Nature recovery plan launched for county

A major new plan to restore nature across Shropshire has been published after nearly 4,000 people shared their views on how to protect local wildlife and green spaces.

Shropshire Council launched the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, setting out long-term priorities to improve biodiversity, restore habitats and support the landscapes communities rely on.

The strategy has been shaped by what the councils said was record local engagement, with residents, landowners, conservation groups, businesses and parish councils helping to devise the final plan.

Councillor David Walker said nature was vital to everyday life, from clean air and water to green spaces that support health and wellbeing.

He said many species and habitats across the county were still in decline and the strategy aimed to reverse that through a "shared, locally-led approach".

"It's about bringing councils, landowners, organisations and communities together to deliver real, practical improvements for nature," he said.

The plan does not introduce new rules or force changes to land use, instead, it is designed as a practical guide to help support landowners, shape development, direct future funding and help communities improve local green spaces, the council said.

Councillor Carolyn Healy, Telford and Wrekin Council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods, planning and sustainability, said the strategy reflected two years of partnership work across the public, private and voluntary sectors.

She said it created a shared direction for tackling biodiversity loss and building "healthier, better connected habitats for wildlife and people".

Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin is one of 48 Local Nature Recovery Strategy areas in England created under the Environment Act 2021.

The final strategy has now been submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and is expected to guide local nature recovery work for years to come.

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