Feedback from previous phases

There have been two previous phases of consultation in developing the draft strategy. Here's a summary of the feedback which is also included in the Statement of Priorities.

Phase 1 - identifying our priorities and developing the local habitat map

Phase 2 - Draft priorities and measures

Public feedback

Over 80% of you strongly agreed that the decline in wildlife was a matter that urgently needs our attention. You felt that climate adaption was the most important benefit that nature provides, with health and wellbeing and flood alleviation also important.

You felt that grasslands and woodlands were the most important habitats, while heathland and scrub habitats were a less important priority. Invertebrates topped the list of species groups, birds followed in second place and mammals were also well represented.  

When it came to specific species, you mentioned red squirrel and hedgehog the most, alongside a range of butterflies and bees. Bird species such as lapwing, curlew, yellowhammer, skylark, swallows, martins and swifts were also frequently mentioned.

More information about the residents’ consultation is contained in Appendix 1 of the Statement of Priorities.

Schools’ feedback

Around 2,000 primary and secondary school children took part in the first phase. The engagement with schools showed that 94% of children value nature and think that it should be preserved. There was a relationship between where primary schoolchildren visited and the habitats that they valued, with most children encountering nature on their doorstep and by visiting nature reserves.

Secondary school pupils felt that woodlands were the most important habitats in the county, with pupils from East Durham also highlighting the coast as important. This again highlighted the relationship between what habitats schoolchildren valued and what they experience locally. Children also saw invertebrates as important, although mammals were a slightly more popular choice when asked which types of wildlife they would like to see more of in the county.

Farmers and landowners’ feedback

Farmers and landowners highlighted several species at workshops they attended. Birds such as black grouse and wading birds including curlew and lapwing came up regularly. Other species mentioned included water vole and red squirrel and the impacts on fish from water pollution and barriers to their migration such as culverts. 

Woodlands and hedgerows were also a common topic at these workshops with the value of hedgerows as connecting habitats being highlighted. Improving the diversity and connectivity of our woodlands especially ancient woodlands was raised as a priority. 

The Teesdale assemblage (a combination of rare plants growing together which occurs nowhere else in Britain) and limestone grasslands require careful grazing and this was seen as an opportunity to use of traditional, locally distinctive breeds and hence a mechanism to conserve rare breeds.

Working groups

Working groups were established to develop the priorities and measures for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and their discussions were informed by the feedback from the consultation process. Representatives from private, public and charitable organisations, as well as individuals with an interest or specialist knowledge of particular subjects formed the membership of the Working Groups. The lead organisation for each working group was as follows:

• Grassland, Heathland and Peatland – Durham Wildlife Trust
• Woodland, Hedgerows, Scrub and Trees – Forestry Commission
• Running Waters and Wetlands – Wear Rivers Trust
• Urban – Durham County Council (Ecology and Clean and Green)
• Coastal – Durham County Council (Heritage Coast and Ecology)
• Species – Durham County Council (Ecology)

You can read more about the work of each working group in section 10.5 of the Statement of Priorities.