Landscape
Landscape plays an important role in shaping how communities experience climate and environmental risks.
The following sub-categories fall under "Landscape":
Agriculture: livestock, arable, allotments, community orchards, vertical farms
Gardens: supporting biodiversity, community-gardening, native species, climate-change readiness (heat, drought, flood) flood protection, growing food
Great outdoors: flood risk assessment, wildfires, management
Planning: Neighbourhood Planning, Local Plans, Planning Applications, Tree Preservation Orders, Road Traffic Orders
Public Realm: shading, heat islands, SUDS, footpaths, bridleways, contracts
Streets: Low traffic neighbourhoods, 20 mph zones, cycle paths
In addition to emergency planning, the way land is managed and designed can help reduce the impacts of flooding, heat, drought and ecological decline. These approaches often work across multiple areas, from gardens and streets to agriculture and planning, and are most effective when considered together.
The sections below highlight different entry points for landscape-based actions, which can contribute to wider community resilience.
Supporting Biodiversity
What is this and why it matters
Supporting biodiversity can be approached at multiple levels, from small-scale actions in gardens and community spaces to larger-scale changes through planning and development.
While many biodiversity improvements can be delivered locally, wider frameworks such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) play an important role in ensuring that development contributes to measurable ecological improvement.
What you can do
At home or in gardens
Plant native and pollinator-friendly species
Create small habitat areas (e.g. wildflower patches, “bee squares”)
Reduce or avoid pesticide and herbicide use
Allow some areas to grow naturally (e.g. reduced mowing)
In shared or community spaces
Support or start community biodiversity or rewilding projects
Create or enhance green spaces that can support wildlife
Connect green areas where possible to form local wildlife corridors
Integrate biodiversity into community gardens or food-growing spaces
At neighbourhood or planning level
Support biodiversity considerations in local planning processes
Engage with Local Nature Recovery Strategies or similar initiatives
Work with local councils, landowners, and organisations to improve habitat connectivity
How this links to wider risks
Supporting biodiversity can contribute to reducing a range of risks:
Improved soil structure and water retention → helping to reduce flooding
Increased vegetation and shade → helping to reduce heat and overheating
Healthier soils and ecosystems → improving resilience to drought
Support for pollinators and ecosystems → strengthening food resilience
Useful resources
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