in place until the county council is directed by DEFRA to carry out a review, which is expected to be between three to 10 years' time.

Everyone has a part in nature recovery

We all have a responsibility to protect the natural environment, both locally and globally. We can all help nature to recover in our gardens, workplaces and the green spaces near where we live. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy provides a framework for action that can be taken by councils, farmers, environmental organisations, businesses and community groups.

This project is funded through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Defra.

Funded by UK Government