Steering group members provide their thoughts on the experience of being involved in preparing this collaborative strategy.
“The collaborative process to form this new strategy has been a superb effort across the two Local Authority teams, the wide range of experts involved and all the various landowners and organisations. Nature recovery is so important in both rural and urban areas and this strategy really creates a call to action for positive change, from hedgehog highways to landscape scale change” Councillor Andy Hadley, Cabinet Member for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, BCP Council
"We appreciate the diligent work which has gone into preparing this strategy and are very happy to have played our part. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy team seriously engaged with farmers and landowners from early in the process and the strategy is very much the better for this.” Mark Burton, Country Land and Business Association (CLA)
"The Dorset Local Nature Strategy offers a comprehensive vision to safeguard and restore our natural environment. It underscores Dorset Council's dedication to addressing the current nature emergency and serves as a rallying call for residents, workers, and visitors to unite for nature recovery. At its core, the strategy prioritises increasing wildlife diversity and abundance, promoting sustainable land use, and ensuring accessible natural spaces for all. I am inspired by the collaboration of organizations, businesses, farmers, and individuals who have co-produced this strategy, working together to make Dorset nature-rich, healthier, and more resilient." Councillor Nick Ireland, Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate, Performance and Safeguarding, Dorset Council
“Being part of the steering group for the Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been an inspiring experience, bringing together a wealth of local knowledge and expertise to create a shared vision for nature recovery. This collaboration highlights the collective commitment across Dorset to protect, enhance and embrace our natural environment.” Shelley Collins-Trevett, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership
“Dorset's Local Nature Recovery Strategy is a key piece of our work in the county to enhance and improve the state of nature in Dorset. Despite our home county being a fabulously rich place in terms of landscape, we know that nature is still declining and we need to act and with urgency to improve ecological resilience and biodiversity. The Local Nature Partnership has been proud to work with other stakeholders to enable this vital strategy.” Luke Rake, former chair Dorset Local Nature Partnership
"Half of Dorset is nationally recognised for its natural beauty, in which the quality of nature is an integral part. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy helps set out how we can ensure natural beauty is enhanced into the future, and it’s great to have played our part in its development." Ian Rees, Dorset National Landscape
"Dorset's Local Nature Recovery Strategy has given us the opportunity to examine together how nature is faring across our area and what is collectively needed to reverse declines, so that wildlife thrives and we can all connect with and benefit from a healthy environment. Some of the answers have been sobering and there is much to do to meet the ambitious goals, but the commitment shown from people and organisations with a wide range of interests to make this happen gives huge optimism." Imogen Davenport, Dorset Wildlife Trust
“We have been pleased to link in the voluntary and community sector with this vital work for Dorset. Finding ways to work together and amplify our communities’ voices and involvement with nature recovery through this strategy development process has been inspiring and empowering.” John Sloper, Help and Kindness
“The conservation movement has spent decades developing techniques to help conserve our last remaining wildlife. Despite this, every time we check on the state of nature it has further declined. We need to change how we work, to evolve from nature conservation to delivering nature recovery. This document, and the consultation that went into producing it, begins to chart a strategy for that recovery. While this is, at its core, a strategy for nature recovery it has been crafted mindful of the need for our countryside to fulfil multiple functions, including hosting profitable businesses and providing rural employment. I commend the report to all who have an interest in the future of Dorset’s countryside, we now need to make it happen.” Ian Alexander, Natural England
“This document, and the breadth of the partnership that contributed time, energy and hard work to create it, marks the commitment of so many people across Dorset to nature recovery. The health of our natural environment is vital for the health and wellbeing of residents and this strategy is an opportunity to drive improvements for nature, improve quality of life and reduce health inequalities.” Rachel Partridge, Public Health Dorset
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