Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)

The LNRS will provide a blueprint for how Suffolk’s local communities, landowners, local authorities, private companies, and government bodies can work together to; broaden protection, restore, and recover nature on the ground. This will include:

• Creating Nature Recovery Networks: Land that connects isolated habitats, creating corridors that promote species migration, genetic exchange, and adaptation to climate change.
• Enhancing Biodiversity: Creating or improving habitats for native species, addressing factors that threaten biodiversity, and reintroducing species that have disappeared locally.
• Green Space Access and Connection: Improving access to and the quality of green spaces and natural areas for local residents.
• Using Land Sustainably: Examples include sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, to nature-based solutions in urban planning and development.
• Engaging With Communities and Partners: Involving local communities, businesses, and landowners in the nature recovery process.
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Using natural solutions such as; increasing tree cover to remove carbon from the atmosphere, restoring wetlands and peatlands, and changing the way farmland is managed.
• Opportunities for Education: To increase community awareness and understanding of biodiversity issues and the importance of healthy ecosystems.

• Developers and Planning Authorities: The LNRS will be used as a long-term decision making tool to help guide mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain and other planning tools such as Green Infrastructure.
• Farmers and Land Managers: The LNRS will be used to inform applications for funding from Environmental Land Management schemes, supporting Suffolk’s agricultural sector. It will also help steer opportunities for nature-based solutions such as flood risk management and sequestering carbon through new trees, woodlands and healthier soils.
• Suffolk Residents and Communities: By involving local communities in the development and implementation of the LNRS, it will foster a sense of local ownership, responsibility, and appreciation for biodiversity.
• Businesses and the Local Economy: The LNRS will play an important role in bringing green investment into the county from national and international funding sources, and creating local opportunities for Suffolk businesses to achieve their environment and social governance (ESG) objectives.

Suffolk County Council has been designated as the responsible authority for developing Suffolk’s LNRS. We will do this by working closely with supporting authorities – the districts, borough and Broads Authority - local nature organisations, landowners and a wide range of other stakeholders.

We will work jointly on this with Norfolk County Council, through our Norfolk and Suffolk Nature Recovery Partnership, reflecting the continuity in habitats and nature recovery opportunities across the two counties. We will also liaise closely with Essex and Cambridgeshire to ensure the LNRS works across county boundaries.

1. Stakeholder Engagement: there will be engagement with local stakeholders, including conservation groups, landowners and community organisations throughout to ensure the strategy reflects local needs and opportunities.
2. Developing the Strategy: drafting of the LNRS, including mapping, setting priorities for action, and outlining specific projects and initiatives will involve both technical ecological assessments and broader consultation with stakeholders.
3. Consultation: Stakeholder consultation will be ongoing throughout the process, culminating in a public consultation of the draft LNRS.
4. Inspiring New Projects and Practical Delivery: The LNRS is intended to help inspire and generate new partnerships and practical nature recovery projects on the ground.
5. Monitoring and Review:

The government anticipates that an LNRS will take 12 to 18 months to prepare and publish, with aim of completion due by mid 2025.

Funding to support the preparation and publication of Suffolk’s LNRS by SCC has been provided by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

No core funding has currently been provided for the subsequent implementation, monitoring and review of the LNRS. It is anticipated that the LNRSs once adopted will help lever in funding for nature recovery using the range of tools and incentives referred to in the Strategy.

October 2024

• Survey results from our Public and Land Manager surveys has been analysed, with results contributing to the longlisted biodiversity priorities. Responses from the public and landowners highlighted similar priorities in Suffolk, as well as corresponding results from the Norfolk LNRS surveys.
• Work has continued on creating the document structure and drafting the final strategy document. There is ongoing collaboration with partners to contribute case studies of nature recovery work already taking place across the county.
• Nearly 300 relevant plans and strategies from across Suffolk and Norfolk were consulted, identifying over 1600 existing nature recovery priorities which are being used to inform our biodiversity priorities and measures.
• A long list of over 1500 species was created using key data and local expertise. This was reduced to a short list of 264 species using robust processes, supporting evidence and expert opinion. The shortlist has been organised into 24 key priority species and 15 habitat assemblages.
• Regular meetings with the Steering Group have been ongoing to help guide the direction of the strategy work. The Themed Working Groups continue to be consulted at key points to contribute expert advice, support and relevant data.
• Monthly Supporting Authority Liaison Group meetings have been established to provide updates and an opportunity for feedback for our Supporting Authorities. These are attended by representatives from Ipswich Borough Council, East Suffolk Council, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council, West Suffolk Council and Broads Authority.
• Opportunities for contributing to mapped areas of potential opportunity were presented to experts, partners, landowners, sector groups and all survey respondents.
• Planning for the intended March 2025 Public Consultation is ongoing.

July 2024

• Initial mapping of the Areas of Particular Importance to Biodiversity has been completed. This maps all designated areas across the county and those considered particularly important for nature. 
• A first draft of the Description of the Strategy area has been written. This will be included in the final strategy and highlights the current state of nature in Suffolk, the pressures and opportunities for our habitats and species.
• The Norfolk and Suffolk Nature Recovery Partnership (N&SNRP) Steering Group has been established and begun advising on the development of the LNRS.
• The N&SNRP website has been made live, with ongoing updates and developments planned: nsnrp.org
• Six Themed Working Groups have been established, supporting across Land Management, Water and Coast, Species and Biodiversity, Mapping and Planning (one for each county). Initial engagement has begun with a first round of workshops taking place in April and May.
• Engagement across different sector groups has been established with webinars and workshops delivered for communities across Suffolk, a Business and Leisure group, Health, Wellbeing and Access group and Local and Parish Councils.
• Public and Land Management surveys were launched to gather input into the longlisting process for the strategy, helping to identify what our species and habitat priorities should be and areas of opportunity.
• Gathering of relevant spatial plans, nature recovery strategies and other documents covering the county to form part of the consideration for the strategy.
• Connection with wider stakeholders is ongoing through events, conversations and other engagement opportunities.

December 2023

• The first dedicated LNRS sessions were held for Suffolk and Norfolk ‘Supporting Authorities’ and the Nature Recovery Partnership. 
• Production of a project timeline, communications, and stakeholder engagement plans.
• Production and testing of early LNRS mapping across both counties: ‘areas of existing importance for nature’ and wildlife site connectivity potential.
• The development of the first Nature Recovery Partnership website is in progress.
• Formation of a dedicated joint LNRS team comprised of staff from both Norfolk County Council (NCC) and Suffolk County Council (SCC) and the Norfolk and Suffolk Nature Recovery Partnership Manager.
• Putting governance in place, including collaboration between both SCC and NCC under the Nature Recovery Partnership, and identifying aspects specific to Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils.
• Identification of themes as the basis of LNRS working groups in spring and summer 2024. These are: communications, land management, mapping, coast and water, biodiversity and nature-based solutions, and two planning groups (one for each county).
• Progressing steering and working group membership.
• Active early engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and partners from many sectors, including farmers and landowners, local community partnerships, planning authorities, water companies, and nature conservation bodies.

Please email the delivery team at LNRS@suffolk.gov.uk

The strategy is still being prepared and expected to be completed by mid 2025. As part of the process a local habitat map has been created which highlights areas of the county that are particularly valuable for nature. The full version of the map can also be accessed.