Views sought on plans to boost wildlife recovery

Bats, birds, woodlands and urban green spaces are the focus of a new plan to help wildlife recover to its former numbers.

Swindon and Wiltshire councils have worked together to create a Local Recovery Strategy in response to the government's pledge to protect 30% of the country's land, water and seas for nature by 2030.

The two councils have now put the plan out to public consultation.

Wiltshire councillor Dominic Muns, cabinet member for environment, warned: "The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with one in six species threatened with extinction."

Habitats that the plan focuses on include chalk and limestone grassland, woodland, heathland, acid bogs and acid grassland and rivers.

The strategy sets out that protecting and enhancing nature is not just an environmental imperative "but a social and economic one as well".

It says individuals, businesses and communities all benefit from biodiversity, including from wellbeing, food, water security and flooding.

Mr Muns said: "By focusing conservation efforts where they are most needed, the strategy will support wildlife to thrive and can also help to deliver wider environmental benefits such as cleaner air and waterways, reduced flood risk, and enhanced green spaces for local communities."

Species the plan particularly hopes to help include bats, farmland birds, lapwing and stone curlew, the Duke of Burgundy butterfly, juniper and arable plants.

Chris Watts, Swindon Borough Council's cabinet member for the environment and transport, said: "The plan will help us achieve a fairer and greener Swindon by ensuring developers prioritise biodiversity net gain and that our communities benefit from a healthier natural environment."

People can comment on the proposals until 19 April.

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This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.