This blog captures the key insights, case studies, and reflections from the session, highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing local authorities as they lead the charge in restoring nature.
On 11 September 2025, local government officers, elected members, and sustainability professionals from across England convened for a virtual roundtable hosted by the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Crown Commercial Service. The session explored the critical role of councils in delivering biodiversity and nature recovery, particularly through the statutory Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) introduced by the Environment Act 2021.
Setting the Scene: Why nature recovery is urgent and local
Rebecca Moberly and Rachel Murtagh, Principal Consultants at the LGA, opened the session by and setting the national scene.
Rebecca Moberly: Planning Advisory Service and strategic support
Rebecca outlined the work of the Planning Advisory Service (PAS), which sits within the LGA and is funded by central government and Natural England. PAS supports local planning authorities in navigating complex reforms and environmental responsibilities. Rebecca highlighted four key areas of focus:
- Biodiversity net gain (BNG): Helping councils implement BNG through planning systems.
- Nature recovery projects: Supporting LNRS development and delivery.
- Nutrient neutrality: Addressing water quality impacts of development.
- Protected site strategies: Ensuring sensitive ecological areas are safeguarded.
Rebecca emphasised the need to integrate these agendas and avoid siloed approaches, noting that councils are uniquely positioned to embed nature recovery across planning, housing, transport, and public health.
Rachel Murtagh: A personal reflection on the nature emergency
Rachel offered reflections on her work within the sector and highlighted to delegates that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and that the biodiversity crisis is deeply intertwined with climate, health, and social challenges. The message was clear: local government is not just a delivery partner—it is a leader in shaping a resilient, nature-rich future.
Providing the overview that the UK’s biodiversity crisis is a “stress on stress” situation, compounded by climate change, land-use pressures, and social inequalities. Rachel reminded attendees that councils are not just serving people— they’re also stewards of ecosystems, responsible for millions of trees, hedgehogs, and habitats. Local government has a larger part to play in the wider ecological system, and its leadership is essential to reversing nature’s decline.
PAS nature recovery toolkit for local authorities
To join the PAS BNG practitioner network for local authority officers, fill out this Microsoft Form. Find out more on the PAS planning and the environment website.
Cornwall council: A systems-level approach to nature recovery
Philippa Hoskin, Nature Recovery Manager at Cornwall Council, delivered a comprehensive and inspiring presentation that showcased Cornwall’s leadership in nature recovery.
Strategic foundations
Cornwall has declared both climate and ecological emergencies and was one of the first areas in England to publish its LNRS. As a pilot area, Cornwall benefited from early experience, but Philippa stressed that success was also due to strong internal coordination and external partnerships—particularly with the Local Nature Partnership, which co-steered the strategy.
Integrated delivery
Philippa described how Cornwall has embedded nature recovery across council functions:
- Grow nature delivery plan: An internal roadmap aligning council assets and services with nature recovery goals.
- Marine nature recovery framework: A voluntary extension of the LNRS, recognising the importance of ocean ecosystems.
- Decision wheel: A holistic decision-making tool based on Doughnut Economics, used to assess the environmental impact of all major council projects.
Funding and innovation
Cornwall has pioneered several funding mechanisms:
- Natural capital exchange platform: A marketplace for investment-ready nature projects.
- Cornwall link nature market: A biodiversity net gain trading platform developed with NTrade.
- Crowdfunded projects: Initiatives like “Love Where You Are” support small-scale, community-led nature recovery.
Philippa also highlighted the Forest for Cornwall, which has planted over 1.6 million trees in five years, including agroforestry projects with local farmers. She credited her diverse team — ecologists, marine scientists, communications experts, and project managers — for enabling this scale of delivery, noting that most roles are funded externally through grants and service charges.
Her presentation underscored the importance of strategic planning, internal capacity, and creative funding in delivering nature recovery at scale.
Oldham Council: Embedding nature recovery in urban planning
Georgina Brownridge, Senior Planning Officer at Oldham Council, shared how Oldham is working within the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to deliver a city-region LNRS.
Collaborative strategy development
Oldham contributed to the GMCA-wide LNRS, which was developed with input from all 10 Greater Manchester councils, Natural England, and a wide range of stakeholders. Georgina described a robust consultation process, including habitat workshops, surveys, and mapping sessions. The result is a shared vision for nature recovery across the region.
Policy integration
Oldham has embedded LNRS priorities into its local plan and the Places for Everyone strategic framework. Georgina outlined a new “Restoring Nature” policy that:
- Safeguards core biodiversity areas.
- Encourages habitat creation and connectivity in opportunity areas.
- Aligns development with LNRS mapping and biodiversity net gain metrics.
She also described plans to integrate LNRS data into development management systems, ensuring that planning officers consider nature recovery in every application.
Local initiatives and community engagement
Oldham’s Green Infrastructure Strategy identifies seven priority themes and place-based opportunities for nature recovery. Georgina highlighted several projects:
- Tommyfield park: A new linear park in the town centre.
- Northern roots urban farm: A large-scale eco-park with ambitious biodiversity targets.
- Biodiversity tracker: A simple excel tool to monitor actions and support annual reporting.
She also described efforts to train councillors and officers through a biodiversity course and to embed nature recovery into the council’s corporate plan.
Georgina’s presentation demonstrated how urban councils can align planning, policy, and community engagement to deliver meaningful nature recovery—even in densely populated areas.
Breakout discussions: Shared challenges and collective wisdom
Participants broke into smaller groups to reflect on key questions. Several common themes emerged:
1. Political and senior leadership buy-In
Officers shared the challenge of securing political support for biodiversity. Councils with strong portfolio holders or cross-party backing (like Cornwall and West Suffolk) reported more progress. Others noted that biodiversity is often seen as a “niche” issue unless linked to economic or climate goals.
“Find a champion. Get them fired up. Let them carry the message.”
2. Funding and capacity
There was widespread concern about the lack of long-term funding for LNRS delivery. While setup funding has been helpful, many councils fear that strategies will sit on shelves without sustained investment.
3. Monitoring and reporting
Councils are grappling with how to track biodiversity outcomes and meet the enhanced biodiversity duty. There’s a clear appetite for shared tools, templates, and guidance.
4. Partnerships and collaboration
Strong local nature partnerships (like Cornwall’s) were seen as critical to success. Others are working to reinvigorate or build new partnerships to support delivery.
5. Local government reorganisation (LGR)
Some councils are navigating complex governance changes, which can either hinder or help nature recovery depending on how responsibilities are realigned.
Key takeaways
- Local government is central to reversing biodiversity loss and building climate resilience.
- Cornwall and Oldham offer replicable models for embedding nature recovery into policy, planning, and delivery.
- Political leadership, internal capacity, and external partnerships are essential for success.
- Networking and shared learning are vital, participants called for more peer support and knowledge exchange.
- Monitoring and funding remain major challenges that require national support and local innovation.