A Local Nature Partnership for
Herefordshire?
Rob Garner
Chair, Herefordshire Environment
Partnership
Process of Consultation
• Award from DEFRA of funding to facilitate
consultation
• Formation of Working Group, Bill
Bloxsome, Jo Hackman, Nicky Davies,
Juliet Wheatley & me
• Engagement of Bill Bloxsome and Oliver
Goode
• Steering Group
– Geoff Hughes, Jeff Edwards (Roger Owen),
Dave Throup, Nick Read plus Bill Juliet and
Process of Consultation cont’d
• 3 Workshops
– HEP plus
– Biodiversity Partners
– Final workshop in April
• Plus ongoing consultations with:
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Businesses / business organisations
Communities/community representatives
Wellbeing professionals
Education professionals
• HEP meeting on 9th May
What are Local Nature Partnerships?
• Widespread and joined up
partnership action
• Work at a strategic scale
• Work at a scale that makes
an impact
• Improve the range of
benefits and services
obtained from the natural
environment
• Should be multiple benefits
from good land management
• Local areas must want them
• Work at landscape
scale
What are Local Nature Partnerships?
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Tasks
Influence local decisions
Develop a shared vision
Co-ordinate action across
organisations
Promote ecosystems
approach
Contribute to green economy
Local authorities should work
through them
Increase understanding of
the economic and social
value of nature
Use passionate individuals
with credibility to inspire
action
Outcomes of HEP Workshop
Friday 16th March
• General agreement to proceed; no
objections
• Many links emphasised with Business,
Communities, Wellbeing & Education
• Need to integrate with work of many
organisations
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Locally
County-wide
Regionally (sub Nationally)
Nationally
What did a Local Nature Partnership
ever do for us?
• Voice for broad environmental sector
• Landscape scale – ie strategic
• Representatives from business, wellbeing
communities, education
• Linking countywide with national/
international context and with local actions
• Focus on “joined-up” decisions
– Across sectors
– Across all aspects of environment, biodiversity,
sustainable development
Possible Direction of Travel
• Constitution = HEP plus
• Sub groups to ensure action/ representation
• Key links with Strategic Partnership; LEP &
surrounding LNPs
• Covers all current HEP matters plus additional
• Deeper Consultation
• “Predisposition in favour”
– What if we don’t proceed
– Example of LEPs – funding etc