A new Nature Strategy marks a significant step forward in protecting and restoring nature and biodiversity across Westmorland and Furness.
At a meeting of Cabinet this week (Tuesday 14 October), members unanimously agreed a Nature Strategy which sets out a clear plan to halt and reverse the decline in biodiversity and to ensure nature recovery is embedded in every aspect of council operations.
The new strategy follows the Council’s biodiversity crisis declaration in September 2022 (as a Shadow Authority) and ahead of the upcoming publication of Cumbria’s first Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) later this autumn.
Councillor Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said:
“While we are fortunate to live and work in such a beautiful area, we must also recognise that nature is vital to our way of life. It provides us with the fresh air we breathe, the clean water we drink, the food we eat, the medicines we depend on, and the places where we relax and find inspiration. Yet nature is badly depleted, and we are facing climate and biodiversity crises that threaten our environment locally, nationally and globally.
“As a council, we are in a unique position to prioritise nature recovery from the outset. This new strategy underpins our core value of being ‘ecologically aware’ and sets out our role in delivering the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) which is the guiding light for how we will restore and enhance nature across Westmorland and Furness.”
Nature and biodiversity play a vital role in shaping the places and spaces across Westmorland and Furness, supporting the local visitor economy, farming and local food production, as well as enhancing health and wellbeing through access to nature. Healthy natural ecosystems also provide improved services for people such as clean air and water, climate regulation and adaptation, and flood protection.
However, like much of the UK, the area faces ongoing pressures including habitat loss, pollution, climate change and invasive species. The Council’s new Nature Strategy responds to these challenges by identifying practical actions to restore habitats, protect species and strengthen the natural resilience of local landscapes.
The Nature Strategy aligns closely with the Council’s Council Plan, Climate Change Action Plans, and its forthcoming Climate Adaptation Strategy, ensuring that environmental considerations are embedded across the organisation.
The programme of actions include focus on:
- Enhancing biodiversity across council-owned land such as parks, open spaces, and cemeteries
- Supporting community-led nature projects and green initiatives
- Working with local partners and organisations to create connected habitats that enable native species to flourish
Councillor Archibald added:
“Our landscape and natural environment define who we are as a place, shaping how we live, what we produce and how our economy supports our communities. By putting nature recovery at the heart of what we do, we can make Westmorland and Furness a great place for both people and wildlife to thrive.
“We know that we cannot achieve this alone. Nature restoration will only be possible through a huge collective effort across our communities, involving the public and private sectors, landowners, voluntary organisations and local residents working together to create connected habitats and thriving ecosystems that benefit everyone.”