Biodiversity, landscape and design

The Wiltshire Community Environmental Toolkit has been developed in partnership with Natural England to allow communities to take the lead in defining and restoring biodiversity in their community. Designed for use by community groups, local landowners, Parish and Town Councils, schools and youth groups it provides a structure for how local communities can better understand what they already have in terms of biodiverse habitats as well as how to plan for developing greater biodiversity and nature based carbon sequestration in the future. The Toolkit also signposts to many other organisations which can assist communities in delivering their aims and objectives. The Toolkit will form part of a suite of documents that Wiltshire Council is producing as part of the Green Blue Infrastructure Strategy.

The Wiltshire Green Blue Infrastructure (GBI) Strategy, adopted in February 2022, provides an overarching strategy for the next eight years.

Wiltshire Council held a summit in July bringing together key stakeholders, landowners and land managers from across the county to discuss how we can help make a lasting improvement to our natural environment. Guest speakers spoke on a range of topics including the Environment Act 2021, national policies and biodiversity net gain and discussed practical ways to make a positive difference.

Nutrient pollution is a big environmental issue for many of our most important places for nature in England. In rivers and estuaries, increased levels of nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) can harm wildlife. These nutrients are affecting the condition of internationally protected rivers, such as the Hampshire Avon, the River Lambourn, the Somerset Levels and Moors, and coastal waters such as the lower reaches of the River Test and the wider Solent and Southampton Water.

Currently, Wiltshire has a combined tree canopy coverage of 14%. Our long term aim is to increase this coverage to 17% in line with national government targets as well as meeting the council's commitments as set out in our Climate strategy, and Green and blue infrastructure strategy.

Introducing the Wiltshire and Swindon Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS): a roadmap designed to guide nature recovery initiatives throughout Wiltshire.