Network for Nature

The Wildlife Trusts are working in partnership with National Highways to enhance habitats across England, benefiting people, nature, and wildlife. Network for Nature will improve, create, and restore habitats affected by historic road activity.

Over a five-year partnership, the Wildlife Trusts in England will undertake a wide array of projects, from enhancing chalk downlands to support rare butterflies like the Duke of Burgundy, to conserving wetlands and rare chalk streams for endangered water voles. Some projects will use natural solutions, such as reedbeds and ponds, to filter road run-off and prevent it from contaminating rivers or nature reserves. Network for Nature will also establish wildlife corridors to reconnect areas fragmented by roads, allowing wildlife such as pollinators to move and disperse across the landscape.

Initially funded with £6 million across 22 projects, Network for Nature has expanded to encompass four phases of funding totalling £11.5 million across 51 projects delivered by 24 local Wildlife Trusts. Of these, 46 delivery projects will enhance, restore, and create over 2,300 acres (950 hectares) of woodlands, grasslands, peatlands, and wetlands throughout England. Five feasibility studies will also be conducted, designing landscape-scale projects focusing on increasing biodiversity and connectivity.

Read the story!