Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) have declined dramatically in England, largely due to squirrelpox virus and competition from invasive grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and habitat loss. To support their recovery, this project used a structured decision making (SDM) approach to evaluate 18 alternative strategies against several core objectives relating to red squirrel recovery, cost, public acceptability, animal welfare, non-target species bycatch, and socio-economic factors such as tree damage.

Strategies included various combinations of lethal grey squirrel management, red squirrel translocations, and potential future tools (grey squirrel fertility control and a squirrelpox vaccine). Over 60 stakeholders from diverse sectors shaped the objectives and strategies.

To evaluate strategy performance, we combined several methods, including: a biological model projecting squirrel population dynamics and disease spread over 25 years; a welfare elicitation exercise to assess impacts of different methods on squirrel welfare; and survey-based modelling to predict public opposition to grey squirrel management techniques.

Doing nothing, continuing with the current status quo, and switching from lethal management of grey squirrels to fertility control alone if it becomes available all fail to deliver red squirrel recovery, with a high chance of red squirrel extinction across mainland England over the next 25 years. England-wide grey squirrel suppression strategies offer the best chance for large-scale red squirrel recovery, but with high monetary costs, high species bycatch potential, welfare concerns, and predicted low public support. The regional strategies we modelled for Northern and South West England that incorporate red squirrel translocations also show promise for red squirrel recovery, with a preference expressed among stakeholders towards the Northern England strategies. Targeted regional strategies may be more feasible and incur fewer costs to other objectives.

This report offers a transparent, evidence-based framework to guide red squirrel conservation with the next step being a decision on a national strategy to take forward. Additionally, the approach is iterative and can be reapplied at smaller spatial scales to support more nuanced local decision-making.

The 2018 surveying of Runnel Stone Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) was delivered by both the Environment Agency and the Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (CIFCA).

The grabbing survey identified and successfully sampled both targeted designated subtidal sedimentary Broadscale Habitats (BSHs). A third undesignated BSH, Subtidal mixed sediments, was also recorded. The distribution of BSHs recorded in 2018 was in reasonable agreement with the predicted distribution of habitats estimated from previous surveys and the Marine Evidence modelling; however, there are several discrepancies which are discussed.

The drop camera survey recorded areas of rock habitats extending from the shallow to deeper subtidal (infralittoral to circalittoral) including areas characterised by high wave energy and moderate wave energy. Although all 170 of the successfully captured 2018 video samples were of good quality, all biological abundances within these data were only provided as presence or absence data. This was linked to the strong tidal streams affecting the surveyor’s ability to gather imagery data at sufficiently low tow speeds.

The designated habitat, High energy circalittoral rock, was not recorded in either the still or the video imagery. This is despite the interpreted broadscale habitat map predicting a large area of this habitat to be present in the north-west of the MCZ.

The 2012 and 2018 surveys focussed on different geographical areas, making direct comparison of habitat extents difficult. Despite this, the distribution of Moderate energy circalittoral rock was similarly widespread between 2012 and 2018, suggesting a similar distribution of this habitat within the two surveys.
The data show that areas predicted by the habitat map to be dominated by circalittoral rock habitats were commonly interspersed with patches of sediment habitats.
Overall, Infaunal Quality Index (IQI) values were indicative of “Good” status under the Water Framework Directive. This indicates that the benthic assemblages showed minimal impacts from anthropogenic activity.

Recommendations for Future Monitoring:

• Update habitat maps.
• Consider image capture methods for high energy benthic habitats and species Features of Conservation Importance (FOCI).
• Consider image capture methods for species FOCI.
• Identification of key structural and functional taxa.
• Incorporation of biological traits analyses.
• Data analysis 1: analysis of different data types.
• Data analysis 2: appropriate indictors of change.
• Continue monitoring of contaminants.

This study applies an oral history methodology to explore experiences of the Morecambe Bay cockle fishery and the values expressed by 25 interviewees through their personal accounts. Exploratory in nature, the research aimed to test how qualitative, values-focused social data, and the associated analytical framework, might contribute to marine decision-making when applied within a specific fisheries management context.

The project produced two complementary outputs: a research report and an accompanying film. The report presents the case study methodology and findings, examining interviewees’ values and experiences of change within the fishery, and briefly considers potential implications for cockle fishery management in Morecambe Bay. The film was developed as an alternative approach to communicate and bring the findings to life to help to test what this type of output can add in a policy context.

Interviewees were primarily drawn from families with longstanding involvement in cockle fishing in Morecambe Bay and North Wales, many with extensive fishing histories. As a result, fewer perspectives were captured from new entrants to cockling or from individuals with broader, indirect connections to the fishery. Findings emphasise the importance of local fishing community, heritage, and intergenerational identity, alongside the value placed on experiential knowledge of the sands, which interviewees described as essential for safe and effective fishing practices.

As with all qualitative research of this nature, this study represents the experiences and perspectives of those who participated in the research and does not claim to represent those of everyone who work in the fishery or that live in the Morecambe Bay area.

While some interviewees recognised the role of regulation in supporting the sustainability of the fishery, many expressed concern about the impacts of current management approaches on the continuity of cockling communities, families, and cultural traditions. In particular, participants highlighted perceived difficulties for children from fishing families in obtaining permits, which they felt limited opportunities to develop ecological knowledge and practical understanding of the sands and cockle ecosystem. Even within this small sample, a diverse range of values, meanings, and connections to the cockle fishery emerged, underscoring the importance of recognising social and cultural dimensions within decision-making processes.

This project was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the marine arm of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme. Marine (m)NCEA delivered evidence, tools, and guidance to integrate natural capital approaches into policy and decision making for marine and coastal environments. This work was part of project NC44: Using the natural capital approach in practice for place-based decision making at different scales. Find out more about the wider programme at: Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme – GOV.UK.

The film can be accessed here: Shifting sands of Morecambe Bay: Cockling, communities and change.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest are a welcome success story for nature conservation. Their value in protecting nature is now recognised more than ever before, as they form the backbone of the country’s ecological network. The support, enthusiasm and commitment that land managers have shown in caring for them is the foundation of their success.

Whether you’re a long-standing SSSI landowner or occupier, or a new one, this guide will provide you with key information about SSSIs, how to find out more information about your site and explains how we can work together. Your role in this network is vital, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Eurasian beavers are being returned to the English landscape as a native species which can restore and create wetland habitats. Beaver created habitats play an important role in restoring natural function to waterways which increases climate change resilience and ecosystem service benefits.
Beaver activity can have positive environmental and socioeconomic benefits, but it is recognised that their activities can also lead to negative impacts that need to be actively managed.

Local beaver management partnerships (beaver management groups, beaver advisory groups) are setting up around the existing beaver populations to provide advice and practical support to help beavers and people live alongside each other. Following the 5-step approach to beaver management will help resolve issues at an early stage, and thereby greatly reducing demand for beaver removal.

Environmental Land Management (ELM) funding is available for land managers to make space for beavers around waterways reducing conflicts between beavers and farm businesses, and to protect assets such as permanent crops and trees from foraging. But there are currently limited funding opportunities for beaver management partnerships.

This report explores the short-term and long-term funding approaches to support beaver management partnerships to provide on-the-ground advice and support to people learning to live alongside beavers.

The Managing Ecosystem Services Evidence Tool (MESET) is an online tool for searching evidence on how management interventions affect the provision of ecosystem services for different habitats. It is an update to and replacement of the Managing Ecosystem Services Evidence Review, published in 2017 (JP033, formerly NECR159).

MESET has been developed with the University of York and is intended for anyone who wants to know how land management interventions affect the provision of ecosystem services. Following a search, the user is provided, and can download in PDF format:
• a graph showing the quantity and quality of the evidence, and the direction of the effect the intervention has on the ecosystem service
• a reference list for the cited evidence, with digital referencing.

MESET can be used to identify evidence to support decision making, inform policy development, and guide research by highlighting evidence gaps.
Where there are gaps in the evidence, this does not necessarily mean that there would be no effect of an intervention on an ecosystem service, just that the search framework did not identify evidence on the association at the time of development.

The tool is supported by a Method Report and associated Appendices. The tool is accessed via this link: The MESET

District Level Licensing (DLL) is a strategic approach to licensing which compensates for the impacts of development on great crested newts (GCN) at a landscape scale. This DLL Five-Year Evaluation reviews the Natural England (NE) DLL Scheme, over the preceding five financial years.

The evaluation explores ecological, efficiency and effectiveness outcomes though the following evaluation questions:

• EQ1: To what extent does DLL contribute to Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) for GCN?
• EQ2-4: To what extent does DLL provide efficiency and effectiveness improvements for GCN licensing, for Developers, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) and NE?

This evaluation indicates positive outcomes of DLL, including no loss of GCN range (occupied 10km grid squares), overall increase in distribution (1km grid squares with suitable habitat for GCN), area of suitable habitat and GCN population. A high proportion of compensation ponds are good or excellent suitability for GCN, and the long-term management of ponds is more favourable, compared to other licensing approaches. There has been a net increase in suitable GCN ponds, and a net increase in occupied ponds, as a result of the DLL scheme.

DLL has more efficient turnaround times and a higher uptake by developers, compared to standard mitigation licensing, with developers valuing its certainty and timesaving benefits, but highlighting concerns about costs. LPAs mirrored these views on timesaving and certainty, and found DLL maps as strategic resources more useful than those offered under standard licensing. Financially, DLL’s income over five-years has covered short-term operations and long-term obligations. The scheme has adapted to improve delivery and collaboration across NE. Stakeholder feedback indicates that relationships with NE have strengthened over time, whilst highlighting areas for improvement.

This report examines how marine and coastal heritage assets can be managed to enhance their ability to deliver natural capital benefits while preserving their historic significance. Commissioned by Natural England and prepared by JBA Consulting as part of the Marine Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) programme, it highlights the ecological value of heritage sites and their potential for delivering co-benefits in relationship to the ecosystem services arising from their associated ‘nature’ alongside their heritage significance and cultural capital.

Through a rapid literature review, stakeholder engagement, and interdisciplinary analysis, the study identifies how marine and coastal heritage assets support ecosystem services. This report highlights a range of management approaches that could be implemented to increase co-benefits from these assets. However, challenges such as data gaps, policy limitations and limited interdisciplinary collaboration hinder their effective integration into natural capital frameworks.

The findings emphasise the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, improved data accessibility, and the development of standardised methodologies for assessing heritage and ecological value. Strategies such as bioprotection, nature-based solutions, and adaptive management are explored as mechanisms for enhancing co-benefits.

Additionally, exclusion zones around protected wrecks are recognised as de facto ecological reserves, reinforcing the case for integrated conservation approaches.

The report concludes with recommendations in three key areas: advancing research to establish heritage assets as natural capital contributors, fostering interdisciplinary training and engagement, and developing policy and guidance to support holistic management. The recommendations provide a foundation for future research and policy development, ensuring that heritage management contributes to both the conservation of heritage assets and environmental sustainability.

Natural England commissioned ENVISION to undertake this mapping project with the aim of improving understanding of the distribution of broad-scale habitat features within the Holderness Inshore Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) and the wider Holderness coast. This is a geologically and biologically diverse region of the marine environment which has been shaped by glacial processes and continues to evolve in response to some of the strongest sedimentary processes in the UK. However, knowledge of the extent and distribution of habitat features to date has been hindered by data deficiency. The aims of this project were to:

• Make use of existing geophysical datasets and benthic sample data around the Holderness coast, and translate these into broad-scale benthic habitat features compatible with Level 3 of the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) habitat classification system.

• Provide Natural England with an evidence base which will inform our statutory conservation advice on infrastructure development within the region, particularly in relation to the Holderness Inshore MCZ.

• Understand the confidence and probabilities associated with the habitat predictions and use this to inform future ground-truthing survey work to strengthen our evidence base in the area.

The mapping outputs (the broad-scale habitat map and associated probability layer) are available to download both as GIS files, and as PDFs on Natural England’s Access to Evidence portal.

In recent years, the UK’s major health and environmental strategies have increasingly recognised that access to nature is important for good health.
The 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan includes a landmark commitment: the development of a Standard Evaluation Framework for assessing the health impacts of outdoor interventions.

Natural England has worked with cross government partners from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Sport England, Active Travel England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. A wider stakeholder advisory group has also contributed valuable insight from the public health, environmental, voluntary and community sectors.

The result of this collaboration is the Healthy Outdoors guide – a practical resource designed to encourage more consistent measurement of the impact of outdoor interventions on people’s health and wellbeing.

The Healthy Outdoors guide is a practical tool designed for a range of organisations including government, the voluntary and community sector, the NHS, academia, evaluators, funders, and the private sector. It helps organisations to identify appropriate measures and principles that can help ensure evaluations are consistent, robust, and focused on health outcomes.

We would like to hear from people who have used the Healthy Outdoors guide so that we can monitor impact and to support future improvements to the guide. Please consider providing feedback on your use of this guide through this online form: Healthy Outdoors Guide-User feedback – Fill out form.

You can download the guide by clicking on one of the links below. We have provided:

• Main version (recommended): interactive PDF with enhanced graphics and links
• Accessible PDF: suitable for printing, for screen readers and users needing a simplified layout
• Two-page summary of the evidence for the impact of outdoor interventions on health

This work, commissioned by Natural England through the LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES (Reducing and Mitigating Erosion and Disturbance Impacts affEcting the Seabed) project has surveyed the recreational activity across know seagrass sites within the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The Solent is known as a hotspot for maritime recreational activities including boating, anchoring, angling, swimming, jet skiing, paddle boarding and more. These activities can be damaging to the seagrass and halt its recovery; therefore, it is vital to obtain a baseline of boating and recreational activity to support the ongoing management of seagrass habitats.

Through the months of August and September 2021, volunteers and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust surveyed recreational activities in and around seagrass beds at Yarmouth West, Bouldnor, Osborne Bay, Kings Quay and Langstone Harbour.

The occurrence and frequency of a number of recreational activities such as boat movements, anchoring and mooring, and activities like bait digging and dog walking were recorded, and the results are presented in this report.

The Solent is a known hotspot for maritime recreational activities including boating, anchoring, angling, swimming, jet skiing, paddle boarding and more. These activities can be damaging to the seagrass and halt its recover; therefore, it is vital to obtain an understanding of boating and recreational activity to support the ongoing management of seagrass habitats.

The LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES (Reducing and Mitigation Erosion and Disturbance Impacts affEcting the Seabed) project is surveying the ongoing recreational activity at five sites within the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC): Yarmouth West, Bouldnor, Osborne Bay, Kings Quay and Langstone Harbour.

This was started in 2021 and is being continued throughout the project. For 2023, surveys were undertaken from 29th July to 30th September with the aim for each site to be surveyed once midweek and once on the weekend each week.

Overall, the 2023 conclusions strongly reflect those of both the 2022 and 2021 surveys. Some variation between these years may be linked to the removal of Covid-19 restrictions and a return to more normal activity patterns. Anchoring and mooring was observed at all sites, however Osborne Bay again showed higher levels of anchoring pressure. Outside of boating pressure, beach recreation, dog walking and swimming were the most frequently observed recreational activities.

The Solent is a known hotspot for maritime recreational activities including boating, anchoring, angling, swimming, jet skiing, paddle boarding and more. These activities can be damaging to the seagrass and halt its recover; therefore, it is vital to obtain an understanding of boating and recreational activity to support the ongoing management of seagrass habitats.

The LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES (Reducing and Mitigation Erosion and Disturbance Impacts affEcting the Seabed) project is surveying the ongoing recreational activity at five sites within the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC): Yarmouth West, Bouldnor, Osborne Bay, Kings Quay and Langstone Harbour.

This was started in 2021 and is being continued throughout the project. For 2022, surveys were undertaken from 30th July to 28th September with the aim for each site to be surveyed once midweek and once on the weekend each week.

The occurrence and frequency of a number of recreational activities such as boat movements, anchoring and mooring, and activities like bait digging and dog walking were recorded, and the results are presented in this report.

Overall, the 2022 results strongly supported the key conclusions of the 2021 surveys. The patterns of activity and use varied considerable across the sites, showing the highest at Osborne Bay and Yarmouth West. In particular, Osborne Bay showed higher levels of anchoring pressure compared to other sites. This data is being used to develop and further management of seagrass habitats through the ReMEDIES project.

This document helps film crews understand how to film on protected nature sites without causing harm. It explains what permissions are needed and how to plan filming so it follows the rules and protects wildlife and habitats.

This document sets out Natural England’s view on Favourable Conservation status for the Serotine, Eptesicus serotinus, in England.

Favourable Conservation Status is the minimum threshold at which we can be confident that the species is thriving in England and is expected to continue to thrive sustainably in the future.

This Definition has been produced following the Natural England approach to defining Favourable Conservation status described in the guidance document Defining Favourable Conservation Status in England.

Section 1 of this document describes the species covered by this Definition and its ecosystem context.

Section 2 specifies the units used to describe the three Favourable Conservation Status parameters. These are:
• Natural range and distribution (where the species occurs).
• Population (how many there are of the species).
• The extent and quality of habitat supporting the species’ population.

Section 3 outlines the evidence considered when developing the Definition. This Definition is based on the best available evidence on the ecology of the Serotine. The evidence covers the current situation, historical changes and possible future changes.

Section 4 sets out the conclusions on the favourable values, that is the value for each of the three parameters when the species has achieved Favourable Conservation Status.
This document does not include any action planning, or describe actions, to achieve or maintain Favourable Conservation Status. These will be presented separately, for example within strategy documents.

This document sets out Natural England’s view on Favourable Conservation Status for Leisler’s Bat in England.
Favourable Conservation Status is the minimum threshold at which we can be confident that the species is thriving in England and is expected to continue to thrive sustainably in the future.

This definition has been produced following the Natural England approach to defining Favourable Conservation Status described in the guidance document Defining Favourable Conservation Status in England.

Section 1 of this document describes the species covered by this definition and its ecosystem context.

Section 2 specifies the units used to describe the three Favourable Conservation Status parameters. These are:
• Natural range and distribution (where the species occurs).
• Population (how many there are of the species).
• The extent and quality of habitat supporting the species population.

Section 3 outlines the evidence considered when developing the definition. This definition is based on the best available evidence on the ecology of Leisler’s Bat. The evidence covers the current situation, historical changes and possible future changes.

Section 4 sets out the conclusions on the favourable values, which is the value for each of the three parameters when the species has achieved Favourable Conservation Status.

This document does not include any action planning, or describe actions, to achieve or maintain Favourable Conservation Status. These will be presented separately, for example within strategy documents.

This document sets out Natural England’s view on Favourable Conservation Status for Pine Marten in England.

Favourable Conservation Status is the minimum threshold at which we can be confident that the species is thriving in England and is expected to continue to thrive sustainably in the future.

This definition has been produced following the Natural England approach to defining Favourable Conservation Status described in the guidance document Defining Favourable Conservation Status in England.

Section 1 of this document describes the species covered by this definition and its ecosystem context.

Section 2 specifies the units used to describe the three Favourable Conservation Status parameters. These are:
Natural range and distribution (where the species occurs).
Population (how many there are of the species).
The extent and quality of habitat supporting the species population.

Section 3 outlines the evidence considered when developing the definition. This definition is based on the best available evidence on the ecology of Pine Marten. The evidence covers the current situation, historical changes and possible future changes.

Section 4 sets out the conclusions on the favourable values, that is the value for each of the three parameters when the species has achieved Favourable Conservation Status.

This document does not include any action planning, or describe actions, to achieve or maintain Favourable Conservation Status. These will be presented separately, for example within strategy documents.

This document sets out Natural England’s view on Favourable Conservation Status for Water Vole in England.

Favourable Conservation Status is the minimum threshold at which we can be confident that the species is thriving in England and is expected to continue to thrive sustainably in the future.

This definition has been produced following the Natural England approach to defining Favourable Conservation Status described in the guidance document Defining Favourable Conservation Status in England.

Section 1 of this document describes the species covered by this definition and its ecosystem context.

Section 2 specifies the units used to describe the three Favourable Conservation Status parameters. These are:
• Natural range and distribution (where the species occurs).
• Population (how many there are of the species).
• The extent and quality of habitat supporting the species population.

Section 3 outlines the evidence considered when developing the definition. This definition is based on the best available evidence on the ecology of Water Vole. The evidence covers the current situation, historical changes and possible future changes.

Section 4 sets out the conclusions on the favourable values, that is the value for each of the three parameters when the species has achieved Favourable Conservation Status.

This document does not include any action planning, or describe actions, to achieve or maintain Favourable Conservation Status. These will be presented separately, for example within strategy documents.

This report provides the results of a terrestrial invertebrate survey relating to Natural England’s proposals to extend the Mucking Flats and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), to recognise the national importance of a series of habitats and the species they support. This report describes and assesses the terrestrial invertebrate species found on the survey area. The two survey areas J1 and J2 were located adjacent to a recycling facility in East Tilbury. The techniques used included sweep netting, aerial netting, beating tray, vacuum sampling, grubbing and direct searching.

It is noted that no investigation can ensure the complete characterisation and prediction of the natural environment and that natural and semi-natural habitats are subject to change, so the results of this report may become less reliable over time. The wet and mild spring may have affected the terrestrial invertebrate species and numbers present on site during the survey. Therefore, their ability to support the typical range and number of species may have been reduced.

Sixty-seven invertebrate species were recorded during the daytime terrestrial survey. Of these, four are protected and/or notable: the Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae, a spider Argenna subnigra and a beetle Phalacrus championi in site J1 and a beetle Agrilus viridis in site J2.

This report provides the results of a terrestrial invertebrate survey which was conducted at the Walsh East Tilbury Quarry. The survey aims to inform Natural England’s proposal to enlarge the Mucking Flats and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), notified (in part) for its invertebrate interest. The survey area was split into three compartments but due to accessibility only two were surveyed.

Data was collected using the following methods: pitfall trapping, sweep-netting, grubbing/hand searching, sieving litter and suction sampling. Four survey visits were undertaken during May, June and July 2024.

A total of 599 species were recorded, 77 of these had a conservation status, including seven Section 41 Species of Principal Importance and 70 species which are Nationally Rare or Nationally Scarce, therefore the fauna recorded is of high quality. A simple benchmark for any survey is the proportion of the recorded fauna composed of species with Nationally Rare or Nationally Scarce status. Sites where this exceeds 10% indicate exceptional quality. The figure for this site is almost 13% and therefore it can be regarded as approaching national importance on this basis.

The site is particularly important for its rich invertebrate fauna associated with short sward and bare ground, corresponding to the extensive areas of open mosaic habitat (OMH) and dry sparse grassland. In contrast, areas of more established tall grassland and scrub are of comparatively lower importance. Both ephemeral and permanent wetland features in the form of small seasonal ponds and brackish ditches are also important invertebrate habitats.

Bird Brain UK Ltd was commissioned by Natural England to undertake a breeding bird survey to update the evidence relating to the status of breeding birds within the study area around the Mucking Flats and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The study area included land between Mucking village and Tilbury Fort.

The survey took place over six visits between March and July 2024. Birds and their behaviour were recorded and mapped. BTO breeding status codes were used and birds were assessed as being either ‘confirmed’, ‘probable’ or ‘possible’ breeders (where these terms are used in the report, they are used in the context of the BTO definitions). The survey visits took place during optimal weather conditions (minimal rain and wind) and surveyors used passive and parabolic recorders to record bird calls. An additional long-eared owl survey took place using thermal image cameras.

The survey identified 128 different bird species and 75 of these were ‘confirmed’ or ‘probable’ breeders. Bird population estimates were calculated for target species.

The survey concluded that the site had large areas of undisturbed land and diverse habitats supporting substantial numbers of breeding birds. In particular the East Tilbury Quary and Mucking Landfill compartments, being generally free from dogwalkers, held large numbers of breeding skylark. The Cetti’s warbler population was greater than 1% of the GB breeding population demonstrating the importance of the survey area to this species. Some species had low breeding success recorded for example, pochard, but this mirrored national trends (nevertheless pochard still also exceeded 1% of the GB breeding population).

This report provides the results of a terrestrial invertebrate survey to inform Natural England’s proposal to enlarge the Mucking Flats and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), notified (in part) for its invertebrate interest. The survey was conducted on land that makes up the northern Tilbury Fort Marshes to the south of Tilbury Town and to the east of Tilbury Docks.

The survey targeted the Broad Assemblage Type (BAT) W22 ‘wetland’. Data was collected via pitfall trapping, sweep netting and suction sampling.

A total of 211 species was recorded from the sample sites including 22 with a nationally significant status. The Specific Assemblage Type (SAT) that is most prominent at the site is the M311 ‘saltmarsh and transitional brackish marsh’ with a total of eight species of fidelity recorded (where the threshold for favourable condition is nine).

The report found that of the four areas which were surveyed only sub-compartment TFM13 was of conservation value with respect to invertebrates. The interest in this area is a small zone on the southern part of the site where there is a small fragment of brackish marsh. Recommendations are made to investigate this area further in order to see if it can be expanded, enhanced or connected to other nearby fragments. It is noted that reducing grazing pressures, increasing connectivity or re-wetting of surrounding land are potential management strategies that could be considered.

This report provides the results of a terrestrial invertebrate survey which was conducted at the Tilbury intertidal zone, between Coalhouse Fort and Tilbury Fort. The survey aims to inform Natural England’s proposal to enlarge the Mucking Flats and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), notified (in part) for its invertebrate interest. The survey area was split into five sub-compartments and the work was carried out in 2024 based on two survey visits in July and a further two in September using active sampling methods only.

The survey targeted Species Assemblage Type (SAT) M311 ‘Saltmarsh and Transitional Brackish Marsh’. In addition, a key objective of the survey was to assess the local abundance of the Nationally Scarce Sea Aster Mining Bee Colletes halophilus and its main forage resource Sea Aster Aster tripolium. Data was collected by sweep-netting, grubbing/hand searching and suction sampling.

A total of 389 species were recorded across the five compartments. Over half of the species recorded by the survey were found in compartment F1. This compartment also produced the highest proportion of unique species which were not found elsewhere (36%). Of the recorded species, 62 had a conservation status; eight Section 41 species and 54 which are Nationally Rare or Nationally Scarce. Four SATs were reported as being in a favourable condition including; ‘Saltmarsh and Transitional Brackish Marsh’ (M311), ‘Rich Flower Resource’ (F002), ‘Bare Sand and Chalk’ (F111) and ‘Scrub Edge’ (F001). The Sea Aster Mining Bee Colletes halophilus, an important saltmarsh indicator species, was present in three of the survey sub-compartments and while just a single nesting aggregation was located, suitable foraging areas were mapped in all five.

A simple benchmark for any survey is the proportion of the recorded fauna composed of species with Nationally Rare or Nationally Scarce status. Sites where this exceeds 10% indicate exceptional quality. The overall figure for the areas surveyed here, stands at almost 16% suggesting that they may qualify as nationally important.

This report provides the results of a terrestrial invertebrate survey of the DHL-owned East Tilbury landfill site to inform Natural England’s proposal to enlarge the Mucking Flats and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), notified (in part) for its invertebrate interest. This survey compartment comprises a large unit of land and is located a short distance west of Coalhouse Fort.

The survey targeted Species Assemblage Types (SATs) F111 ‘bare sand and chalk’ and F112 ‘open short sward’. Data was collected using pitfall trapping, sweep netting and suction sampling.

A total of 138 species of invertebrates were recorded of which 16 species have a national status. The SAT that is most prominent at this compartment is the F002 ‘rich flower resource’ with a total of 12 species of fidelity recorded (where the threshold for favourable condition is 15). Of the targeted SATs, F111 had 5 species recorded (where the threshold for favourable condition is 19) and F112 had 8 species recorded (where the threshold for favourable condition is 13).

The report found that the survey compartment has a low to moderate percentage of scarce species. However this land has potential to become a more valuable stepping stone between Tilbury and Mucking and the species within the F111, F112 and other SATs would increase with different management mechanisms in place.

This exploratory project investigates the application of natural capital approaches in supporting Marine Protected Area (MPA) management. A review of literature was undertaken to identify the benefits and challenges of applying these approaches, provide an overview of where they have been applied, and identify the methods used to integrate natural capital thinking into MPA management and the decision-making process.

The review has shown a growing literature base valuing the links between natural capital, ecosystem services and societal benefits. Various methods have been applied to engage stakeholders and gather evidence on ecological, economic and socio-cultural values associated with MPAs. Increasingly, stakeholder engagement throughout the entire MPA process (i.e. designation, implementation and monitoring) is seen as essential for building support, capacity and engagement. Valuation studies were found to largely focus on economic valuation of cultural and provisioning services, with less focus on regulating services and their associated benefits. Additionally, there is growing evidence of participatory approaches across diverse social contexts that can foster more direct involvement from local communities.

While the literature supports the application of natural capital approaches and identifies several global studies which provide evidence on management approaches, this review found limited evidence of their practical application in supporting the MPA process. Although emerging cases of natural capital practices exist, they remain formative, isolated and requiring mainstreaming into policy practice. However, additional evidence on the practical use of natural capital approaches may be uncovered through more targeted searches of grey literature or interviews with MPA managers.

Non-native species (NNS) are those which have been spread, either intentionally or accidentally, beyond their natural geographical range as a consequence of human activity. Invasive non-native species (INNS) can pose major threats to native biodiversity, human health and ecosystem services.

Harbours, marinas and aquaculture facilities are frequently located in estuaries and are potential entry points for marine NNS. There is little systematic information on the relative tolerance of different NNS to estuarine conditions and their penetration landwards along estuarine gradients.

In 2017 The Marine Biological Association undertook a series of surveys to map the presence of INNS along the estuary of the River Itchen, Hampshire. Natural England commissioned this further project in 2022 to determine whether there has subsequently been any onward colonisation of INNS, and in particular the Red-ripple bryozoan, (Watersipora subatra), an invasive bryozoan which has been shown to be spreading widely in the Solent (and elsewhere) and was previously recorded at only one site at the mouth of the River Itchen. The Itchen estuary is part of the Lee-on-The Solent to Itchen Estuary SSSI.

Re-survey of the Itchen confirmed the general pattern of succession of NNS in the estuary and added four NNS to the list of those recorded in 2017. The failure of Watersipora subatra to encroach further on the estuary over a period of five years was documented, and a remarkable increase in NNS at one site was detected.

This information provides updated NNS species records as well as helping to inform biosecurity planning.

This report presents the findings of a 2018 seabed survey conducted within the Kingmere Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), a 47.84 km² inshore site in the English Channel off West Sussex, protecting two habitat Features of Conservation Interest (FOCI)—‘Moderate energy infralittoral rock with thin mixed sediments’ and ‘Subtidal chalk’—and one species FOCI, the Black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus).

Data were collected using drop down video across 50 sample stations, and a mini-Hamon grab which targeted 16 stations. Video quality was relatively poor, but a sufficient number of still images were good quality and suitable for analysis of epifauna. Due to coarse sediments, only 9 of the 16 targets were successful, and these were analysed for sediment particle size and infauna.

Using acoustic data previously acquired by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, with sediment particle size, infaunal data and imagery collected from this survey, a revised Broadscale Habitat (BSH) map was produced. The dominant habitat was ‘A5.1 Subtidal coarse sediment’ (93.9%), with ‘A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral rock’ (6.1%) forming a narrow band. Some sedimentary areas were reclassified based on geological interpretation.

The findings enhance ecological understanding and inform future management. Recommendations include quantifying sediment depth over bedrock, capturing incidental footage during grabs, and using larger grab equipment for coarse sediments, targeting areas with sufficient sediment depth.

This information is also shared in Excel file: for marine species (‘UK Marine Management units – marine species data for reporting period 2019–2024’).

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This information is also shared in Excel file: for Non-bird species (‘Habitats Regulations Combined 9A Report for Non-bird Species in England for 2019 to 2024’)

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This is the first England-level report since leaving the EU and reflects the transition to country-level reporting following EU-exit. The report is required every 6 years by Regulation 9A of the Conservation of Habitat and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended).

It covers the onshore region and marine environment out to 12 nautical miles. It reports on the progress made during the 2019 to 2024 reporting period in delivering the measures required to achieve the objectives under Regulation 9A.

Regulation 9A covers the duties covered under Article 2 of the Habitats Directive and Articles 2 and 3 of the new Wild Birds Directive (previously reported as Article 12 and 17 reports – JNCC).

Natural England on behalf of Defra undertook assessments of conservation status for each feature listed on the main report and corresponding annexes that is present within England. A total of 71 habitat types extending out to 12 nm from the shore were assessed and 74 terrestrial, freshwater, and plant species (hereafter referred to as “non-bird” species). Marine mammals were assessed at a UK scale by the JNCC; 6 of these relate to English waters and are available here to view under Marine Management Units (MMUs).

For details on the Approach to Assessing Status of Habitats and Species and the 2019–2024 UK Offshore report, please visit Habitats Regulations Reporting 2019 to 2024 – JNCC.

The assessments are available in the following pages:

• Conservation status assessments for Habitats for England 2019-2024
• Conservation status assessments for Non-bird species for England 2019-2024
• Conservation status assessments for Marine Management Units – Marine species for UK 2019-2024

This information is also shared in Excel file: for all Habitats (‘England Habitats data for reporting period 2019–2024’).

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Howell Marine Consulting (HMC) and Environmental Resources Management (ERM) were contracted by Natural England (NE) to assess potential frameworks that could be used to measure ecological losses and gains from development in the marine environment and in doing so, to support Defra and NE in the development of Marine Net Gain (MNG) policy. Expert advice on market-based approaches was provided by economics for the environment (eftec).

The work has focused on activities below Mean Low Water, but with consideration of how this aligns with the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) approach in the intertidal area, particularly for developments that might straddle both the intertidal and subtidal.

The aim of Phase 1 of this project (desk-based review) was to assess how ecological losses and gains could be measured, for habitats and mobile species (birds, fish and mammals), within an MNG regulatory framework and develop options that can be practically delivered. The project has focused on technical constraints for measuring ecological loss and gain and used expert opinion to identity what would be operationally possible. The project has also highlighted where there are further considerations that need to be explored, such as whether options are legally, politically or economically feasible.

Phase 2 of the project (see Section 4 for more details) tested the shortlisted frameworks from Phase 1 against real world scenarios, from a scientific, useability and deliverability perspective. This report details our recommendations for the development of an MNG assessment framework based on the outputs from this testing.

Howell Marine Consulting (HMC) was contracted by Natural England (NE) to undertake the Marine Net Gain (MNG) Pilots Development Project.

To implement MNG, it needs to be established what is known and unknown about the potential implementation pathways, or delivery mechanisms for MNG, distinguishing between what is factual, verifiable information and what is opinion. Examples of implementation pathways are marine licensing, seabed leasing and fisheries management.

The project develops recommendations for pilots that will test implementation pathways to deliver MNG in English waters, thereby building the evidence base to support the development of MNG policy. For some pathways there was a need to establish if it can be used before considering how it could be used for the delivery of MNG.

Phase 1 of the project (see Annex 2 of this report) focused on understanding implementation pathways, then determines how measures using these pathways within the identified themes can be delivered. Identified themes were pressure reduction, active intervention, BNG:MNG interface, and strategic level restoration.

Phase 2 used the evaluation framework to frame targeted interviews with key stakeholders. Through these interviews the known status of each pathway was determined, alongside any uncertainty on whether the pathway can be used to deliver MNG interventions and how these uncertainties should be addressed.

The outputs are a set of recommendations on the next steps and work required to address uncertainties before pathways can be assessed through on the ground pilots.

Natural England conducted an intertidal rocky shore survey of the Flamborough Head Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in August and September 2018. Intertidal rock is a designated subfeature of the Annex 1 Reefs feature. A team of surveyors from Natural England and partner organisations completed eight survey transects across the headland, repeating surveys completed by the University of Hull in 2010 (Musk et al. 2010).

Phase 1 walk over surveys were conducted to map the distribution of biotopes 30 m either side of the transect, and Phase 2 transects surveys were completed using 0.25 m2 quadrats following the methods set out by Wyn et al. (2000) and Davies et al. (2001). Biotopes were identified using the JNCC’s Marine Habitat Classification (MHC) system (JNCC, 2022).

The survey produced a high-quality biotope map and a shore profile figure for each survey location. The data and outputs will provide a comparison for future surveys and will be used to inform the condition status of the Intertidal Rock subfeature of the Flamborough Head SAC Annex 1 feature Reefs.

A key aspect of supporting the delivery of Environmental Act targets is to ensure the best available evidence is accessible for decision making; however, issues with coverage and currency of available environmental data can limit effectiveness. This is hard to rectify given the cost and scale required for such extensive surveys, which risks missed opportunities in sustaining or expanding nature recovery. We seek to partially address this by mobilising the extensive plant records collected by expert witnesses of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) and identify locations of high botanical importance and value to better aid decision making processes.

BSBI records are collected at hectare (100 × 100m grid cell), monad (1 × 1km grid cell), and tetrad (2 × 2km grid cell) resolutions that we used to create hectare and monad resolution heatmaps, and a monad resolution summarised value map. The heatmaps contain the recorded counts of plant species with a list of Rare, Scarce, or Threatened (RST) species, but the monad resolution also contains a modelled count where the tetrad level records were resolved to a monad scale. The summarised value map provides an easily interpretable map where the value of each monad is categorised as either “Low”, “Medium”, or “High” according to the presence of RST species and/or the estimated proportion of Priority Habitat Positive Indicator and Ancient Woodland Indicator species compared to its surrounding area.

This Technical Information Note provides a detailed account of the methodology and models used to create the products.

Seagrass habitats (Zostera marina and Z. noltei) are vital for biodiversity, carbon storage, and coastal protection but are in decline across the UK. This paper examines how elevated nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, affect seagrass health. Evidence shows many English seagrass beds are in unfavourable condition, with nutrient enrichment often linked to opportunistic macroalgal growth and eutrophication, particularly in Poole Harbour, Chichester Harbour, the Solent, and Essex estuaries. Stable isotope analysis (δ15N) indicates widespread influence of human and livestock-derived nitrogen. A review of the literature found that nitrate and ammonium toxicity can reduce shoot density, growth, and survival of seagrass species, with ammonium effects exacerbated by low light and organic enrichment. Environmental factors such as turbidity, temperature and salinity, and biological interactions such as macroalgae, epiphytes and bioturbation, also amplify nutrient impacts. Nutrient enrichment is a major pressure, acting alone or synergistically with other pressures. To improve conservation outcomes, detailed local monitoring of nutrients, alongside turbidity, temperature, and sediment conditions will be important. Standardised seagrass health metrics and integrated water quality data are needed to set ecologically relevant targets and guide restoration.

The England Ecosystem Survey is part of the terrestrial Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme (NCEA), which is funded by Defra. The England Ecosystem Survey (ESS) project, part of NCEA, collects soil data for a range of measured variables.

This document aims to describe how this soil data was generated – from field sample, laboratory analysis and subsequent calculations. This document will also include links to information on data cleaning and preparation together with quality assurance process where appropriate.

The information contained in this manual is to be used as metadata for the EES Soil Sampling and Assessment Survey.

This report and associated annexes will be subject to review and revision annually. Changes to improve the quality of the laboratory results and clarity of this manual will be made.

This page includes supporting documentation relating to data collected during the first year of England Ecosystem Survey 2023-24.

Datasets will be made available in batches on NCEA Search Service Home.

Reports available from this page relate to the first release of data, the Soil Interim Dataset. This includes the Soil Sampling and Assessment Survey Field Manual as used by surveyors in year 1 2023-24, which provides detailed explanation of the workflows for collecting samples and field data. Also available is the Soil Laboratory Methodology which describes how soil data was generated from field samples, laboratory analysis and subsequent calculations, and the Soil Data Preparation Manual which describes the data cleaning and preparation process from initial stages to completion.

Also available from this page is the Survey Sampling Framework – survey years 1 and 2 2023/24 and 2024/25. This report comprises a review and update of the England Ecosystem Survey (EES) sampling framework for years 1 and 2 by consolidating the fundamental survey design and subsequent decisions and limitations.

The England Ecosystem Survey is part of the terrestrial Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme (NCEA), which is funded by Defra. The England Ecosystem Survey (EES) programme, part of NCEA, collects soil data for a range of measured variables.

This manual aims to describe how year 1 EES soil sampling and assessment data was cleaned and prepared together with processes of quality assurance where appropriate.

This manual and associated annexes will be subject to review and revision annually. Changes to improve the quality of the data and clarity of this manual will be made.

As part of the design phase for England Ecosystem Survey, Natural England commissioned the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) to produce a suite of reports providing statistical advice on sampling strategies.

These research reports were made possible via a research partnership agreement between the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme (NCEA Defra) and UKCEH.

The following reports were commissioned.

1. Ecosystem field survey design – statistical and sampling expertise for survey design

The objective of this report is to review the potential options for: different sampling units; strategies for sample selection; within-unit sampling options; and to provide a power analysis of different survey design scenarios. Integration with other monitoring schemes is discussed with examples of existing cases. Logistics and practical elements of survey are considered in this document.

2. England Ecosystem Survey – sample selection strategy, including Appendix A and B

The purpose of this work is to provide advice on selecting the layers to use for stratification and inclusion probability weighting. This was broken down in two main components: reviewing different options for stratifications by understanding the potential coverage they may provide; and demonstrating the use of inclusion probabilities to capture classes underrepresented by the stratification.

3. England Ecosystem Survey – power analysis by typologies

This report presents a power analysis parameterising simulations using data from specific typology layers and quantifying the relationship between the numbers of samples versus statistical power.

4. England Ecosystem Survey – field based protocols review

The purpose of this report is to provide an assessment and review of the proposed protocols for the England Ecosystem Survey.

The England Ecosystem Survey is a project delivered by Natural England with the goal of delivering a comprehensive and up to date understanding of the condition of England’s terrestrial environment and natural capital assets.

To achieve this the survey is collecting data on attributes of extent, condition and connectivity relating to habitats, vegetation and landscape features and landscape character. It is also collecting data on soil physical and chemical properties and soil and water biota eDNA.

England Ecosystem Survey (EES) is part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme (NCEA); a multi-partner programme led by Defra. EES and other projects in the NCEA have been created to provide systematic and robust evidence that supports policy making, including the UK Governments 25 Year Environment Plan.

The basic survey unit for EES is a 1km2 area based on Ordnance Survey National Grid squares, or monads. Each year a new sample of monads is surveyed through a combined sampling approach of randomly selected squares stratified by ITE land classes, and a proportion targeted to increase the likelihood of covering certain habitat, soil and landscape character types. The baseline sample will be established over the first five-year period.

The first full field surveys took place in 2023-24, with a ramping up of delivery in subsequent years. Surveys are scheduled to continue up to March 2028 which will mark the completion of the first EES five-year cycle of data collection.

Data and supporting information will be published in stages.
Datasets will be made available on Defra’s dedicated Data Services Platform for NCEA
NCEA Search Service Home

This report comprises a review and update of the England Ecosystem Survey (EES) sampling framework for years 1 and 2 by consolidating the fundamental survey design and subsequent decisions and limitations.

The general approach chosen is to first sample monads (1km British National Grid squares), and then to sub-sample within each of the selected monads. The monad sample is composed of a stratified randomized sample (stratified by ITE Land Class) and an Inclusion Probability sample (which only selects monads containing pre-determined rare classes and prefers monads containing more of these classes).

Within each monad, the sub-sampling approach is to randomly sample, in eligible land, four points, then to target two points to rare Priority Habitats from the Priority Habitat Inventory. A series of nested plots is constructed around each of these points.

The England Ecosystem Survey (EES) project, part of The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme, which is funded by Defra. EES collects soil data for a range of measured variables. This document is for the users of the England Ecosystem Survey (EES) data and those interested in its methods. It describes the field methods used to collect the Year 1 EES Soil Sampling and Assessment Survey data. This includes detailed instructions of the preparation required for each survey, the workflow during a survey, the management of soil samples after collection, and the equipment required.

The soil surveys are carried out in 16 × 16 m Soil Plots. Each Soil Plot has a 2 x 2 m Vegetation Plot in its centre (surveyed in the Vegetation and Landscape Survey). The Soil Plots are randomly distributed within 1 x 1 km main sampling units, called Monads, where all other EES features are located as well. Every year a stratified random sample of Monads, representing the diversity of England and its regions, is surveyed. The period from March 2023 to March 2024 was the first year of 5-year monitoring cycle. The survey involves taking soil samples for laboratory analysis and assessments done in the field. The samples are sent for analysis of physical, chemical and biological soil properties. The assessments done in the field include Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure, counting of earthworms, and where present, measuring peat depth.

The Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales: Guidelines for grading the quality of agricultural land, published by the Welsh Government and Defra in December 2025, provides an update of the 1988 MAFF Guidelines: ‘The revised criteria for grading the quality of agricultural land using the Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales’. No changes to grading criteria or reference climate data have been made.

The ALC provides a framework for classifying land according to the extent to which its physical or chemical characteristics impose long- term limitations on agricultural use, and is the only approved system for grading the quality of agricultural land in England and Wales. The classification can be used at national, regional and local levels. These are the current ALC criteria to be used in ALC surveys.

The Environment Agency estimates that by 2050, in England almost 5 billion litres of additional water will be needed every day to support the population, the economy and food production, while also protecting the environment. In response, water companies are working on new reservoirs or expanding existing ones as part of their Water Resource Management Plans.

The purpose of Reservoirs in the Landscape: Design Principles is to equip those involved in reservoir design with advice and information to create high-quality, nature-friendly schemes that respond to the landscape context and needs of a place, enhance the wider area and create inspiring landscapes for people to enjoy. The Design Principles show how landscape can act as the ‘glue’ that brings inter-disciplinary teams, local communities and wider stakeholders together to turn an overall vision into a reality.

The landscape-led approach is guided by the statutory requirements relating to reservoir design. It seeks to ensure that design opportunities presented by the landscape context do not compromise safety, security, maintenance and operational requirements.

The requirement for good design in development is set out in national policy and in a range of guidance published by the government and the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). This document complements and builds on these documents, including the NIC Project Level Design Principles, 2024 which advocates a landscape-led approach.

Our Science, Evidence & Analysis Framework succeeds our Science, Evidence & Evaluation Strategy (2020-2025) and it describes our strategic direction for science, evidence and analysis over the next five years, including where we expect to make the biggest investments.

It is a commitment to ensure delivery of Natural England’s strategy is powered by science. This is essential for delivering nature recovery at scale and meeting statutory environmental and climate commitments.

The future is uncertain, but we can prepare for it. By using futures methods, we’ve identified several important trends including changing research priorities, new ways of managing land and sea, and faster development of technologies that help restore nature and address climate change. These trends create both opportunities and challenges for the science behind nature recovery. Our framework outlines how we will strengthen our approach and build resilience for what lies ahead.

We will:

Build our Scientific Capability: grow core and emerging skills, including systems thinking and restoration ecology.
Develop our Data Science and Digital Innovation: modernise data infrastructure, harness AI, and improve data quality.
Build Strategic Scientific Partnerships: share evidence openly, unlock funding, and influence future research agendas.
Strengthen our Science Communication and Impact: tailor outputs for impact, improve accessibility, and counter misinformation.
Bolster Monitoring & Evaluation: embed evaluation from the start, use AI and remote sensing, and empower citizen science.

Our SEAF also outlines our Areas of Research Interest, highlighting our core research priorities and the evidence we most need to achieve our Strategic Outcomes. This helps external partners identify where their work aligns with ours, opening opportunities for collaboration and shared impact.

This report examines how people in England use their local green and natural spaces, combining insights from a nationally representative survey and focus groups with diverse types of green space users. It begins by exploring how close people live to their nearest greenspace and how this proximity varies across different sociodemographic groups. The report then analyses perceptions of greenspace quality through a segmentation analysis, examining how these perceptions are related to how often people visit. Building on this, the report assesses the relative importance of both proximity and perceived quality in determining greenspace use, while also exploring other factors—such as sociodemographic characteristics—that impact visit frequency beyond distance and perceived quality. It further investigates how the activities people engage in differ based on the distance travelled to reach a greenspace and highlights seasonal trends in greenspace use. Finally, the report explores barriers that prevent people from using green spaces more often and identifies factors that could encourage greater engagement. Together, these findings provide valuable insights into how accessibility, perceived quality, and personal circumstances shape greenspace use across England.

This annual report summarises ten peer-reviewed research projects, published in 2024 and 2025, which evaluate various aspects of Agri-Environment Schemes (AES) in England. Funded by Defra through the Agri-environment Evidence Programme, the research primarily assesses the impacts of Countryside Stewardship, with some evidence of longer-term Higher-Level Stewardship agreements. Rather than offering a full review of all existing evidence, this report highlights recent findings.

Four studies examined the effectiveness of specific AES options, including interventions relating to woodlands, ponds, hedgerows, and educational access. These projects highlight the value of detailed field surveys and national comparison data for understanding environmental outcomes and refining AES practices.

Further research explored how the design and delivery of AES influence their impact, including the pilot scheme for historic buildings restoration and funding to enable collaboration at landscape scale. The national and cross-cutting impacts of AES were explored in relation to abundance of butterflies across England and how schemes can reduce climate vulnerability. Together, these findings illustrate how well-structured schemes can deliver meaningful environmental benefits while revealing opportunities for improvement.

Complementing the environmental findings, two studies investigated the human dimension of AES. One focused on public perceptions of AES effects on the landscape, while the other explored farmers’ connections to nature. These perspectives underscore the importance of social engagement in shaping long-term environmental success.
Monitoring and evaluation of AES continues beyond the projects published in this report. Projects published over the next 12 months will be included in the 2025-2026 Annual Report.

This 2024/25 District Level Licensing Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) is part of the wider District Level Licensing (DLL) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework that was adopted in April 2024. The results from each AMR will feed into a 5-yearly National Fixed-Point Evaluation report (to be published in early 2026). This is the first of the AMRs and covers the financial year 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.

Each year, the AMR will provide the annual monitoring information detailing the ecological and environmental outcomes as well as DLL licence and financial records.
The following topics have been reported on in this AMR:

• Uptake of the DLL Scheme
• Compensation pond delivery
• Licensed and projected development impacts on ponds
• Compensation pond monitoring results
• Turnaround time from DLL licence application to licence issue
• Staffing requirements to operate the DLL scheme
• Income and expenditure of DLL

Overall, this AMR highlights the success in the delivery of DLL ponds since the launch of DLL and the high suitability of DLL ponds for GCN, which are created/restored in line with best practice guidance. There has been an overall net gain in the number of suitable GCN ponds and in the number of occupied ponds as a result of the scheme. The licence records show the progression of applications through the DLL process, and the efficient turnaround time from application to issue. The DLL income and expenditure is broken down to show how the developer fees are used to cover the costs of the scheme, including the management and maintenance of the ponds for 25-years.

This report is written with the assumption that the reader has a general understanding of wildlife licensing. As a result, it does not detail the specific licensing requirements for great crested newts. To support adequate background knowledge, readers are encouraged to review the two sources listed below before proceeding, particularly regarding wildlife licensing and, more specifically, DLL.

District Level Licensing for great crested newts – our story
Developers: how to join the great crested newt district level licensing scheme – GOV.UK

Natural England commissioned the Environment Agency (EA) to undertake a subtidal grab and drop video/camera survey of Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) in 2019 and 2020. This document provides the methods and equipment used, as well as the survey narrative and survey design.

The purpose of this survey was to collect data to assess the condition of the features in the site using the Natural England marine condition assessment methodology, and to inform future monitoring planning and management of the site. The results of the survey will be published in a subsequent report