Heathland

Council chiefs say a Nature Recovery Declaration will be a key part of ensuring wildlife ” survives and flourishes”.

The move by Lichfield District Council has been developed in conjunction with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

It will see the local authority work to implement a new Local Nature Recovery Strategy by helping to influence decisions across areas such as planning.

Among the targets is a move to manage at least 30% of council-owned land for the benefit of wildlife by 2030, and achieve a net-gain to biodiversity across all developments.

Councillor Angela Lax, Lichfield District Council’s cabinet member for housing, ecology and climate change, said:

“It is essential that we take a lead in addressing the nature crisis and our Nature Recovery Declaration is an important step.

“We will continue to consider the impact of everything we do on habitats and wildlife but through a defined structure.

“The importance of our wildlife cannot be overstated and we must do all we can to ensure it survives and flourishes.”

Cllr Angela Lax, Lichfield District Council

Other aspects will include the introduction of a tree strategy and the prioritisation of heathland habitats.

Access to nature will also be improved, with a focus on areas with high levels of physical and mental health problems and those where the amount and quality of accessible natural greenspace is below the target set by Natural England.

rdinate our accompanying operations.

Liz Peck, advocacy and campaigns manager for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, said:

“There has never been a more important time to take action to tackle the ecological emergency.

“Much-loved wildlife like hedgehogs and water voles are vulnerable to extinction and we’ve lost 97 per cent of our wildflower meadows since the 1930s.

“We have worked closely with Lichfield District Council to develop the Nature Recovery Declaration and we’re delighted that this has been voted on unanimously.

“The declaration demonstrates that the council recognises the nature crisis and is committing to a series of vital actions to support nature’s recovery across all its areas of work.

“It is a really positive step forward and will make a real difference on the ground for nature across Lichfield.” 

Liz Peck, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
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Mrs H
1 year ago

As Greta Thunberg might have said, ‘blah,blah,blah’.

Richard
1 year ago

Cllr Lax, we don’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth. Don’t even attempt to make us believe your lies. The damage is done, to Lichfield, your reputation, your cabinet and the entire council. Your actions will have longstanding ramifications and consequences to the environment for generations and no attempt you can say at fixing that, ever will. Not sure if you should proud, or ashamed of yourself.

Philip
1 year ago

I totally agree with the above comments. Cllr. Lax comments are patronising and totally disingenuous. What she and her supporting council has done to Lichfield, its environs, and the wildlife is nothing short of disgraceful. Her proposal is like replacing a large sheet with a handkerchief. If 97% of the field structure is already destroyed what difference will these puny efforts make to redressing that.
We should raise a statue to this council with their names prominently displayed and the part they have played in the degradation of a once wonderful city.

MEJ
1 year ago

Well said Richard and Phillip. I emphatically agree with all you say.

Chris
1 year ago

Only one man has ever had a truly effective impact on the environment and climate, and that was Genghis Khan who killed so many people across Asia and Europe that there was massive and sustained reforestation that actually had a cooling effect on the planet. It’s a radical plan, but small changes are not going to make any difference.