Inspiring Nature Positive Thinking

What is it?

Inspiring Nature Positive Thinking is a county-wide advocacy and influence programme focused on ensuring that decisions shaping Cheshire’s landscape actively protect and restore nature.

Across Cheshire, habitats continue to decline due to development pressures, infrastructure investment and land-use policies that often prioritise short-term economic gain over long-term environmental resilience. While commitments to nature recovery are increasing, implementation and enforcement can remain inconsistent without strong advocacy and evidence-led engagement.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is leading a long-term programme to influence decision-makers including councillors, MPs, planners, regulators and developers. The project combines policy engagement, stakeholder relationships, evidence gathering and local case studies to strengthen nature-positive decision making across Cheshire.

The programme also empowers communities and supporters to become advocates for nature recovery through campaigns, consultations and public engagement activity.

Why is this needed? / Why are we doing this?

Nature recovery depends not only on habitat delivery, but also on the decisions that shape land use, development and infrastructure investment.

Without sustained advocacy, many important habitats remain vulnerable to incremental loss, fragmentation and poor environmental outcomes. Stronger policy engagement and evidence-led influence are essential to ensure that nature recovery is embedded into strategic decision making across Cheshire.

This project has been developed to create long-term cultural and policy change by strengthening relationships with decision-makers and building wider public support for nature-positive growth and placemaking.

What is it going to deliver?

By 2030, the project will deliver:

• Trusted relationships with planners, councillors, MPs and regulators
• Stronger advocacy for nature-positive development and infrastructure decisions
• Evidence-led policy responses and consultation submissions
• Development of compelling local case studies and best practice examples
• Growth of a network of Wildlife Ambassadors and campaigners
• Community participation in planning and environmental decision making
• Greater awareness of the economic, environmental and social value of nature
• Increased accountability around environmental commitments and delivery
• Improved long-term outcomes for habitats and wildlife across Cheshire

The project aims to ensure that nature recovery becomes embedded within land use and development decisions across the county, creating long-term environmental and societal benefits.

LNRS Priorities and Actions / LNP Goals:

LNRS priority species supported through the project include: 

• Willow tit
• White-letter hairstreak butterfly
• Common clubtail dragonfly