How Oxfordshire’s LNRS is inspiring collective efforts for nature’s comeback
Oxfordshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) was officially launched on 12 November 2025 at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
The LNRS is designed to restore and reconnect Oxfordshire’s natural environment, building resilience against flooding and climate change for future generations. The strategy is a tool to guide decision-making and resource allocation, rather than being a prescriptive plan. It does not require landowners to take any particular actions, instead it is intended to help identify and create strategic projects and attract more funding and investment.
Defra asked 48 authorities across England to create an LNRS for their area. In Oxfordshire, the strategy has been co-created in partnership with a range of local people and organisations. The LNRS contains a set of documents and a map tool that outlines important actions to take to support biodiversity. The map tool identifies key locations where many of these actions could be delivered.
Throughout the process of creating the strategy, the LNRS focused on an engagement process that enabled local people to help shape the strategy. Over 3,500 responses were received throughout 14 workshops, 2 surveys, and a formal public consultation, all of which helped to shape the priorities, actions, and mapping within the strategy.
The LNRS is seen as a “treasure map” for nature recovery, but its success depends on collective action and ongoing collaboration by all.
The vision of the LNRS is to create a well-connected, biodiversity-rich, network of nature that is resilient into the future, restored for the health and wellbeing of future generations, and for nature’s own sake. Indeed, by creating a genuinely resilient, joined-up network of diverse and healthy ecosystems in Oxfordshire, we have a chance to create a significantly more resilient environment in the face of climate change.
To achieve this vision, there are a range of actions that need to be taken to help both habitats and species recover. Some species are picked out on the LNRS species Priorities List for needing bespoke, additional actions. Many other species are expected to benefit from the wider habitat actions being recommended across the county, such as woodland enhancement, or good grassland management.
Minister Mary Creagh was present at the launch!
Oxford's Natural History Museum, where the LNRS launch took place.
OCC leader Councillor Liz Leffman was part of the speaking roster too!
Now that the strategy has been launched, people and organisations across Oxfordshire are now using the map and written actions as a tool to guide their delivery work and to apply for resources from funders. The LNRS is expected to catalyse nature recovery efforts, monitor and report on actions being taken across the county, and
The LNRS partners will now be meeting with a range of people and organisations across the county to enable people to use and understand the tool, hosting further events, sharing data, and identifying strategic projects. A key focus is on enabling project development and delivery through meetings, matchmaking with funders, and the creation of a real-time monitoring tool for nature recovery actions. The LNRS team is committed to ongoing engagement, regular reporting, and supporting a wide range of partners, including schools, farmers, landowners, and community groups.
Delivering nature recovery actions across at a county scale is a shared project, one that we must all take up our part of whether our influence is at the individual, organisational, or regional level. Working together, we can recover nature in the county.
What Could You Do?
- Have a quick look at areas where you spend time, live, or work on the LNRS Local Habitat Map. Watch a video about how to use the map if you like, and then zoom into areas and click on the map to see which biodiversity actions are being recommended near you.
- Take an action in your garden or local green spaces from the LNRS Statement of Biodiversity Priorities. Scroll down to the ‘Wider environment sections’ and check if you could help enhance the space for wildlife e.g. adding an area of deadwood, creating ponds, planting trees or hedges.
- Take an action to support species near you. Have a look at the LNRS Species Priorities List to see which action you’d prefer to take to support species such as swifts, house martins, hedgehogs, blackthorn butterflies, bats, or tawny owls. Choose one to start with.
- You can also get involved with a great range of groups if you’d like to volunteer to support some of the other habitat and species actions being taken across the county. Have a look at the CAG Oxfordshire map showing groups you could get involved with.
The LNRS is seen as a “treasure map” for nature recovery, but its success depends on collective action and ongoing collaboration by all.
Thank you to all the partners who have worked closely in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council to produce this strategy.
