Section 1 - About you
Q1.2. Organisation name (if applicable)
Q1.4. Please provide the postcode most relevant to your response.
This could be:
your home postcode
your organisation’s postcode
the postcode of the area or site most relevant to your response.
Postcode:
Section 2 - Consultation materials
Section 3 - Overall strategy Mission and Vision
The draft LNRS mission is:
“Our mission is to restore thriving, connected natural habitats across South Yorkshire for multiple benefits to people and nature.”
The draft LNRS vision is:
“To deliver landscape scale nature recovery activity at pace in South Yorkshire, maximising the region’s contribution to the UK’s commitment to positively manage 30% of land and sea for nature in England by 2030.”
Principles of the Strategy
The LNRS identifies several core principles intended to guide future delivery, including:
improving the quality and extent of habitats
building climate resilience
strengthening ecological connectivity
working in partnership
improving access to nature
supporting sustainable growth and land management
encouraging long-term stewardship and delivery.
Overarching Strategic Themes
The draft LNRS identifies several strategic themes intended to shape future nature recovery activity across South Yorkshire.
These include:
Nature recovery and biodiversity enhancement
Ecological connectivity
Climate resilience and adaptation
Sustainable growth and nature-positive development
Health, wellbeing and access to nature
Partnership working and collective action
Long-term delivery and stewardship.
Q3.4. How well do you think the draft LNRS addresses the following strategic themes?
Q3.6. How well do you think the strategy balances the following considerations?
Section 4 - Select technical themes
Section 5 - Overarching priorities and measures Introduction
The draft South Yorkshire LNRS identifies a number of overarching priorities intended to guide nature recovery across South Yorkshire.
Detailed measures associated with each priority are set out in the accompanying Overarching Measures Schedule.
Please review the schedule before answering the following questions.
This section asks for your views on:
whether the overarching priorities are appropriate
whether the proposed measures are appropriate overall
which priorities should be prioritised
barriers and opportunities relating to delivery.
Overarching priorities
Outcome code Overarching priority
OV-01
Deepen people’s relationships with nature
OV-02
Build collaborations to drive nature recovery
OV-03
Provide opportunities to engage people in nature recovery activity
OV-04
Active management of invasive non-native species (INNS)
OV-05
Ensure management of existing public spaces and development of new sites supporting nature
OV-06
Improve connectivity and reduce fragmentation for nature recovery
OV-07
Support climate resilience and nature-based solutions
OV-08
Safeguard, expand and ensure the good condition of a well-connected network of habitats
Q5.1. How appropriate do you think each of the overarching priorities is?
Q5.3. Are there any overarching priorities or measures that should be strengthened, may not be realistic or deliverable or are missing from the strategy?
Section 6 - Watercourses, waterbodies and wetlands Introduction
The draft South Yorkshire LNRS identifies watercourses, waterbodies and wetlands as key priorities for biodiversity recovery, ecological connectivity, flood resilience, water quality improvement and climate adaptation across South Yorkshire.
Priority species assemblages supported include:
aquatic invertebrates
freshwater fish
stoneworts and aquatic plants
wetland and wet grassland plants
wetland birds.
This section asks for your views on:
whether the proposed outcomes and measures are appropriate
whether you agree with the proposed measures
which priorities and measures should be prioritised
whether there are important gaps or missing actions
barriers and opportunities relating to implementation and delivery.
Watercourses, waterbodies and wetlands priorities
The draft LNRS identifies the following priorities and outcomes relating to watercourses, waterbodies and wetlands:
Outcome code Overarching priority
RI-01
Restore natural processes to reconnect rivers and streams with their floodplains and provide nature-based climate resilience for biodiversity and local communities
RI-02
Improve and restore in-channel and riparian habitats, and work with natural processes across the wider catchment to enhance habitats, remove barriers, improve water quality, slow run-off and regulate water temperature
WE-01
A catchment-wide network of ‘Good’ condition wetland habitats, including lowland fen, wet woodland, reedbed, floodplain grazing marsh, reservoirs and ponds to support species recovery and resilience to climate change
BO-01
Lowland raised bog is in ‘Favourable’ condition with internationally important sites protected
BO-02
Blanket bog and mire habitats are in ‘Favourable’ condition with internationally important sites protected
Q6.1. Are there any important watercourses, waterbodies or wetlands priorities missing from the LNRS?
Proposed measures
The draft LNRS proposes measures including:
reconnecting river meanders and floodplains
restoring river habitats and fish passage
natural flood management
riparian habitat creation
wetland restoration and pond networks
floodplain grazing marsh management
peatland restoration and rewetting
habitat restoration for carbon storage and water management.
Feedback on measures
Q6.3. Are there any proposed measures relating to watercourses, waterbodies and wetlands that should be strengthened, should be amended, may not be realistic or deliverable are missing from the strategy?
Delivery and implementation
Section 7 - Grassland, heathland and farmed landscapes Introduction
The draft South Yorkshire LNRS identifies grassland, heathland and farmed landscapes as key priorities for biodiversity recovery, ecological connectivity, climate resilience and sustainable land management across South Yorkshire.
Priority species assemblages supported include:
arable plants
bats
calcareous grassland plants
farmland birds
grassland invertebrates
grassland fungi
lowland heathland birds and invertebrates
upland birds
wetland and wet grassland species.
This section asks for your views on:
whether the proposed outcomes and measures are appropriate
whether you agree with the proposed measures
which priorities and measures should be prioritised
whether there are important gaps or missing actions
barriers and opportunities relating to implementation and delivery.
Grassland, heathland and farmed landscape priorities
The draft LNRS identifies the following priorities and outcomes relating to grassland, heathland and farmed landscapes:
Outcome code Overarching priority
GR-01
More grasslands in ‘Good’ condition, managed as part of a resilient network of ecologically connected sites
HE-01
More and expanded structurally and species-diverse upland moorland mosaics, including upland heath
HE-02
‘Good’ condition lowland heathland managed as part of a resilient network of ecologically connected sites
FA-01
Farmed landscapes provide diverse habitats and species connectivity alongside commercial productivity
Q7.1. Are there any important grassland, heathland or farmed landscape priorities missing from the LNRS?
Proposed measures
The draft LNRS proposes measures including:
grassland restoration and enhancement
species-rich meadow creation
low intensity grazing and appropriate cutting regimes
habitat mosaics and upland heath restoration
reducing management intensity in farmed landscapes
hedgerow restoration and creation
agroforestry
species-rich field margins and wildlife features within farmland.
Feedback on measures
Q7.3. Are there any proposed measures relating to grassland, heathland and farmed landscapes that should be strengthened, should be amended, may not be realistic or deliverable or are missing from the strategy?
Delivery and implementation
Section 8 - Woodland and trees Introduction
The draft South Yorkshire LNRS identifies woodland and trees as key priorities for biodiversity recovery, ecological connectivity, climate resilience, carbon storage and public access to nature across South Yorkshire.
Priority species assemblages supported include:
reptiles
urban birds
woodland birds
woodland invertebrates.
This section asks for your views on:
whether the proposed outcomes and measures are appropriate
whether you agree with the proposed measures
which priorities and measures should be prioritised
whether there are important gaps or missing actions
barriers and opportunities relating to implementation and delivery.
Woodland and trees priorities
The draft LNRS identifies the following priorities and outcomes relating to woodland and trees:
Outcome code Overarching priority
WO-01
Woodlands are in Active Management and ‘Good’ ecological condition, part of a resilient network of ecologically connected sites
WO-02
All ancient woodlands are in sustainable management to safeguard them for future generations
WO-03
Local communities engage with wooded landscapes to support biodiversity in populated areas and provide wider societal benefits
Q8.1. Are there any important woodland and trees priorities missing from the LNRS?
Proposed measures
The draft LNRS proposes measures including:
traditional woodland management
woodland diversification and resilience
woodland expansion and connectivity
wet woodland and riparian woodland creation
management of ancient woodland and veteran trees
productive forestry for biodiversity
woodland access and community engagement
orchards and urban/peri-urban woodland access.
Feedback on measures
Q8.3. Are there any proposed measures relating to woodland and trees that should be strengthened, should be amended, may not be realistic or deliverable or are missing from the strategy?
Delivery and implementation
Section 9 - Urban nature and green infrastructure Introduction
The draft South Yorkshire LNRS identifies urban nature and green infrastructure as key priorities for biodiversity recovery, climate resilience, ecological connectivity, health and wellbeing, and equitable access to nature across South Yorkshire.
Priority species assemblages supported include:
open mosaic habitat invertebrates
reptiles
urban birds
hedgehogs
swifts and other urban species.
This section asks for your views on:
whether the proposed outcomes and measures are appropriate
whether you agree with the proposed measures
which priorities and measures should be prioritised
whether there are important gaps or missing actions
barriers and opportunities relating to implementation and delivery.
Urban nature and green infratructure priorities
The draft LNRS identifies the following priorities and outcomes relating to urban nature and green infrastructure:
Outcome code Overarching priority
UR-01
Make urban green and blue nature networks bigger, better and more joined up across villages, towns and cities
UR-02
Ensure biodiverse-rich habitats along existing and new highways, cycleways and transport infrastructure
UR-03
Create, enhance, connect and manage mosaics of habitats across previously developed sites
UR-04
People have a better understanding of and access to nature, whilst recreational impacts on sensitive sites are minimised
Q9.1. Are there any important urban nature or green infrastructure priorities missing from the LNRS?
Proposed measures
The draft LNRS proposes measures including:
green and blue infrastructure networks
urban tree planting and street trees
sustainable drainage systems and urban wetlands
wildlife-friendly development
bird, bat and hedgehog features within development
habitat corridors along transport routes
open mosaic habitats on previously developed land
accessible green spaces and nature-rich public spaces.
Feedback on measures
Q9.3. Are there any proposed measures relating to urban nature and green infrastructure that should be strengthened, should be amended, may not be realistic or deliverable or are missing from the strategy?
Delivery and implementation
Section 10 - Species recovery Introduction
The draft South Yorkshire LNRS identifies a range of priority species and species assemblages associated with different habitats and landscapes across South Yorkshire. These species have been selected to help guide habitat recovery, ecological connectivity and long-term biodiversity enhancement across the region.
Priority species and assemblages identified within the LNRS include species associated with:
rivers, wetlands and waterbodies
peatlands and uplands
grasslands and heathlands
farmland
woodlands and trees
urban habitats and previously developed land.
A full list of priority species and species assemblages is provided within the accompanying Priority Species Schedule. Please refer to this document before answering the following questions.
This section asks for your views on:
whether the proposed approach to species prioritisation is appropriate
whether the identified priority species reflect the most important ecological needs across South Yorkshire
whether any important species or assemblages are missing
opportunities and barriers relating to species recovery.
Q10.2. Are there any important species or species assemblages missing from the Priority Species Schedule?
Q10.3. Are there any important actions relating to species recovery that are missing from the strategy?
Section 11 - Mapping and opportunity areas Introduction
A key requirement of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy is to identify and map areas where nature recovery actions could make the greatest contribution to biodiversity recovery and wider environmental benefits across South Yorkshire.
The mapped opportunity areas have been developed through:
analysis of environmental and habitat datasets
development of mapping methodologies for individual measures
technical review by the LNRS Working Group
stakeholder workshops involving habitat specialists and regional experts
iterative refinement using local ecological knowledge.
The maps are intended to:
identify opportunities for habitat creation, restoration and enhancement
support landscape-scale nature recovery
improve ecological connectivity
support strategic planning and investment
guide future delivery opportunities.
Please review the interactive mapping portal before answering the following questions.
The maps should be considered as:
strategic opportunity areas
evidence-informed guidance
starting points for future delivery discussions.
They are not intended to:
determine land use
override landowner decisions
replace site-level ecological assessment
guarantee deliverability at specific locations.
Interactive mapping portal
Review of the mapping approach
Q11.3. To what extent do you agree with the following statements about the mapped opportunity areas?
Feedback on the maps
Q11.4. Are there any mapped opportunity areas that you believe should be prioritised more strongly, may not be realistic or deliverable, contain significant environmental or land management constraints, or require refinement or further evidence?
Q11.5. Are there any important habitats, ecological networks or opportunity areas that you believe are missing from the maps?
Q11.6. Are there any aspects of the mapping methodology or prioritisation approach that you believe should be refined or improved?
Delivery and implementation
Q11.8. What opportunities could help accelerate delivery within the mapped opportunity areas?
Section 12 - Delivery, governance and implementation
Q12.4. Are there any existing projects, partnerships, programmes or delivery approaches that the LNRS should build on or align with more strongly?
Section 13 - Final comments
Q13.1 Are there any important priorities, measures or issues currently missing from the strategy?
Your email address (optional)