Introduction to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy
The Kent & Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) will:
- Agree priorities for nature’s recovery.
- Map the most valuable existing areas for nature.
- Map specific proposals for creating or improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals.
The Strategy will not only include actions for nature recovery, but will also identify where nature-based solutions can and should be delivered – where we work with nature to address societal challenges. As such, the Strategy will join up work and enable multiple benefits to be realised.
The purpose of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy is to:
- Identify locations where the creation or improvement of habitat is most likely to provide the greatest benefit for nature and the wider environment.
- Support the delivery of mandatory biodiversity net gain, by identifying where delivery under this new policy will have the most impact.
- Provide an important source of evidence for local planning authorities to use in the preparation of their Local Plans.
- Encourage land owners, farmers and managers to take action to support nature recovery.
- Channel investment into local priorities for the protection and enhancement of nature.
Development of the LNRS will be evidence-based, locally led and collaborative and must follow statutory guidance and meet LNRS regulations. Each LNRS has been assigned a Responsible Authority, with Kent County Council appointed for the development of the Kent and Medway Strategy. Responsible authorities are not solely responsible for delivering the Strategy – it will be a shared effort with public, private and voluntary sector partners all playing a role.
Our local nature recovery strategy will be one of 48 – collectively these strategies will cover the whole of England, with no gaps or overlaps, to deliver the government’s commitment to ending the decline of nature and support its recovery.
See Making Space for Nature Video Webinars and Presentations for introductions from the project team on the development of the LNRS for Kent and Medway.
Local Nature Recovery Strategy development stages
What we have – mapping existing areas of importance
In the first step, existing areas that are of particular importance for biodiversity will be mapped. What can be mapped at this stage is strictly…
Our Nature – Strategy Area Description
The purpose of the strategy area description is to inform the nature recovery priorities for the county by understanding our natural resources in the context…
Defining our Priorities and Action for Nature Recovery
The Strategy’s “statement of biodiversity priorities” will set out the priorities, in terms of habitats and species, for recovering or enhancing biodiversity and consider the…
What we want – mapping areas of opportunity
Identifying locations to recover or enhance nature is the local nature recovery strategy’s main purpose – so this final stage of the strategy development is…
Consultation and publication
Before the draft Strategy goes to public consultation, it first has to be shared with the Supporting Authorities (the county’s local authorities and Natural England)…
Indicative project milestone timeline
Meet the team
Liz Milne
Project Manager
Liz has been at Kent County Council for 20 years, managing the Natural Environment & Coast Team for the past 15. Liz was responsible for the development of the Kent Biodiversity Strategy, KCC’s Pollinator Action Plan (Plan Bee) and the Kent Tree Establishment Strategy (PLan Tree). Liz is responsible for the project management, and ensuring delivery of the Kent and Medway Nature Recovery Strategy by spring/summer 2025.
Chris Drake
Project Officer
Chris has been at Kent County Council for 15 years, starting as Coastal Officer and now as Partnership and Projects Officer, co-ordinating the Kent Nature Partnership (KNP). Chris brings to the project extensive partnership working experience and excellent working relationships with many of key stakeholders. Chris will be the Project Officer, ensuring the KNP and wider stakeholders are fully engage across the work.
Rachel Boot
Project Support Officer
After a lifelong interest and connection to nature and environmentalism, Rachel is currently studying for a Masters in Sustainable Food and Natural Resources. Alongside her passion for nature, Rachels brings to the team experience in local community projects from her hometown of Margate. Rachel will provide support across the work of the whole project team but will particularly focus on our communications and wider engagement work
Alexa Murray Mujtaba
Landowner Officer
Alexa brings to the team experience of working closely with farmer clusters and leading a Defra Test & Trial exploring Natural Capital and Blended Finance, enabling farmers to influence the development of the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS). Drawing on over 20 years of implementing new policies and frameworks in the public and private sector, Alexa will lead on the land management elements of the project and be responsible for ensuring there is meaningful engagement with this important stakeholder group.
Katie Pattison
Local Government Officer
Katie comes to the project with a background in the management of country parks and greenspaces throughout Medway. Katie will lead work with Kent & Medway’s local planning authorities, ensuring these supporting authorities are involved throughout and that the strategy provides, as intended, a vital source of evidence for local planning and decision making.
Louise Lawton
Coastal and Marine Officer
Louise has a background working on various coastal sites around Kent, primarily in engagement type roles. New to working for Kent County Council, Louise will lead on the development of the coastal and marine elements of the Making Space for Nature project, ensuring that priority areas and actions to recover coastal and marine biodiversity are identified in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
Kathi Bauer
River and Freshwater Officer (secondment)
Kathi is seconded from the South East Rivers Trust, where she has worked with partners including farmers, water companies, and other NGOs on protecting and restoring rivers and catchments in Kent for the last five years. She will lead on the development of the river and freshwater elements of the project, ensuring that priority areas and actions to recover river and freshwater biodiversity are identified in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
Karen Faux
LNRS Senior Advisor, Natural England
Natural England are a Supporting Authority for all of the LNRS’s around the Country and provide a conduit to advice from DEFRA, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission. Natural England have provided a Senior Advisor to support and advise Kent County Council with the LNRS process. Karen brings over 30 years of experience in the environmental sector having worked in the charitable, private and government sectors.
Regulations and further guidance
Statutory guidance for Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Published in March 2023 this is the government guidance that the project will be referring to in drawing together the Kent and Medway Nature Recovery Strategy by May 2025.
Follow link toStatutory guidance for Local Nature Recovery Strategy
The Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023
Follow link toThe Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023
