Dorset local nature recovery strategy: Further information for farmers, landowners and land managers

Lots of land in Dorset is already offering great space for nature. Many Dorset farmers, landowners and land managers have been involved in long-term stewardship of our natural environment and taking various actions for nature. 

Despite this, successive State of Nature reports evidence a continuing decline in our native wildlife, both nationally and locally. It is these declines that we need to reverse and recover. 

The term "nature recovery" is not used to detract from the work farmers do to protect nature or suggest that farmers are harming nature. Instead, it acknowledges that every sector together has contributed to declines in nature and related environmental problems. We also know farmers are often the first to observe and be impacted by these issues. 

Nature Recovery Dorset is about recognising all the great work already happening for nature, so we can understand the best opportunities to do more across the wider landscape. 

Activities for nature recovery are not just rewilding - this may be appropriate for some places and people, but a range of activities can help nature recover. 

Farmers, landowners and land managers told us they are already:

• restoring hedgerows
• planting wildflower margins
• managing riparian habitats
• reducing run-off
• undertaking arable reversion
• conservation grazing
• lowering inputs or going organic

The government is aiming to shift from focusing singly on food production to multi-functional land use, to produce food and give nature space to recover. This may include one or more of these approaches:

• creating new wildlife habitat on less productive areas, often still involving domestic livestock grazing
• sustainable farming practices
• joining up wildlife-rich areas that have become separated (these areas may still be used for agriculture depending on habitat type)
• stopping farming in limited areas when the farmer decides agricultural production becomes unviable

The Dorset local nature recovery strategy does not seek to stop food production and we know lots of activities for nature are done alongside this. Nature Recovery Dorset is about supporting farmers who are passionate about producing great local food for people in ways that work with nature,

The agreed nature recovery priorities have to focus on habitats, species and wider environmental benefits, but the strategy will identify where activities for nature recovery can also deliver co-benefits for health and the local economy. 

To ensure local farmers' views are reflected in the strategy we have farmer representation on three of the groups helping us prepare the strategy and there will be opportunities for others in the farming community to input. 

As part of the local nature recovery strategy, some maps are being created showing existing nature sites, modelled habitat networks, and modelled opportunities for nature recovery and wider environmental benefits. 

The maps will be a visual tool to inform discussions of where the best opportunities are to deliver more activities for nature. 

Collectively, these are called the Nature Recovery Dorset maps. Some elements are statutory and required by Defra, and some are additional for Dorset. 

See mapping for Nature Recovery Dorset for more information about what maps we are creating, what they will show and where they will be available. 

Being included on the Nature Recovery Dorset maps

One of the statutory maps we are required to create is Nature Areas - National Importance. This will include sites that are currently recognised and protected within the land-use planning system for their nature value. The criteria for being included in this map layer was set by Defra to provide a nationally consistent baseline, so if you have one of these on your land, it will be included. 

Another statutory map is the High Opportunity Nature Areas. Its purpose is to identify where nature recovery activities are likely to be delivered and where future effort and funding should be targeted to achieve the most for nature recovery and the wider environment. 

From Monday 19 August - Monday 30 September 2024, we are asking farmers, landowners and land managers to put your land forward to be included in the High Opportunity Nature Areas. Read about the benefits, important information and how to put your land forward. 

Being included in the Nature Recovery Dorset maps will not force anyone to act and there will a choice how your land is displayed. 

Defra have not said there is an intention to designate High Opportunity Nature Areas. In the past, designation has protected pockets of nature-rich sites against a background of continuing nature declines. As we work to recover nature, we will increase nature-richness across the whole county, and as a result, the relative importance of sites designated for nature in delivering nature recovery is expected to decline. 

The government have 3 pillars to their criteria on what land will count towards the 30by30 target - to protect 30% of land, rivers and seas for nature by 2030: 

• purpose - primary or secondary management objective of the area is to deliver biodiversity conservation
• protection - the area is protected from loss or damage to important biodiversity (this could be by designation, as well as a commitment from the owner)
• management - a management plan will be implemented to deliver ad monitor nature outcomes 

GOV.UK explains more on delivering 30by30 on land in England.

These pillars suggest that progress towards nature recovery will be achieved by creating more nature-rich areas outside of designated and protected sites. We cannot however predict exactly what this or any future government will seek to do regarding designation and restriction. 

Being part of Nature Recovery Dorset by undertaking activities to achieve the agreed Nature Recovery Priorities does not come with obligations to maintain those activities for nature. Funding schemes such as Environmental Land Management (ELM), Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and others are tools to help deliver the potential activities which will have their own scheme guidance, agreements and compliance for whichever funding mechanism you choose. 

For example:

• BNG has a 30-year management commitment - read up-to-date information at Dorset Council Biodiversity Net Gain
• Landscape-recovery schemes look at change over at least 20 years
• Sustainable Farming Incentive involves 3-year agreements
• Countryside Stewardship 

Nature Recovery Dorset is not currently a funding scheme, but the local nature recovery strategy will be a tool that guides the allocation of a range of public, private and voluntary sector funding. 

The local nature recovery strategy is not intended as a tool to restrict activity or development, but to identify areas which are already important for nature and areas which have potential to become better for nature. 

The National Farmers Union (NFU) have made a clear request to Defra that the local nature recovery strategy does not impact farm businesses opportunities to modernise and diversify. 

Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) must have regard to the strategy once published and use it to inform the way they address the National Planning Policy Framework requirement for plans to protect and enhance nature, as part of achieving sustainable development. 

As part of government changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are working with Defra to provide additional guidance on how local nature recovery strategies should be given weight in planning. You can read more about how local nature recovery strategies will be delivered on GOV.UK.

In Dorset, we have planning policy officers from both Dorset Council and BCP Council on our steering group to ensure the strategy joins up with both Local Plans. 

BCP Local Plan consultation draft was published in March 2024 for public consultation. You can see the wording relating to the local nature recovery strategy on page 32. 

Dorset Council's Local Plan is being developed following national government's reformed planning policy, so a consultation draft is not expected until March 2026. See the Local Development Scheme for Dorset Council March 2024. 

Both councils' draft Local Plans already include the local nature recovery strategy and relevant biodiversity policies. This ensures that it is a material consideration for planning applications and that the strategy is given due consideration in development at the earliest stage. 

Being part of the Nature Recovery Dorset network, or included as a High Opportunity Nature Area does not provide additional access rights. We are looking at how this can be communicated on the maps and encourage adherence to the Countryside Code where there are existing access rights or access is permitted. 

In some cases, activities for nature recovery can also increase access for people and this is seen in the large landscape recovery projects. Any link will depend on the type of habitats and species in the area, the specific project plans and current systems of landowner agreements in place. 

This is a topic we intend to cover with the Dorset farmer cluster group, however there are a wide range of reports and case studies that show how farming with nature can help farm performance and long-term sustainability:

• Increasing profitability by working with nature | NFU
• Farming at the sweet spot | Nature Friendly Farming Network & The Wildlife Trust
• Investing in health soils on Dorset Farms | Dorset National Landscape
• Farming for Nature Recovery - Natural England

We do not provide farm business advice. 

It is difficult to predict if undertaking nature recovery activities on your land will impact its value. 

If the activities are thought to significantly restrict future planning, this could lower the capital value. However, if there is potential for habitat improvement, this could increase value for those interested to make money from that. If increasing nature provides, or is compatible with, a new business opportunity this could increase revenue flows and thus potentially capital value. 

We are seeking further clarity on this, support by our steering group members from the National Farmers Union (NFU) and Country Land and Business Association (CLA). 

We suggest you seek advice on this. The government are working to provide clarity on the taxation of ecosystem service markets and extending agricultural property relief to include land managed under an environmental agreement. More information on taxation of environmental land management and ecosystem service markets can be found on GOV.UK. 

Have your say on the Dorset local nature recovery strategy

Approximately 70% of land in Dorset is farmed therefore reflecting farmer voices in the Dorset local nature recovery strategy is important to delivering more nature recovery in Dorset. 

Inputs so far include:

• event workshops and questions and answers
• representatives on the Dorset steering group, Nature, Farming, Forestry and Land Use group
• Dorset farmer cluster group

See how these inputs are being use in what we're working on.

There will be further opportunity to have your say on the strategy during the statutory consultation. See our Timeline for the latest updates. 

Put forward your land to be included in the High Opportunity Nature Areas

High Opportunity Nature Areas are where effort should be targeted to achieve the most for nature recovery and the wider environment in the next 10 years. They are included as part of the Dorset local nature recovery strategy. 

From Monday 19 August - Friday 11 October 2024, we are asking farmers, landowners and land managers to put your land forward to be included in the High Opportunity Nature Areas. If you're already doing something on your land to help nature recovery, planning something, or thinking about doing something in the next 10 years, this is the land we want to include. Read about the benefits, important information and how to put your land forward. 

Join the Nature Recovery Dorset network 

If you're already doing something for nature, join the Nature Recovery Dorset network from Monday 19 August 2024. The network celebrates and showcases the individuals, farmers, landowners, communities and organisations who are helping restore nature in our county.

By joining you can connect with likeminded businesses and inspire others. 

It's simple and free to sign up and you will receive a range of digital resources to use and an optional plaque you can proudly display.