Portfolio holder decision – Portfolio holder for Planning and Economy – 11 June 2025
Hampshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) Public Consultation Response
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Purpose |
For Decision |
|
Classification |
Public |
|
Executive Summary |
Hampshire County Council has published its final draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy for public consultation. The consultation commenced on 12 May 2025 and closes on 23 June 2025. New Forest District Council has the opportunity to respond to the draft strategy before it is revised, and a final version is distributed for approval by Supporting Authorities (Hampshire local authorities) in the autumn of 2025. The final version will then be submitted to Government at the end of 2025. The district council is supportive of the vision for the strategy. It will assist in providing a framework to promote and deliver nature recovery in the district and beyond. It will help target action where tangible benefits can be realised, working towards habitats that are “bigger, better and more joined up” which will in turn be of benefit to a range of species and species assemblages. |
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Recommendation |
To agree the proposed response to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy provided as Appendix A. |
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Reasons for recommendation |
To enable Hampshire County Council to move forward with the adoption of the new strategy. |
|
Wards |
District Wide |
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Portfolio Holder |
Councillor Derek Tipp – Planning and Economy |
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Strategic Director |
James Carpenter – Place, Operations and Sustainability |
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Officer Contact |
Chris Hodsman Principal Ecologist 023 8028 5747 |
1. The purpose of this report is to agree the Council’s response to the statutory public consultation on the draft Hampshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). The consultation period runs from 12/05/2025 to 23/06/2025
2. Hampshire County Council (HCC) were appointed by Defra as the Responsible Authority for the Hampshire area. NFDC has worked closely with HCC throughout the process as a Supporting Authority.
3. The district council is supportive of the vision for the strategy. It will assist in providing a framework to promote and deliver nature recovery in the district and beyond. It will help target action where tangible benefits can be realised, working towards habitats that are “bigger, better and more joined up” which will in turn be of benefit to a range of species and species assemblages. The full proposed response is set out in Appendix A, and a summary provided in paragraphs 16 of this report.
Background
What are Local Nature Recovery Strategies?
4. Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs), introduced by the Environment Act 2021, are a new system of plans for nature recovery. Their role is to provide a county-wide, practical solution for nature recovery.
· This is important for nature’s own sake and for all the things that we rely on nature for, like clean water and food production.
· For nature to recover, targeted, co-ordinated and collaborative action is required.
5. A total of 48 LNRSs will be developed mostly at the county level, which will join seamlessly to cover the whole of England and create a National Nature Recovery Network.
6.
It is intended that
LNRSs be updated between three and 10 years after publication at
the request of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs.
What the strategy sets out to do
7. The aim of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is to identify locations to create, restore and enhance habitats, providing the best opportunities to deliver nature recovery.
8. This LNRS for Hampshire presents a key opportunity to reverse the decline in the county’s habitats and species. By providing the direction needed to create a biodiversity-rich environment, wildlife and people will mutually benefit from nature recovery.
· The strategy will help to target future effort and funding.
· It also provides a range of options for recommendations on delivery, with supporting evidence.
· The LNRS does not dictate how land is used or limit the choices land managers have on their land. The maps will provide a range of options to help people and organisations make evidence-based decisions.
Why the strategy is needed
9. Like the rest of the UK, the natural environment and biodiversity across Hampshire has declined significantly over the last 50 years and is under continued threat.
10. Hampshire has a beautiful and varied landscape with an impressive diversity of unique and important habitats. These include ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows, iconic chalk streams, species-rich downland, important heathland mosaics including the New Forest, and coastal and marine habitats. The variety of habitat types within Hampshire is reflected in a rich flora and fauna.
11. However, there has been a decline in the quality, variety and quantity of natural areas in Hampshire due to multiple pressures from a growing human population. These threats include increased development, agricultural and land use changes, invasive species, pollution, recreational pressure and climate change.
LNRS Timeline
The Hampshire Local Nature Recovery (LNRS) Documents - What the strategy document contains
12. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Hampshire contains the following sections – hyperlinks are provided to assist review:
Section
1: Introduction
(page
10)
Section
2: Description of the
Strategy area and its biodiversity (page
18)
Section
3: Statement of
biodiversity priorities (page
74)
Section
4: Maps
(page
113) – Maps
include: Areas of particular importance for biodiversity (APIB),
Measures Map and Areas that could become of particular importance
for biodiversity (ACB) map
Section
5: Species recovery
(page
135)
Section
6: Acronyms and
initialisations (page
235)
Section
7: Glossary
(page
239)
13. The LNRS for Hampshire relates to the whole county of Hampshire, including the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, and the parts of the New Forest National Park and South Downs National Park that fall within Hampshire.
Commentary and Key Matters
14. Whilst the LNRS is in draft form, work is underway to ensure LNRS objectives are given due regard and are embedded into the emerging Local Plan and reflected in guidance especially relating to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
15. The Strategy identifies 52 priority outcomes along with 69 potential measures to help deliver those priority outcomes.
16. Comments to the consultation response are provided in red in Appendix A. These include:
· Updating baseline information for greater horseshoe bats within the District following recent radio-tracking work commissioned by NFDC to inform the Local Plan evidence base.
· Providing commentary on potential measures which could be taken for greater horseshoe bats e.g. survey, sensitive lighting, proactive roost provision.
· Rivers and wetlands – comments on approach to, and role LPAs can have in relation to river restoration
· Managing public access in existing woodlands – none mapped. Include a measure to acknowledgement that woodlands can play important role for recreation and diverting recreation from more sensitive sites / habitats.
· Public access on BNG land – design for access where possible to maximise realistic target condition of created habitats.
· Reference to New Forest SAC Management Plan to update to Version II (2025)
· Watercourses – consider potential measure around targeting engagement and renewal of ‘offline’ properties not covered by the mains sewerage network where there is a risk of old/malfunctioning systems in close proximity to sensitive waterbodies/watercourses.
· Use of local provenance seed sources or green haylage from local donor meadows – potential to establish register / cooperative for green hay to further this aim?
· Nature friendly farming – include a measure to “Reduce the use of parasitic wormers in livestock within greater horseshoe bat core sustenance zone(s)”?
· Priority outcome around alternative greenspace and habitats also relevant to SAC habitats and supported species as well as bird interest with SPAs.
Corporate plan priorities
17. The LNRS strategy will deliver across several key elements of the three key priorities of the Corporate Plan, in particular that of ‘Place’ in protecting the climate, coast and natural environment. The Council has a duty to ‘have regard’ to the LNRS in the preparation of the Local Plan review. The strategy will help The Council to ensure that development considers the key environmental factors to safeguard sustainable outcomes. The district council is supportive of the vision for the strategy.
Options appraisal
Consultation undertaken
19. The LNRS for Hampshire has been developed in partnership with key local partners and a wide range of experts, stakeholders, agencies, organisations and communities across Hampshire and adjacent areas who were interested in helping to deliver nature recovery.
20. The Council has had officer representatives on the LNRS Working Group and LNRS Steering Group established in July 2023 which have met regularly through this period.
21. The consultation process has included a series of 20 workshops - both for interested individuals and organisations, and for landowners and specialist groups. These workshops had over 450 attendees. A public survey was also run in Spring 2024 with over 1,500 responses, alongside other means of engagement such as working groups and presence at agricultural and county events. The workshops comprised those around the following themes:
22. The New Forest and Forest Fringes workshop was held in Lyndhurst Community Centre on 01/02/2024. NFDC were represented and assisted in facilitating the event. HCC also attended the New Forest and Hampshire show in 2024 to engage on LNRS.
23. The feedback from these engagement activities helped to create the shortlists of priorities, issues and opportunities for nature that have been included in the LNRS for Hampshire. Full detail of the engagement process which helped inform the draft LNRS for Hampshire can be found in Appendix 2 of the document (page 260).
24. Natural England undertook a Pre-consultation Panel review and have confirmed that they are happy for the draft LNRS to be subject to formal public consultation.
Financial and resource implications
25. None arising directly from this decision.
Legal implications
26. The LNRS has been prepared in accordance with the:
· Environment Act 2021
·
The
Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure)
Regulations 2023
27. There are no direct legal implications arising from the recommendation. The proposed draft LNRS being consulted upon will also be subject to another round of public consultation on the final version. While there are no direct legal implications, the Council will have to have regard to the LNRS in complying with the strengthened biodiversity duty and in its preparation of the new Local Plan.
Risk
assessment
28. There are no requirements for a formal risk assessment arising from this report, however, there is a risk that the draft LNRS may not be signed off by all the relevant Supporting Authorities (local authorities) in Hampshire in the autumn 2025, but it is not anticipated to be a high risk given the high and sustained levels of stakeholder involvement. This risk will be continually monitored by officers.
Environmental / Climate and Nature implications
29. The consideration of environmental and ecological impacts and opportunities is an integral part of the LNRS preparation process.
Equalities implications
30. None arising directly from this decision.
Crime and disorder implications
31. None arising directly from this decision.
Data protection/ Information governance/ ICT implications
32. None arising directly from this decision.
New Forest National Park / Cranborne Chase National Landscape implications
33. The statutory purposes of National Parks are:
· conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the areas designated;
·
promoting
opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special
qualities of those areas by the public
34. The LNRS will help to further these purposes by helping the Council to target action on the elements and geographic areas that will facilitate nature recovery to the benefit of wildlife, and related public enjoyment of the New Forest. The strategy provides clear mapping and commentary on the opportunities for enhancing biodiversity and sets out potential measures. These elements will help NFDC in the production of its new Local Plan, the determination of planning applications, and the delivery of Council strategies relating to the coast and other interests.
Portfolio holder endorsement
I have agreed to the recommendation of this report.
Signed: Cllr Derek
Tipp
Dated: 11 June 2025
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Appendices: |
Background Papers: |
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Appendix A – Local Nature Recovery Strategy Consultation Response Form – Proposed Consultation Response
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The following documents set out the process each Responsible Authority must follow and what each strategy should include: · Data Standards Advice for LNRS Responsible Authorities · Defra guidance on Identifying and agreeing priorities and potential measures within LNRS · Local nature recovery strategy statutory guidance · Mapping potential measures in Local Nature Recovery Strategies advice · Species Recovery within Local Nature Recovery Strategies · The Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023 |
Date on which notice given of this decision – 11 June 2025
Last date for call in – 18 June 2025
APPENDIX A - Local Nature Recovery Strategy Consultation Response Form – Proposed Consultation Response
This Response Form consists of the following sections:
• Section One asks whether you are responding as an individual, or on behalf an organisation, group or business, or as democratically Elected Representative
• Section Two provides you with some brief introductory points about the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Hampshire
• Section Three asks for your views to understand whether you feel that the issues and opportunities that have been identified for a number of target strategy areas are important
• Section Four asks for your feedback on whether we have selected the right outcomes and measures to focus on for a number of priority areas
• Section Five asks if you agree with the process that has been adopted to prioritise species for recovery, and whether there are any species not on the list that you think should be (and conversely if there are any on the list that you feel should not be)
• Section Six asks some questions about you, so we can understand the views and feelings of different groups of respondents
Section One: About your response
Is this a personal response, or are you responding on behalf of an organisation, group or business or as a democratically Elected Representative? (Please choose one option)
I
am responding as an individual
I am
providing the official response of an organisation, group
or business
I am
responding as a democratically Elected
Representative of a constituency (e.g. as a county,
district, borough, parish or town council Member or MP)
Section Two: Introduction to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Local Nature
Recovery Strategies (LNRSs), introduced by the Environment Act
2021, are a new system of plans to provide a county-wide, practical
solution for nature recovery.
Hampshire County Council is the Responsible Authority for the LNRS
for Hampshire and has created the strategy in partnership with the
15 Local Planning Authorities across Hampshire including all
Districts and Boroughs, the Unitary Authorities of Southampton and
Portsmouth, and the two National Park Authorities.
The detailed draft of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for
Hampshire can be found here
if you
would like to read it in full, with the executive summary
on pages
7 to 9.
Section Three: Key issues and opportunities for nature in Hampshire
To develop the
LNRS, Hampshire County Council worked collaboratively with a number
of key partners to draw up a shortlist of specific areas to focus
on (referred to as ‘strategy areas’). These strategy
areas were selected as they were felt to be the most impactful and
realistic.
Each of these strategy areas were then discussed in further detail
at a number of engagement workshops to identify the following for
each area:
• Key issues for nature
• Opportunities for nature recovery
We would like your views to understand whether you also feel that
the issues and opportunities that have been identified for each of
the strategy areas are important, and if you think there is
anything missing.
You are welcome to share your views on as many or as few of these
strategy areas as you wish.
Which of these strategy areas would you like to answer about? (Please select all that apply)
Rivers and
wetlands
Woodland
Greenspace,
health and access to nature
Thames Basin
Heaths and Lowlands, and Wealden Heaths
Central Chalk
Belt
North
Hampshire
New Forest
and Eastern Dorset Heaths
South
Hampshire Lowlands and South Coast Plain
None of
these
Section Three: Rivers and wetlands - key issues and opportunities
To read more about
this strategy area, please refer to in the draft LNRS for
Hampshire.
The LNRS identifies the following key issues for
nature in rivers and wetlands in Hampshire. More
information about each of these issues can be found on points 2.23
to 2.25 on page
25.
Which, if any, do you think are important issues for rivers and wetlands in Hampshire? (Please select all that apply)
Water
quality (e.g. sewage pollution, agricultural chemicals, sediment
run off from eroded soils)
Water
quantity (e.g. low water levels, or risk of flooding)
Public
awareness/ impact from the public (e.g. lack of awareness/education
about the ecology of the area, damage to sensitive habitats from
dog walking and other recreational use)
None are
important issues
Don’t
know
The strategy also identifies the following key opportunities for nature recovery in rivers and wetlands in Hampshire. More information about each of these opportunities can be found on points 2.26 to 2.31 on page 25.
Which, if any, do you think are important to protect or improve rivers and wetlands? (Please select all that apply)
Providing
riparian buffer strips* and tree planting
Role for
local authorities and planning to drive nature recovery (e.g.
policies for recovery, restoration projects, link to Biodiversity
Net Gain (BNG) watercourse units)
Countryside
Stewardship and other funding (e.g. incentive schemes for land
managers to look after and improve river and wetland
habitats)
Collaboration
and landowner liaison (e.g. better linking up of data or
integration of existing projects)
Flood plain
management (e.g. for conservation of wildlife habitats, optimal
flood water storage, soil protection)
None of these
are important
Don’t
know
*Riparian buffer strips are vegetated areas along riverbanks that help protect waterways from pollution, provide habitat for wildlife, function as flood-plain and help manage flood risks
If
there is anything you would like to expand on about issues or
opportunities affecting rivers and wetlands in Hampshire, please
use the box below.
Section Three: Woodland - key issues and opportunities
To read more about
this strategy area, please refer to https://documents.hants.gov.uk/consultation/LocalNatureRecoveryStrategy-for-Hampshire.pdfin
the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS identifies the following key issues for
nature in woodland in Hampshire. More information
about each of these issues can be found on points 2.49 to 2.53
on page
29.
Which, if any, do you think are important issues for woodland in Hampshire? (Please select all that apply)
Lack of
appropriate active woodland management (e.g. inadequate management
results in poor woodland structure and consequences for
biodiversity)
Tree pests
and pathogens (e.g. their threat to the sustainability of
woodlands)
Deer control
(e.g. inadequate control can make it difficult to achieve natural
regeneration and tree planting)
Grey squirrel
control (e.g. detrimental impact of grey squirrels on woodland
birds)
The impact of
recreational use on woodland wildlife (e.g. dog walking and other
recreational activities disturbing wildlife)
Lack of
protection for veteran trees and Ancient Semi Natural Woodland
(ASNW) (e.g. concern for the fate of old and ancient trees and
woodland due to their irreplaceable nature)
None are
important issues
Don’t
know
The strategy also identifies the following key opportunities for nature recovery in woodland in Hampshire. More information about each of these opportunities can be found on points 2.54 to 2.58 on page 30.
Which, if any, do you think are important to protect or improve woodland? (Please select all that apply)
Improving
connectivity between habitats (e.g. through hedgerow planting,
strategic land purchase, woodland restoration)
‘Right
tree, right place’ (appropriate choice of tree species for
planting)
Focus on
specific priority species (e.g. specific birds, insects or
plants)
Woodland
management (e.g. improving access to traditional skills such as
sensitive felling, coppicing, thinning, increasing awareness of the
need for ongoing and appropriate active management of
woodlands)
Countryside
Stewardship and other funding such as the England Woodland Creation
Offer (EWCO)
None of these
are important
Don’t
know
If there is anything you would like to expand on about issues or opportunities affecting woodland in Hampshire, please use the box below.
Section Three: Greenspace, health and access to nature - key issues
and opportunities
To read more about
this strategy area, please refer to page
35 in the draft LNRS
for Hampshire.
The LNRS identifies the following key issues for
nature in greenspace, health and access to nature in
Hampshire. More information about each of these issues can be
found on points 2.99 to 2.104 on page
37.
Which, if any, do you think are important issues for greenspace, health and access to nature in Hampshire? (Please select all that apply)
Practical
barriers to access (e.g. lack of transport links, inadequate
provision of toilets, benches or provisions for specific access
needs)
Unfamiliarity
with how to use public rights of way
Insufficient
control of dogs
Feelings of
exclusion due to cultural reasons (e.g. lack of confidence that
these spaces are for them, safety concerns)
Lack of
incentives for farmers and landowners to provide access to the
public (e.g. farmers/landowners have concerns about negative
effects of public access and visitor safety)
Development
and population pressure (e.g. shortages of greenspace in urban
areas can put pressure on wildlife from high visitor
numbers)
Lack of
resources (e.g. shortage of funding to create or maintain
greenspace)
None are
important issues
Don’t
know
The strategy also identifies the following key opportunities for nature recovery in greenspace, health and access to nature in Hampshire. More information about each of these opportunities can be found on points 2.105 to 2.109 on page 38.
Which, if any, do you think are important to protect or improve for greenspace, health and access to nature? (Please select all that apply)
Improved
connectivity (e.g. increased access between sites and across
boundaries, improved signage to raise awareness of walking/cycling
routes, improved rights of way network)
Community
engagement (e.g. education, community groups, to improve
understanding and encouraging responsible use of
greenspaces)
Practical
access provision (e.g. suggestions to increase access to greenspace
such as improved facilities, transport links, parking,
etc)
More trees
(e.g. planting trees on transport routes, certain level of tree
density in urban areas, using trees to enhance drainage)
Collaborative
funding mechanisms (e.g. for creation of greenspace, and / or
education and community engagement)
None of these
are important
Don’t
know
If
there is anything you would like to expand on about issues or
opportunities affecting greenspace, health and access to nature in
Hampshire, please use the box below.
Section Three: New Forest and Eastern Dorset Heaths - key issues and opportunities
To read more about
this strategy area, please refer to page
60 in the draft
LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS identifies the following key issues for
nature in the New Forest and Eastern Dorset Heaths.
More information about each of these issues can be found on points
2.216 to 2.226 on page
65.
Which, if any, do you think are important issues for the New Forest and Eastern Dorset Heaths? (Please select all that apply)
Climate
change (e.g. threat to biodiversity and a driver of biodiversity
decline, exacerbates other issues)
Impact of
recreation and access (e.g. dog walking on the coast / in the New
Forest, inappropriately located car parks)
Water quality
and quantity (e.g. pollution, sewage and agricultural run-off in
streams and other bodies of water, inappropriate river restoration
and hard engineering in the past)
Air quality
(e.g. air pollution affecting rare lichen species that grow on old
forest trees)
Light
pollution (e.g. impact of light pollution on nocturnal
species)
Loss of
grazing and commoning culture (e.g. loss of land for grazing,
increased use of land for other purposes)
Limited
knowledge of the current status of many species in the area (e.g.
due to lack of survey work and baseline data)
Threats to
particular species (e.g. as a result of threat to
habitats)
Risk of a
'one size fits all' approach (e.g. the need to consider the
different unique landscapes and habitats within the area and
preserve the unique sense of place of each of them)
None are
important issues
Don’t
know
The strategy also identifies the following key opportunities for nature recovery in the New Forest and Eastern Dorset Heaths. More information about each of these opportunities can be found on points 2.227 to 2.234 on page 66.
Which, if any, do you think are important to protect or improve for the New Forest and Eastern Dorset Heaths? (Please select all that apply)
Improving
connectivity between trees and grasslands (e.g. connecting and
combining habitats, tree planting, hedgerow creation, wildlife
corridor creation)
Wetland
restoration and pond creation (e.g. creation of new ponds, wetlands
and reedbed habitats)
Cross border
approaches (e.g. working with other Local Authorities)
Education and
community engagement (e.g. citizen science projects, encouraging
involvement from under-represented or youth and community groups
and students)
Local
authority collaboration and landowner liaison (e.g. farm clusters,
better landowner consultation)
None of these
are important
Don’t
know
If there is anything you would like to expand on about issues or opportunities affecting the New Forest and Eastern Dorset Heaths, please use the box below.
Section Four: Biodiversity priorities in
different types of habitat
The draft Local
Nature Recovery Strategy sets out a suggested shortlist of
priorities to halt and reverse the decline in biodiversity in
Hampshire.
These priorities focus on recovering or improving biodiversity and
can also help with other environmental issues, like air quality,
flood risk, and health.
Each priority consists of a goal we want to achieve (the
‘outcome’) and the potential actions we can take to
achieve this outcome (the ‘measures’).
These priorities have also been grouped by priority area (i.e.
priorities for a specific habitat or topic have been grouped
together).
Further details about each of the priorities and how they were
selected can be found in Section 3 (page
74).
In this section we would like your views on whether we have
selected the right outcomes and measures to focus on. You are
welcome to share your views on as many or as few of these priority
areas as you wish.
Which of these priority areas would you like to answer about? (Please select all that apply)
Chalk
streams, other watercourses, headwaters and groundwater protection
zones
Wetlands,
ponds and ditches
Species
rich grasslands
Heathland
and acid grassland mosaics
Woodlands
Wood
pasture and parklands
Coastal
Farming
and nature
Hedgerows
Greenspace,
access and transport related
Sites
of importance for nature conservation (SINCs)
Improving
knowledge of priority species and priority habitats
None of
these
Section Four: Chalk streams, other watercourses, headwaters and groundwater protection zones - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 77 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcomes (what we want to achieve) for chalk streams, other watercourses, headwaters and groundwater protection zones in Hampshire.
Which, if any, of the following outcomes would you like to see achieved for chalk streams, other watercourses, headwaters and groundwater protection zones in Hampshire? (Please select all that apply)
The
area’s watercourses and headwaters are protected to reduce
the amount of nutrients and pollutants entering the water courses
and groundwaters
Road surface
water run-off is reduced to prevent pollution flowing into rivers
and canals
Increased
movement and upstream migration of fish, including eel and
salmon
The
return and re-establishment of water voles is supported
Ensuring
the right amount of shading on banksides to allow for growth of
bankside flora and in-channel vegetation or provide cooling where
necessary
Invasive
non-native aquatic and riparian species are controlled / eradicated
to allow native plants and animals to re-establish
None of
these
If you think there
are any priorities we have missed out, or have anything else to add
about either the outcomes or potential measures for chalk streams,
other watercourses, headwaters and groundwater protection zones in
Hampshire, then please use the 
box
below:
Section Four: Wetlands, ponds and ditches - outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 81 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcomes (what we want to achieve) for wetlands, ponds and ditches in Hampshire.
Which, if any, of the following outcomes would you like to see achieved for wetlands, ponds and ditches? (Please select all that apply)
Fens are
created and managed to support a diverse range of fen
species
Reedbeds are
created, restored, and managed to support healthy populations of
target reedbed species
The abundance
of breeding wading birds and wintering waders and wildfowl is
increased
Areas of bare
ground are provided to hold water or transport water through wet
habitats and provide feed areas for waders
Water quality
in high value ditches is enhanced to support target
species
Water quality
in ponds is enhanced to support target species
Large water
bodies are restored
None of
these
If you think there
are any priorities we have missed out, or have anything else to add
about either the outcomes or potential measures for wetlands, ponds
and ditches in Hampshire, then please use the box
below:
Section Four: Species rich grasslands - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 85 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcomes (what we want to achieve) for species rich grasslands in Hampshire.
Which, if any, of the following outcomes would you like to see achieved for species rich grasslands? (Please select all that apply)
All existing
species-rich grassland in positive management
Degraded
species-rich grassland restored back to species-rich
grassland
New areas of
species-rich grassland created (including habitat expansion),
linking existing areas of grasslands
None of
these
If
you think there are any priorities we have missed out, or have
anything else to add about either the outcomes or potential
measures for species rich grasslands in Hampshire, then please use
the box below:
Section Four: Heathland and acid grassland mosaics - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 88 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcomes (what we want to achieve) for heathland and acid grassland mosaics in Hampshire.
Which, if any, of the following outcomes would you like to see achieved for heathland and acid grassland mosaics? (Please select all that apply)
All existing
heathland and acid grassland mosaic in positive
management
Restoration
of degraded heathland and acid grassland mosaic
Heathland
area is increased, and connectivity is improved
None of
these
If you think there are any priorities we have missed out, or have
anything else to add about either the outcomes or potential
measures for heathland and acid grassland mosaics in Hampshire,
then please use the box below:
Section Four: Woodlands - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 92 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcomes (what we want to achieve) for woodlands in Hampshire.
Which, if any, of the following outcomes would you like to see achieved for woodlands? (Please select all that apply)
Existing
woodlands enhanced through suitable active management
Plantations
on ancient woodlands (PAWs) restored
New woodlands
created with native tree species linking existing areas of
woodland
Natural
woodland regeneration enabled
None of
these
If you think there
are any priorities we have missed out, or have anything else to add
about either the outcomes or potential measures for woodlands in
Hampshire, then please use the box 
below:
Section Four: Wood pasture and parklands - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 97 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcome (what we want to achieve) for wood pasture and parklands in Hampshire.
Would you like to see the following outcome achieved for wood pasture and parklands? (Please choose one option per row)
Existing lowland wood pasture, and historic parkland is restored and managed
Yes
No
Don't
know
If you think there are any priorities we have missed out, or have
anything else to add about either the outcomes or potential
measures for wood pasture and parklands in Hampshire, then please
use the box below:
Section Four: Coastal - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 98 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcomes (what we want to achieve) for coastal areas in Hampshire.
Which, if any, of the following outcomes would you like to see achieved for coastal areas? (Please select all that apply)
Coastal sand
dunes and vegetated shingle are protected and managed
Coastal
saltmarsh restored and managed
Inter-tidal
and saline habitat, including saltmarsh, created on coastal flood
plain, intensive grassland, and arable land (subject to managed
retreat/realignment)
Seagrass beds
to be restored
Native oyster
reefs established
Disturbance
from dogs on coastal wildfowl minimised
None of
these
If you think there
are any priorities we have missed out, or have anything else to add
about either the outcomes or potential measures for coastal in
Hampshire, then please use the box below:
Section Four: Farming and nature - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 102 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire set out the following outcome (what we want to achieve) for farming and nature in Hampshire.
Would you like to see the following outcome achieved for farming and nature? (Please choose one option per row)
Nature friendly farming and protection of nature on arable land
Yes
No
Don't
know
If
you think there are any priorities we have missed out, or have
anything else to add about either the outcomes or potential
measures for farming and nature in Hampshire, then please use the
box below:
Section Four: Hedgerows - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 105 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcomes (what we want to achieve) for hedgerows in Hampshire.
Which, if any, of the following outcomes would you like to see achieved for hedgerows? (Please select all that apply)
Existing
hedgerows better managed to maximise their value for
biodiversity
New
species-rich hedgerows created to improve hedgerow connectivity and
join up other species-rich habitats, like woodlands
More hedgerow
trees to support wildlife, provide stepping stones between woodland
habitats and sequester carbon
None of
these
If you think there
are any priorities we have missed out, or have anything else to add
about either the outcomes or potential measures for hedgerows in
Hampshire, then please use the box below:
Section Four: Greenspace, access and transport related - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 107 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for
Hampshire sets out the following outcomes (what we want to achieve)
for greenspace, access and transport related
in Hampshire.
Which, if any, of the following outcomes would you like to see achieved for greenspace, access and transport related? (Please select all that apply)
The nature
conservation value of public spaces is enhanced
The nature
conservation value of brownfield land is enhanced
Increased
tree canopy cover in urban areas
Transport
corridors, including new and existing road verges and rights of way
are enhanced for biodiversity.
Impacts from
recreational disturbance on the Thames Basin Heaths SPA, Wealden
Heaths SPA, New Forest SPA and coastal SPAs are mitigated through
the creation of alternative greenspace and habitats
None of
these
If
you think there are any priorities we have missed out, or have
anything else to add about either the outcomes or potential
measures for greenspace, access and transport related in Hampshire,
then please use the box below:
Section Four: Sites of importance for nature conservation (SINCs) -
Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 110 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcome (what we want to achieve) for sites of importance for nature conservation (SINCs) in Hampshire.
Would you like to see the following outcome achieved for sites of importance for nature conservation (SINCs)? (Please choose one option per row)
The condition of SINC habitats is improved
Yes
No
Don't
know
If you think there
are any priorities we have missed out, or have anything else to add
about either the outcomes or potential measures for sites of
importance for nature conservation (SINCs) in Hampshire, then
please use the box below:
Section Four: Improving knowledge of priority species and priority habitats - Outcomes
To read more about this priority area, please refer to page 111 in the draft LNRS for Hampshire.
The LNRS for Hampshire sets out the following outcome (what we want to achieve) for improving knowledge of priority species and priority habitats in Hampshire.
Would you like to see the following outcome achieved for improving knowledge of priority species and priority habitats? (Please choose one option per row)
Priority habitats and priority species populations are enhanced and sustained with the most up to date supporting evidence
Yes
No
Don't
know
If you think there
are any priorities we have missed out, or have anything else to add
about either the outcomes or potential measures for improving
knowledge of priority species and priority 
habitats
in Hampshire, then please use the box below:
Section Five: Species Recovery
The number and
variety of species in our natural environments are important as
they show how healthy an area is.
The government has set some goals to:
• Stop
the decline in the number of species
• Increase the number of species
• Reduce the risk of species going
extinct
In order to help
deliver these goals, it is important for Hampshire to expand the
habitat network to help species recover and reduce the risk of
species extinction.
The first step to help species recover was to create a list of
species that need help and identify which should be prioritised. A
summary of this process can be found in the box below and further
details can be found in Section 5 (page
135) of the LNRS for
Hampshire.
How did we decide which species should be focussed on?
Step
1: A long list
of over 1,600 potential species for focus was compiled based on
their conservation status and following guidance from the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Species
listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Red lists, Natural Environment and Rural (NERC) Act Section 41, and
birds of conservation concern were included.
Step 2: A shorter, more focused list was then developed
from this long list to identify which species should be
prioritised. This was done during a workshop in March 2024
attended by key species recording groups and statutory and nature
conservation organisations. The process to select which species
should be prioritised involved removing species that:
• were
considered extinct in Hampshire with no chance of returning
• had not been seen for at least two decades and where there
were very few records
• are thought to have stable or increasing populations
• would require action outside England
• would require further evidence before they could be a focus
Some species were
kept on the list if there is an existing recovery programme and/or
chance of reintroduction, or could expand their range due to the
effects of climate change.
Step 3: To help make the shortlist, each species was
given a habitat recovery class (A – E) based on what they
need to recover. Some species got more than one class if needed.
These classes help decide how to best help each species. For more
information on the Habitat Recovery Classes see Table 5.1
on page
137.
Do you agree with the process that has been used to prioritise species for focus? (Please choose one option)
Yes – I
completely agree with the process
Yes – I
partly agree with the process
No – I
disagree with the process
I don’t
know
Section Five: Species Recovery (continued)
Which species were identified as being a priority for species recovery?
414 species were identified as being a priority for species recovery, of which:
68 species
were identified as requiring individual targeted action.
These can be found in:
• Table 5.2: Individual priority species (page 141)
346 species
were grouped together into 37 groups of species (called
‘assemblages’).
Species in the same assemblage often need the same kind of help so
they can be taken care of together. These can be found
in:
• Table
5.3: Priority assemblages for birds (page
168)
• Table 5.4: Priority species assemblage – other species
groups (page
178)
• Table 5.5: Species assemblages – New Forest SSSI*
(page
219)
* Please note, the species listed in Table 5.5 are included for awareness only. This is because these are located solely with in New Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and are already being taken care of by existing plans managed by the landowner(s).
If there are any
species on the species priority lists that you think should
not be included, please specify in the box
below. Please include the
group name(s), taxon name(s) and common name(s) for the
species
Section Five: Species Recovery (continued)
If there are any
species not on the species priority lists that you
think should be included, please specify in the
box below. Please
include the group name(s), taxon name(s) and common name(s) for the
species
Please explain why
you think that species should be
included.
Any further comments
If there is
anything else you would like to tell us about the draft LNRS,
including the appendices, please tell us in the box
below.
If your suggestion
is about a specific part, section and/or page, please make this
clear in your answer.
