Local Nature Recovery Strategy - Phase 2 draft priorities and measures
We need your help to develop a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for County Durham to help conserve our important habitats and species.
The LNRS will support and protect the diverse range of landscapes and wildlife we have in our beautiful county. It will identify our current priorities for nature and help direct resources to those identified habitats and species. It will be updated on a regular basis and priorities may change in the future.
The work taking place
With your help, we are in the process of creating the following for the strategy:
- A local habitat map identifying the most valuable existing wildlife areas and also a map of areas that could be used for creating or improving habitats for nature in the future.
- A statement of biodiversity priorities which will detail the habitats and species which are the most important for the county and include the opportunities, priorities and measures for nature recovery.
Have your say
- Provide your comments online.
- Ask for a printed copy of the information from one of our libraries or customer access points.
The closing date for comments is 3 April 2025.
Email letstalkcountydurham@durham.gov.uk if you would like the information in an alternative format.
Phases
Draft priorities and measures
We’ve used the findings from the first phase to draw up some draft priorities and measures.
We would like to get your views on these draft priorities, before we consult again on more detailed versions of them in conjunction with the LNRS map once it's been developed. This will be later in 2025.
How your feedback from phase 1 has been incorporated
Unfortunately, the LNRS cannot provide priorities and measures for every species and habitat. However many of the species, not specifically mentioned, will benefit from the wider measures proposed within the draft priorities and measures outlined below.
For example, the hedgehog topped the list of species highlighted by you in phase 1. Although you’ll find there is no specific priority for the hedgehog, it has been considered, and the measures for habitats and the urban environment will help to support it by providing suitable habitat and land management practises across the county.
Species such as black grouse and curlew, which were brought up in the workshops in phase 1, do have priorities and measures associated with them which are additional to those related to the habitat they are found in.
Other popular responses from the first phase included promoting in-field and hedgerow trees and increasing the amount of hedgerow. These are considered in measures for Woodland, Hedgerows, Scrub and Trees.