The LNRS emphasises the creation of a ‘nature network’35 based on the Lawton principles of “more, bigger, better, and joined-up” spaces for nature. This involves improving existing habitats, expanding their size, enhancing connectivity, and creating new sites. It encourages collective action from public bodies, landowners, communities, and residents. The nature network is comprised of maps that identify core local nature sites and nature recovery ‘opportunity areas.’

The LNRS identifies local species particularly at risk and practical actions for the target species or species groups, and sets out opportunities (and which species they will support) for:

Urban green spaces and buildings;

Woodlands, Trees, Scrub and Hedgesrow;

River, Canal and Waterbodies;

Lowland, Wetland and Mossland;

Grasslands, Farmland and Lowland Heath; and

Upland Moorland.

The LNRS does not introduce any new protections of sites or designations – nor introduce any new barriers to development. The LNRS opportunity areas are strategically identified areas that are crucial to developing a coherent nature recovery network across Greater Manchester, through expanding or joining up our core local nature sites. The opportunity areas are not legally protected but are intended to guide investment and planning to support biodiversity.

For implementation of statutory Biodiversity Net Gain, the areas identified in the Greater Manchester Local Nature Recovery Strategy as ‘mapped actions in the LRNS Nature Network’ are to be categorised as ‘formally identified’ in local strategy for the purposes of scoring ‘strategic significance’ in the Statutory Biodiversity Metric.

1. Development must seek to avoid, mitigate or compensate for the loss of and minimise harm to existing trees, woodland, and/or hedgerows of visual, or nature conservation value. This includes but is not limited to ancient woodland, and ancient and veteran trees. Where trees and/or woodland are to be lost as a part of development, this loss must be justified as a part of an Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) submitted with the application. New tree planting