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The public consultation on the draft LNRS has now closed. Thank you to all those who submitted comments. The final version of the LNRS is due to be published Winter 2025/2026.

A Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is a spatial strategy required by the Environment Act 2021. It will set out local priorities to restore and enhance habitats and recover populations of species.

The strategy will be accompanied by a Local Habitat Map, which shows existing areas of particular importance for biodiversity and where the best gains for nature can be achieved.

A Local Nature Recovery Strategy sets out what the priority habitats, species and environmental issues are for º£½Ç»»ÆÞ.

A Local Habitat Map translates this into where the biggest gains for nature can be delivered on the ground.

Download a Quick Guide to the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Why do we need a Local Nature Recovery Strategy?

Great Britain is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with almost 1,500 species threatened with extinction. Habitats and species are under huge pressure from threats including development, intensive land management, pollution, invasive species, pests and disease, and climate change.

The nation’s shows that, in the UK:

• numbers of farmland birds have declined by 58% on average
• pollinating insect species, including bees, hoverflies, and moths, have declined in distribution by an average of 18%
• just 7% of land in England is protected for wildlife

Nature underpins our society and economy, providing us with clean air, water, soil and carbon storage. Access to nature is vital for our physical and mental wellbeing.

Nature needs collective, concerted action from us to help it recover.

º£½Ç»»ÆÞ's landscape and wildlife

º£½Ç»»ÆÞ is home to an amazing diversity of landscapes and wildlife, with nationally significant resources of traditional orchards, ancient woodlands and trees, lowland meadows and floodplain meadows.

º£½Ç»»ÆÞ contains parts of two protected National Landscapes (the Malvern Hills and the Cotswolds) and internationally protected sites such as Bredon Hill Special Area of Conservation.

Read more in the:

• º£½Ç»»ÆÞ State of Nature Report 2023 (PDF)

Timetable for preparation of the LNRS: 

• º£½Ç»»ÆÞ County Council was appointed as the Responsible Authority for preparation of the county’s LNRS on 26 June 2023
• an Issues and Options consultation on preparation of the draft LNRS was live between 15 January and 10 March 2024
• the draft LNRS was made available for public consultation between 5 August and 26 September 2025
• the final version of the LNRS is due to be published Winter 2025/2026

Contact

Sign up to our planning consultation database to receive direct communications on LNRS preparation and review. Visit Get Involved In Planning and register on the database to receive ‘Environmental Policy’ topics.

You can contact us directly about this LNRS consultation via email on: lnrs@worcestershire.gov.uk 

Government policy on preparation and review of LNRS can be found here: