Cheshire LNP
Welcome to
Cheshire Local Nature Partnership
Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) bring together local organisations, businesses and people who want to improve their local natural environment.
Together, with our partners, we will strengthen the impact of local action for nature’s recovery.
What we do
We are your local nature partnership.
The Cheshire Local Nature Partnership (LNP) is a cross sector Cheshire wide partnership that has been formed to take a strategic overview of the natural environment.
The Cheshire LNP looks for ways to manage, enhance and promote nature recovery and management that will produce outcomes that integrate the needs of nature, people and the economy.
The Cheshire LNP formed as a response to the Natural Environment White Paper in 2012 in which the government invited new and existing partnerships to come together to form Local Nature Partnerships. The Cheshire LNP received government recognition as the LNP for Cheshire in 2012.
Cheshire LNP recognises that a healthy, properly functioning natural environment is the foundation of a sustainable economy, prospering communities and personal wellbeing. The Cheshire LNP is home to several urban conurbations and a vibrant agri-environment sector, which continues to create wealth and employment.
Visit the Wilder Cheshire Awards to enter or nominate. Closing date is 13 September 2026.
Our purpose
- To be an effective voice to promote and champion nature and natural capital in Cheshire
- To provide a strategic framework for nature recovery and delivery of wider environmental
goals across the region - To inform local plans, strategies and policies in order to integrate the delivery of
environmental benefits and services alongside economic and social benefits.
Link to consultation – Working together for a Wilder Cheshire and Warrington | Cheshire West and Chester Council (being updated)
Make a difference
Pledge your action for Nature
Please join us and others in sharing what difference you intend to make for nature by registering this as a pledge. Pin this on the interactive map so everyone can see the huge number of actions we are taking together to make a difference for nature throughout the county.
Tell us what actions you plan to take by clicking the link below.
*If the pledge is done on public land, please make sure that this will or has been given consent by the Local Authority, Parish or Town Council
Call for sites – to invest in nature
Would you like land you own to be looked at to see if it should be included in areas mapped as a priority area for investment in nature’s recovery? If so, register this land with us.
Sites will be kept confidential and not shared on any public platform. But knowing where landowners may be prepared to work with the Local Planning Authorities within Cheshire & Warrington will help us map achievable priority areas to target vital improvements to the ecological network. Sites incorporated in broader published priority zones featured in the final strategy should find it easier to attract funding support, becoming a focus for Biodiversity Net Gain investment or the targeting of support from future Agri-Environment Schemes.
Please state in the contact details whether you are a tenant or the landowner, if you are a tenant, please confirm that the landowner is in agreement with your proposals.
Next steps for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Cheshire West & Chester Council have been working closely with Cheshire East and Warrington Councils alongside the Peak District National Park and Natural England, to prepare an LNRS for Cheshire & Warrington. Following statutory guidance we have worked to engage and collaborate with a wide audience across our communities to inform the priorities for nature recovery in our area, as well as the actions to deliver those priorities.
We are currently creating the mapping of opportunity sites for nature recovery, alongside writing up a Statement of Biodiversity Principles. The Cheshire LNP membership have informed all steps and we are engaging with land owners, farmers, businesses, local and national government agencies, e-NGOs and communities [including schools] to prepare for a public consultation in early 2025 on the LNRS. We will promote the consultation across Cheshire and Warrington so look out for announcements!
Themed discussions at public workshop in May 2024 informed a long list of priorities for nature recovery in a range of habitat themes including:-
- Woodland, Hedgerows and Trees (& Orchards)
- Grassland & Heathland
- Rivers & Canals
- Peatland, Meres, Mosses & Ponds (and standing waters)
- Nature solutions to broader environmental, economic, and social priorities across the county (Where nature can play its part)
Priorities from these workshops were shared with Cheshire Local Nature Partnership, supporting authorities and partners to shortlist and develop targets, actions and initiatives for each, that we and others can pursue as we all work together for a ‘Wilder Cheshire’ over the next 10yrs.
Who we are
The role of Cheshire LNP
The role is to bring a wide range of partnerships and organisations working in the Cheshire LNP together to provide knowledgeable and objective information and support for the natural environment. The Cheshire LNP acts as a conduit between the local area and priorities to central government.
The drive is for positive change for Cheshire’s natural environment by working collaboratively to develop a shared strategic vision and coordinate the delivery of strategic objectives to achieve nature recovery, improve the natural environment and produce multiple benefits for local residents and businesses.
Cheshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy is currently under development.
We want everyone to have a say in determining the priorities for the future of nature in Cheshire.
Our vision & goals
We want to mainstream nature’s recovery into all decisions and activities so that nature, people and businesses thrive. The vision addresses the LNP aims to ensure:
- A rich and healthy natural environment in Cheshire which supports achievement of a local Nature Recovery Network linking to England’s Nature Recovery Network and beyond.
- Cheshire’s natural assets sustain a vibrant place for people to live, work, learn and visit.
- The Cheshire LNP aims to be a strategic platform to champion the value, and secure the future, of a healthy functioning natural environment through cross sector working to enable outcomes which provide multiple benefits.
- A healthy, connected, productive landscape richer in biodiversity, where the natural environment is embedded in decision making, managed for wildlife, supports healthier lifestyles, creates attractive places and delivers a sustainable economy including a thriving agricultural sector.
Increase contribution of nature-based solutions to address the ecological and climate crises.
To address the crises we face in the natural world, our aim is to create a more resilient natural environment for the benefit of wildlife and people by maintaining, conserving, restoring and reconnecting wildlife-rich spaces. By working at landscape scale to restore and deliver robust ecological networks, we can demonstrate a wide range of environmental, social and economic outcomes.
Increase connection between people and nature including raising awareness of nature.
By providing greater opportunities to enjoy, understand, benefit from and take action for the natural environment, we contribute to improved health, well-being and quality of life. The LNP ensures the views of local communities are reflected in the objectives and activities of the Cheshire LNP. This increases understanding of the opportunities offered by the natural environment on our doorsteps.
Increase value of investment into nature.
Raising the profile of Cheshire as an attractive place to live, work or visit helps to champion the value and contribution of the natural environment. The LNP provides strong leadership, advice and support to seek positive outcomes for nature and the local economy. This helps to create a resilient natural environment that supports sustainable economic investment in Cheshire.
Mainstream nature recovery to ensure Cheshire becomes nature positive by 2030.
Cheshire LNP’s role includes mainstreaming nature recovery to protect and enhance nature, whilst addressing the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Partners inform local decision making and contribute to the preparation, review and implementation of local plans and strategies. This work helps to protect and nature, whilst addressing mitigation of and adaptation to the impacts of the ecological and climate emergencies.
GET INVOLVED
Contact the Cheshire Nature Local Partnership
Invest in nature
Are you looking for opportunities to invest in nature or natural capital strategically across Cheshire?
Offset your carbon impact
Need to offset your carbon impact locally or acquire Biodiversity Net Gain units for development and large infrastructure projects?
Corporate opportunities for volunteering
Need corporate opportunities for volunteering or does you wish to adopt a nature recovery project or community action?
We can help you find opportunities the right opportunities across Cheshire. Contact us today to get involved in the Local Nature Partnership or to find out more.