Have your say on plans to help Lancashire’s vital habitats and species to thrive

Red squirrels, Atlantic salmon, as well as rare bees, moths and butterflies are all on the list of wildlife that could be lost in Lancashire, without important measures to restore their natural homes.

Lancashire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) aims to restore habitats, stop species loss, help local wildlife flourish, and make our environment more resilient, whilst bringing wider benefits to our residents and funding opportunities to our rural communities.

The strategy includes a new Local Habitat Map for Lancashire which identifies the key areas for nature across the county, looked at what’s putting them at risk, and where the best chances are to restore, enhance, connect and create new spaces for nature. It covers the wider Lancashire area including Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen.

Its purpose is to assist land managers, developers, planners, environmental organisations, community groups and residents to pursue opportunities to help nature recover, and to target action and funding.

Launching today (Monday 23 June), the statutory consultation asks respondents if they think the aims and priorities of the plan are clear, what they are seeking to achieve and how the LNRS can be used.

Almost 1,000 people and organisations helped shape the strategy by responding to a survey held in early 2024 with their priorities for nature recovery in Lancashire.

County Councillor Joshua Roberts, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, said:

"We are encouraging everyone to have a look at the strategy and let us know what they think about the priorities and actions proposed for those species and habitats which they told us were most important to them.

"We have been working with land managers and farmers, wildlife charities and specialists to create a plan which will help connect, create, restore and enhance those habitats and the species they support.

"The strategy will help to direct future nature recovery funding across Lancashire, as well as help enable the development of farms and other rural businesses which may be looking to diversify and make space for nature."

Some of the species and habitats identified in the strategy include:

• Hen harrier, an iconic species found in the uplands of The Forest of Bowland - an important breeding stronghold for this species.
• Duke of Burgundy and high brown fritillary butterflies – declining across the UK and limited in Lancashire to the intricate limestone habitats at Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve.
• Belted beauty moth – found in saltmarsh in north-west Lancashire, this colony is the last remaining in England and Wales.
• Wall mason bee – a nationally rare species which inhabits grassland and woodland edges and has a stronghold in Morecambe Bay.
• Red squirrels – an iconic woodland species found in isolated areas of the county. Numbers are currently too low to support a healthy breeding population.

Find out more about these plans and give your feedback before the consultation closes on Sunday 3 August at lancashire.gov.uk/lnrs