South Yorkshire wants your views on the future of our local nature

Led by South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, the LNRS will develop actions to drive nature’s recovery across South Yorkshire. It is one of 48 strategies being developed across the country after the Government called for combined and local authorities to work together to improve our natural world.

From 20 August 2024, SYMCA will be running an online survey and a series of workshops and webinars as well as community engagement for people to find out about the LNRS and to have their say on how it is shaped.

As well as this, pop-up stalls will be held at shopping centres, nature reserves and other events across the region.

The plan will cover all areas of South Yorkshire, including Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley, and will look at how to safeguard natural habitats, further protect wildlife and plant life, and how to improve nature for the future for the benefit of both wildlife and people.

The South Yorkshire LNRS will be informed by this round of engagement, then go out for public consultation in early 2025 before being published later that year.

Information on the events and survey can be found at South Yorkshire Nature Recovery, more will be added as they become available.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, chairs the LNRS Advisory Panel which is made of 12 experts from across the region.

He said: “We desperately need to reverse the loss of wildlife, restore natural habitats and improve the environment in South Yorkshire for generations to come.

“Because protecting and restoring our natural habitats isn’t simply an added extra; it’s central to the ambition I have as South Yorkshire’s Mayor.

“It is vital that communities and businesses across South Yorkshire have the opportunity to shape our nature recovery strategy and ensure our plan works for everyone.

“By working together, we will not only protect our wildlife and green spaces but create a bold, ambitious plan to reverse the loss of wildlife, restore habitats and improve the natural environment that we’re so lucky to have on our doorstep.”

Cllr Mark Houlbrook, Cabinet member for Sustainability and Waste at City of Doncaster Council, said: “We are exceptionally proud to host so many natural parks and open spaces throughout Doncaster, but we know that the natural world is fragile.

“That’s why we are working across the region to put this strategy together and I urge all residents across the city to take part and help us shape the future of our local, natural world.”

The engagement opens on 20 August 2024.  The link to the survey can be found here Survey (southyorkshirenaturerecovery.co.uk)

For more information contact press.enquiries@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk

More information on SYMCA’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy Advisory Panel can be found here - South Yorkshire Nature Recovery

Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are a new, England-wide system of spatial strategies. They will establish actions to drive nature’s recovery and provide wider environmental benefits. They were introduced into law by the Environment Act 2021.