Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Haweswater

Cumbria's unique natural environment is a vital part of our county's cultural identity. It provides habitats for some of England’s most threatened species and delivers wider benefits that our communities and economy rely on. The environment underpins the wellbeing of local people and the prosperity of the county. 

Cumbria’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is a call to action. It is an inspiration for anyone who wants to play their part in addressing the biodiversity and climate crises. The LNRS is a tool that sets Cumbria's priorities for nature recovery and plans and maps the potential measures we can take to achieve them. It prioritises nature recovery in places where it will have the greatest impact for people and nature.

Everyone working to address biodiversity loss in Cumbria is contributing to a bigger picture of nature recovery and everyone can play their part.

The Cumbria LNRS was published in November 2025, produced collaboratively by those who live in, work in, or visit Cumbria. It will help us take informed action to create more places where wildlife and people can thrive. Together, we can make a change and create a lasting legacy of nature recovery. 

Watch the video below to learn more about Cumbria's LNRS and hear from partners who helped to create the strategy explain how it supports their work.

Priorities for nature recovery

The Cumbria LNRS priorities for nature recovery are:

  • Priority 1: Habitat mosaics
  • Priority 2: Invasive non-native species
  • Priority 3: Data and mapping
  • Priority 4: Safeguarding our habitats and species
  • Priority 5: Skills, delivery, and funding
  • Priority 6: People taking action for nature
  • Priority 7: Farming and nature
  • Priority 8: Sustainable forest management
  • Priority 9: Create and connect woodland
  • Priority 10: Ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees
  • Priority 11: Hedgerows and scrub
  • Priority 12: Forestry and nature
  • Priority 13: Restore upland bog habitats
  • Priority 14: Enhance and restore heathland habitats
  • Priority 15: Montane habitats

 

 

  • Priority 16: Conserve and enhance existing wildlife-rich grasslands
  • Priority 17: Create and connect wildlife-rich grassland
  • Priority 18: Limestone pavement
  • Priority 19: Restore natural function/processes    
  • Priority 20: Enhance and restore wetland habitats
  • Priority 21: Water quality
  • Priority 22: Restore and enhance coastal habitats
  • Priority 23: Create space for coastal dynamism
  • Priority 24: Marine nature recovery
  • Priority 25: Manage and enhance our built environment
  • Priority 26: Create more wildlife-rich habitat within our built environment
  • Priority 27: Species recovery

Parts of the Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Cumbria's LNRS is made up of two key parts, the Statement of Biodiversity Priorities and the Local Habitat Map. 

The Statement of Biodiversity Priorities is a written document. It outlines the key habitats and species in Cumbria and the pressures and threats on them. It also sets out a vision for their recovery. It also defines Cumbria's priorities for nature recovery and their potential measures (actions that will help to deliver the priorities). 

The Local Habitat Map is an interactive map that shows where the potential measures will have the most positive impact. It also maps areas that are already important for nature, existing wildlife-rich habitat that can be enhanced and Nature Recovery Networks, where efforts can be targeted to restore and create habitat to make them more connected. 

Not all the potential measures are mappable so the Statement of Biodiversity Priorities and Local Habitat Map should be used together. 

Read the Statement of Biodiversity Priorities
View the Local Habitat Map

Acknowledgments 

This LNRS was produced with contributions from:

  • Westmorland and Furness Council, as the Responsible Authority
  • Supporting Authorities:
    • Cumberland Council
    • Lake District National Park Authority
    • Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
    • Natural England
  • Cumbria Local Nature Partnership, who supported the strategy development throughout
  • Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre, who collated all spatial data and created the Local Habitat Map
  • Natural England, Forestry Commission and Environment Agency, who provided technical input to inform this strategy
  • Over 650 organisations and interested parties, who engaged with the LNRS either through newsletters and updates, attendance at workshops, or membership of technical working groups 

We would like to thank all those who contributed to the LNRS and everyone who will bring the strategy to life.