Cumbria’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Cumbria Local Nature Partnership supported the Responsible and Supporting Authorities in the production of Cumbria’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) which was published in November 2025. CLNP are now supporting the Responsible Authority with transition to delivery and the CLNP Board are providing oversight of LNRS now it has been published.
CLNP organise and manage a number of working groups to support and facilitate Partnership delivery of LNRS Priorities including groups focussed on Nature Recovery, Data & Evidence, and People & Nature. There are also thematic working group that bring interested stakeholder together to drive forward action around habitat or project development themes e.g. County Wildlife Sites and Roadside Verges.
For more information on the CLNP working groups please contact us. You can view the completed LNRS at www.cumbrialnrs.org.uk
Cumbria’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Cumbria Local Nature Partnership are supporting the coordination and delivery of Cumbria’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).
It’s a new way of planning for nature at a local level that will set out priorities for nature recovery by mapping areas that are already important for nature, and suggesting areas and actions that could help expand, connect, and enhance those places.
This will help people make the best decisions for nature where they live and work, and lead to the creation of “nature-recovery networks” – bigger, better, and more connected places that provide a home for wildlife and deliver a healthy environment for people.
Find out more and learn how you can get involved at www.cumbrialnrs.org.uk
Solway Saltmarsh Green Finance Project
Funded through the Local Investment in Natura Capital (LINC) and awarded to Cumberland Council and Solway National Landscape, this initiative is being delivered by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. The project aims to explore and develop investable opportunities that will attract green finance to support the restoration and enhancement of saltmarsh habitats along the Cumbrian side of the Solway.
Key activities include:
- Mapping and assessing the current condition of saltmarsh habitats to identify enhancement opportunities.
- Identifying barriers to saltmarsh restoration, including funding and resource challenges.
- Engaging with landowners, farmers, and marsh committees to understand past, present, and future land use.
- Exploring challenges and opportunities for saltmarsh restoration and expansion.
- Collaborating with 2-3 landowners to create case studies that will prepare for green finance investment.
This project seeks to lay the foundations for a sustainable, finance-driven approach to restoring valuable saltmarsh habitats, benefiting landowners, land managers, farmers, conservation efforts, and local communities alike.
Solway Saltmarsh Green Finance Project
Funded through the Local Investment in Natura Capital (LINC) and awarded to Cumberland Council and Solway National Landscape, this initiative is being delivered by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. The project aims to explore and develop investable opportunities that will attract green finance to support the restoration and enhancement of saltmarsh habitats along the Cumbrian side of the Solway.
Key activities include:
- Mapping and assessing the current condition of saltmarsh habitats to identify enhancement opportunities.
- Identifying barriers to saltmarsh restoration, including funding and resource challenges.
- Engaging with landowners, farmers, and marsh committees to understand past, present, and future land use.
- Exploring challenges and opportunities for saltmarsh restoration and expansion.
- Collaborating with 2-3 landowners to create case studies that will prepare for green finance investment.
This project seeks to lay the foundations for a sustainable, finance-driven approach to restoring valuable saltmarsh habitats, benefiting landowners, land managers, farmers, conservation efforts, and local communities alike.
Cumbria Wildlife Sites Project
County Wildlife Sites are areas of land that are especially important for their wildlife. They are some of our most valuable wildlife areas that are identified and selected locally using scientifically-determined criteria and surveys.
They are corridors for wildlife, forming key components of ecological networks and are an important part of Nature Recovery Networks.
In Cumbria we have more than 1600 County Wildlife Sites but, due to lack of funding, many haven’t been surveyed for many years so we don’t know what condition they are in.
In 2023 Cumbria Local Nature Partnership brought together partners including Cumberland Council, Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Lake District National Park, Natural England, Yorkshire Dales National Park, and Westmorland & Furness Council to secure funding to begin resurveying these special sites.
In early 2024 we appointed a new project team hosted at Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre to deliver the Cumbria Wildlife Sites project.
Cumbria Wildlife Sites Project
County Wildlife Sites are areas of land that are especially important for their wildlife. They are some of our most valuable wildlife areas that are identified and selected locally using scientifically-determined criteria and surveys.
They are corridors for wildlife, forming key components of ecological networks and are an important part of Nature Recovery Networks.
In Cumbria we have more than 1600 County Wildlife Sites but, due to lack of funding, many haven’t been surveyed for many years so we don’t know what condition they are in.
In 2023 Cumbria Local Nature Partnership brought together partners including Cumberland Council, Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Lake District National Park, Natural England, Yorkshire Dales National Park, and Westmorland & Furness Council to secure funding to begin resurveying these special sites.
In early 2024 we appointed a new project team hosted at Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre to deliver the Cumbria Wildlife Sites project.
Get Cumbria Buzzing
Get Cumbria Buzzing was a c. £1.7 million project developed by Cumbria Local Nature Partnership and funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund (£912,800) and Highways England Designated Funds programme (£860,000).
Between 2019-2022 delivery partners including Cumbria Wildlife Trust created 115 hectares of wildflower rich habitat for pollinators at over 62 sites in Cumbria, linking natural environments and green spaces together, and creating stepping stones for pollinators to travel between, take shelter within and feed from.
The project area included parts of the A595 and A66 Strategic Road Network and the partnership work carried out resulted in best practice case studies and the project was awarded the Highways England Award for Excellence in Environment and Sustainability.
Get Cumbria Buzzing
Get Cumbria Buzzing was a c. £1.7 million project developed by Cumbria Local Nature Partnership and funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund (£912,800) and Highways England Designated Funds programme (£860,000).
Between 2019-2022 delivery partners including Cumbria Wildlife Trust created 115 hectares of wildflower rich habitat for pollinators at over 62 sites in Cumbria, linking natural environments and green spaces together, and creating stepping stones for pollinators to travel between, take shelter within and feed from.
The project area included parts of the A595 and A66 Strategic Road Network and the partnership work carried out resulted in best practice case studies and the project was awarded the Highways England Award for Excellence in Environment and Sustainability.
Planting for Pollinators
Planting for Pollinators was a c.£800,000 project developed by Cumbria Local Nature Partnership and delivered by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Cumbria County Council from September 2021 to March 2023 and, following an extension, an additional three months.
Funded by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund (£699,500) it aimed to reverse pollinator decline across north and west Cumbria by creating, improving, and connecting a mosaic of pollinator-friendly habitats including hedges, species rich grassland, scrub, deadwood, banks, glades and flower rich gardens.
Planting for Pollinators
Planting for Pollinators was a c.£800,000 project developed by Cumbria Local Nature Partnership and delivered by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Cumbria County Council from September 2021 to March 2023 and, following an extension, an additional three months.
Funded by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund (£699,500) it aimed to reverse pollinator decline across north and west Cumbria by creating, improving, and connecting a mosaic of pollinator-friendly habitats including hedges, species rich grassland, scrub, deadwood, banks, glades and flower rich gardens.
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