Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy
We are facing a climate and ecological emergency. In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, we are seeing the dramatic challenges that nature faces first-hand. Only with a collaborative and coordinated approach can we hope to deliver the necessary action needed to help restore nature.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are well known for their wildlife. From the mainland with its wild craggy tors and moors, cliffs blooming with heather, farmland bordered by Cornish hedges carpeted in primroses and foxgloves and rivers lined by moss covered woodland filled with bird song. To the archipelago of the Isles of Scilly with its rocky outcrops, maritime heathland and grassland buzzing with pollinators and where seabirds soar. Our wildlife is an integral part of our landscape, communities and economy. It has served as inspiration for generations and makes this a fantastic place to live, work and visit.
But we are in an ecological emergency: a major decline in wildlife and we need to take urgent action to remedy this. We need to recover nature and maximise the adoption of nature-based solutions to help increase local resilience in the face of a changing climate..
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy is a vital step, in recovering nature. It is a new locally-led statutory blueprint for nature and nature-based solutions. The strategy and maps:
- Outline opportunities and priorities for what, where and how we can protect and grow nature;
- Map opportunities for specific actions that can be delivered now to have the most impact for nature and nature based solutions across the region; and
- Lay out the journey for realising the long-term growth of nature.
Public Consultation:
We are all a part of nature, and when nature is thriving, we all benefit.
Cornwall Council with support from the Local Nature Partnership, the Council of the Isles of Scilly and many other partners, have been developing a nature recovery strategy that is ambitious, deliverable, and can used by one and all to help our natural world recover.
We have been delighted to have the support from thousands of people in the development of this strategy, and we are proud to share the draft consultation with you now.
We are consulting on two elements of the strategy:
We now want to hear your views on the draft strategy. Everyone’s voice matters. To have your say, please take the survey below.
The consultation will run until 5pm on January 6th
To learn more about the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy, please visit our Let’s Talk page which includes more information about the purpose of the strategy, how it relates to farming and food production, and answers to some frequently asked questions.
The consultation survey can be found below. There is a separate survey for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
If you have any questions about the consultation, please contact grow-nature@cornwall.gov.uk
Take the Isles of Scilly Survey Here
Drop-ins: Have your say
Join us for 1-1 discussions about nature recovery and a chance to view and comment on the maps and strategy with our Farm Liaison Officer. You can also find out more about potential public and private funding, support and projects on offer.
- Monday 2nd December: Redruth RFC Clubhouse 12-7 PM
- Wednesday 4th December: Long Gallery, New County Hall, Truro 12-7 PM
- Thursday 5th December: Shire Hall, Bodmin 1-7 PM
‘Round the kitchen table’ chats with our Farm Liaison Officer
Our dedicated Farm Liaison Officer is inviting farmers and landowners to join her for informal ‘around the kitchen table’ sessions to view maps and feedback on the draft Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy. Email grow.nature@cornwall.gov.uk to book your session.
Next steps:
We will review your submissions following completion of the public consultation and consider how the strategy can be improved based on the feedback provided. Following this we anticipate a formal adoption and publication of the strategy in Spring 2025. We will also provide a formal report in response to consultation responses to help summarise the feedback received, and how it influenced the final draft of the strategy.
To keep up to date with progress of the strategy, pleases sign up to the Cornwall and Isles of Scily Local Nature Partnership newsletter here.
Appendices:
As well as the two core outputs, we have developed a range of appendices to help you understand the strategy. These build on the recommendations within the strategy and give more information about how the strategy was developed.
These include:
- Appendix a: How the strategy maps against national environmental objectives - see main written strategy document
- Appendix b: Priorities and habitats matrix
- Appendix c: Species management recommendations
- Appendix d: Methodology: How we created the strategy and maps
