(image: Paul Starr)

The Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), developed over a two year period in collaboration with farmers, landowners, community groups, and environmental organisations, is designed to assist communities in restoring the countryside, creating more homes for wildlife, and improving the natural environment for future generations and to reverse decades of decline in Essex’s natural habitats.

Based on a national initiative to combat the biodiversity crisis, it outlines a comprehensive plan to restore nature across more than 130,000 hectares, approximately one-third of the county – encouraging everyone across Essex to take part.

Only 14 per cent of Essex is considered good quality habitat today, but the LNRS hopes to provide a framework to increase this to 25 per cent by 2030. It also aims to help farmers and landowners reach a target of 50 per cent of farms using sustainable farming practices and to significantly improve the connectivity of wildlife habitats.

To read the full strategy and learn more about actions you can take, visit the Essex Nature Partnership website at www.essexnaturepartnership.com