People in North Yorkshire and York have until the end of next week to give their views on how the area’s countryside and wildlife can be better protected and enhanced.
The North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Partnership is coming to the end of a public consultation on its aims and strategy. People have until the end of next week (March 9th) to comment on the partnership’s views.
The responses received so far have been generally positive, with comments ranging from highlighting the need for more tree planting to help combat climate change, the need to conserve species, and the role of the LNP in the planning process. New locations have also been proposed for prioritising LNP activity.
The LNP is one of 48 in England set up to ‘embed the value of the environment in local decisions to support healthier people and a thriving economy.’ Among its aims are to ensure that areas of the greatest wildlife value are protected, to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities through access and use of natural spaces, and to encourage environment-based enterprises such as farming, forestry, and mineral extraction, to conduct their businesses in ways which benefit the natural environment whilst supporting the local economy.
The Partnership will identify where work is needed on the ground, and what can be done to make those carrying out the work more efficient, co-ordinated and effective.
The LNP has already identified seven ‘rural landscape priority areas’ where the work will be focused initially. They are Long Preston Wet Grassland Project, River Swale Landscape Project, Riverr Ure Landscape Project, Selby Landscape Project, the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Vale of Pickering Landscape Project, and the North York Moors National Park and Coast.
Ian Fielding, the Chairman of the Partnership and Assistant Director of Waste and Countryside Services for North Yorkshire County Council said: It has been a busy and exciting time for the partnership. A wide range of organisations have been working together to establish a strategy which will help positively change the way we manage our countryside for the future, for the benefit of the wildlife and people reliant upon it. We’ve also been making links with the Local Enterprise Partnership and Health and Wellbeing Board to identify mutual priorities and opportunities to work together.
Following the consultation, views and comments will be used to inform the final strategy and the LNP will be formally launched in spring 2014 with work beginning in the priority areas.
The consultation is seeking views and comments on the strategy document until 9 March 2014. To find out more and to take part in the consultation, visit www.nypartnerships.org.uk/lnp or contact 01609 533240.
