The following topics are covered in this section:

• Bioblitz

This workbook is designed to help Town and Parish Councils and other interested people take action by signposting to activities that can assist with the implementation of the strategy at a local citizen led level.

You can download this workbook by following this link https://middlemarchescommunitylandtrust.org.uk/nature-recovery-town-parish-councils/

The following sub-categories fall under "Biodiversity":

• Habitat Restoration:

  • Rewilding

  • Tree planting

  • Wetland creation

• Measurement Tools:

  • Biodiversity indices

  • Habitat mapping tools

• Natural Capital Mapping:

  • Bioblitz

  • Biodiversity surveys

  • Ecosystem services valuation

• Priority Actions:

  • Develop local biodiversity action plans

  • Enhance biodiversity in urban areas

  • Protect existing habitats

• Urban Biodiversity:

  • Community gardens

  • Green roofs

  • Pollinator pathways

• Water quality:

  • Monitoring

  • Runoff

  • Treatment

• Wildlife Corridors:

  • Connecting habitats

  • Preventing fragmentation

By law, all English public authorities – including town and parish councils – have a duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity in exercising their functions. With the exception of town and parish councils, public authorities must also “report on actions taken to meet this duty”.

They must “have regard to any relevant local nature recovery strategy”. The 48 strategy areas cover the whole of England, and are required by Government to contain:

1. A local habitat map.

2. A written statement of biodiversity priorities.

Town and parish councils Government guidance published in May 2023 outlines three key responsibilities for town and parish councils:

1. Consider biodiversity in their area

2. Agree policies and objectives to support it

3. Act to deliver those objecyives

Shropshire Association of Local Councils, Middle Marches Community Land Trust and other partners have worked together to design an to help Town and Parish Councils and other interested people take action by signpodting to activities that can assist with the implementation of Shropshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy at a local citizen led level.

The developers of the workbook are very happy if their template is customised for use in other counties.