Local residents, environmental groups, landowners, farmers and charities have come together with Herefordshire Council to launch a new collaborative approach to protecting and restoring Herefordshire’s natural environment

Together they have shaped the county’s first ever Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) - https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/lnrsconsultation- a major new plan with 15 habitat priorities designed to protect, enhance and reconnect the landscapes, habitats and species that make Herefordshire special. 

Backed by extensive mapping, expert scientific input and collaboration with landowners, charities, national agencies and community organisations over the past two years, the LNRS sets out almost 100 potential opportunities to boost biodiversity and restore natural assets across Herefordshire’s 200,000 hectares. Council specialists and partners are already working with many landowners on local projects.

A public consultation has now been launched to get wider feedback and input into the plan – including potential for even more opportunities to enhance the environment for the future. An interactive online map allows people to zoom in on 42 potential habitat measures and 12 supporting actions, plus 43 potential species measures.

The LNRS is not a list of mandatory schemes. Instead, it outlines a menu of voluntary ideas and suggestions, alongside existing nature reserves, wildlife sites and unique habitats, that residents, farmers and all types of landowners can choose to pursue with support from the Council and partners. Council staff are already working with landowners, environmental charities and others in the county‑wide effort to create healthier habitats, cleaner watercourses, richer wildlife and more resilient ecosystems.

Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst, Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “This plan has been developed locally by people who manage, own, maintain and care about land and nature. It’s been a collaborative effort to create a county-wide set of options which will benefit us all. Protecting and restoring our land and the species which inhabit it isn’t just about improving the environment; it’s essential to our quality of life, our health, our economy, and to keeping Herefordshire a special county for people to live, visit and invest in.”

Emma Johnson, Natural England’s West Midlands Deputy Director, said: “The publication of Herefordshire's first Local Nature Recovery Strategy is a significant milestone to reverse nature's decline across the county.

“Natural England is proud to have worked alongside Herefordshire Council, the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and partners to help shape this strategy. We are excited to see how this will make a real difference to communities in Herefordshire, using nature based solutions to address systemic issues like climate change. This can only be done by working with others, I encourage everyone to respond to the consultation and play their part in building a greener, more nature-rich future for the county."

Alan Reid, Forestry Commission Nature Recovery Advisor for the West Midlands, said: "The trees, woodlands and forests of Herefordshire are home to some of the county's rarest and most exquisite flora and fauna. Over the past few years, the Forestry Commission has been proud to contribute to Herefordshire County Council's Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). This strategy is the blueprint for securing the future for these species, by expanding their range and populations through habitat creation and connection.

“At the same time, restoring natural habitats like woodland will bring all kinds of wider benefits to the county, such as improving water and air quality. Nature needs our help and the Forestry Commission is pleased to see the strategy launch and play our part in implementing it. "

Martin Quine, the Environment Agency’s West Midlands Place Manager for Shropshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, said: “The Environment Agency welcomes the publication of the Herefordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Over the past 24 months, we have worked in partnership to support the development of a strategy that delivers nature recovery, alongside wider environmental benefits, including flood management, improved water quality, and climate resilience. We will continue working together as the strategy moves into its delivery phase.”

Saul Herbert, CEO of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, said: “This clear, shared strategy for nature recovery in the county is a landmark moment for the wildlife and landscapes of Herefordshire. The strategy has been shaped by the shared aims of numerous organisations and local people and provides a strong platform for us to work together for the future of our exceptional and distinctive natural environment. I hope that people will look at the options, input information and give their views. The strategy has emerged from a great collaboration of voluntary groups and statutory partners and it’s important that that we build on this to create a local movement that enables everyone to make a difference, restoring and protecting nature in Herefordshire.

What nature recovery could mean for Herefordshire

The strategy identifies priority themes across the county’s landscape, including:

• Rivers, waters and wetlands
• Trees and woodlands
• Species rich grasslands and meadows
• Hedgerows
• Farmland, moorland, heathland and urban areas

It also highlights species that require protection - from birds and bats to moths, insects, reptiles, fish, flowering plants and even beavers - ensuring the LNRS strengthens the entire ecosystem.

Public consultation: county‑wide invitation to take part

Local people have already emphasised that safeguarding the county’s rivers, woodlands, hedgerows and wildlife is a priority for them – and now there’s a further chance to help shape the full strategy. A series of public events across the county will also provide the opportunity to discuss the LNRS with specialist staff and partners, ask questions, and provide input.

For more details and to provide feedback please visit: https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/lnrsconsultation

• You can attend public consultation events across the county including
  • Ledbury Market - 14 February – 8am to 4pm
  • Queenswood Arboretum and Country Park (hosted by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust), 21 February 9am to 3pm
  • Kington Market, 21 Feb 9am to 1pm
  • Hereford Street Market, Sat 14th March, 9am to 4pm
  • Ross-on-Wye Market - 7 March, 9am to 3pm
• The LNRS public consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 22 March 2026

 Milestone for Herefordshire’s environment - and nationally significant strategy

By restoring nature, the LNRS aims to strengthen the county’s environmental resilience, enhance quality of life, protect cherished landscapes and support a thriving rural economy. It also reinforces the Council’s long‑term ambition to make Herefordshire a great place to live, work and invest, with a flourishing natural environment at its heart.

The LNRS is a key statutory document required by Government, as part of strategies to help national efforts to reverse the decline of biodiversity.

 Herefordshire is one of 48 such plans nationally. It has been developed jointly by the Council and partners including Wye Valley National Landscape, Herefordshire Biological Records Centre, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, Farm Herefordshire, The Wye and Usk Foundation, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust, Wye Catchment Partnership, The Country Land and Business Association, National Farmers Union, Forestry England, Natural England, the Environment Agency, plus 170+ residents across the county.