South Yorkshire covers 1,552km² of varied landscape, from areas of wild moorlands in the Peak District to ancient woodlands, wetlands, rivers, valleys and the green spaces in our towns and cities. Some of our most special places are already protected by law, but the strategy looks beyond designated sites to the wider landscape and how we connect it. We've identified the habitats most critical to nature recovery in our region, ranging from ancient woodland and blanket bog to lowland meadows, reedbeds and calcareous grassland. Many are rare, some are under severe pressure, and a number are found almost nowhere else in England. For each one, the strategy sets out what needs to happen to protect, restore and expand it and where that work will have the greatest impact.
"Nature on our doorstep is what we see and experience every day - any improvement to it will directly impact the quality of our lives." Public engagement participant
What we're doing - habitat by habitat
Alongside the eight overarching priorities, the strategy sets out specific actions for South Yorkshire's four most important landscape types. Here's what we're focusing on in each.
Grassland and heathland
South Yorkshire's grasslands and heathlands are some of our most valuable and most pressured habitats. With farmland covering more than 40% of the region, nature recovery and food production have to go hand-in-hand.
Our priorities are to restore and better connect grasslands so they can support a wider range of wildlife; expand and improve moorlands and heathlands to manage flood risk, reduce wildfire risk and store carbon; protect our rare lowland heathlands; and work with farmers to create wildlife-friendly landscapes that support both nature and food production.
Already happening: At Ughill Farm in the Peak District National Park, the Sheffield Lakeland Partnership - led by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust - is testing nature-friendly farming practices to help recover threatened farmland birds including curlew, and sharing what works with farmers across the region.
Urban nature
South Yorkshire's towns and cities are home to a rich network of parks, waterways and green spaces.
Our priorities are to make green spaces and water features in our towns and cities larger, higher quality and better connected; create and improve habitats along roads and cycleways so wildlife can move more easily; and improve access to nature for everyone while protecting sensitive habitats from the impacts of recreation.
Already happening: Community groups including Kids Plant Trees have already planted thousands of trees as part of Mayor Oliver Coppard's commitment to plant 1.4 million trees across South Yorkshire — one for every person in the region.
Woodland and trees
South Yorkshire's woodlands are among our most valuable natural assets - and ancient woodlands are irreplaceable. Once lost, they cannot be recreated.
Our priorities are to ensure our woodlands are well managed and form part of a connected network of habitats for birds, mammals, insects and plants; protect our ancient woodlands for future generations; and connect communities with their local woodlands to support biodiversity and promote wider benefits for people.
Already happening: On former coalfield sites across Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, The Conservation Volunteers and The Land Trust are working together to restore and manage community woodlands, transforming post-industrial land into thriving wildlife habitats and green spaces for local people.
Watercourses, waterbodies and wetlands
South Yorkshire's rivers, streams, canals, ponds and wetlands are vital for wildlife and connect habitats across the landscape. These environments are facing growing pressure and there is a strong public appetite for restoring them.
Our priorities are to restore natural river processes and reconnect rivers and streams with their floodplains; improve river channels and banks to enhance habitats and water quality; create a network of healthy wetlands including fens, reedbeds and ponds; and protect and restore our lowland raised bogs and blanket bogs to support upland wildlife, store carbon and preserve cultural heritage.
South Yorkshire is home to Britain's largest remaining lowland raised bog at Thorne and Hatfield Moors - a habitat of national and international significance.
Already happening: Created in response to the devastating flooding of 2019, the Connected by Water partnership brings together the four South Yorkshire local authorities, SYMCA, the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water. They are working together to manage flood risk in harmony with nature, through natural flood management techniques including restoring rivers, creating wetlands and reconnecting floodplains.