The West of England is receiving a significant funding boost to help support nature recovery efforts.
The £5m investment will support the West of England’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), guiding efforts to reverse biodiversity decline, connect wildlife habitats, and help more people engage with the natural environment.
Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, said: "From the Cotswolds to the Mendips, from the birds of the Severn Estuary to the unique plants of the Avon Gorge, our natural world is part of who we are here in the West Country.
"Our green spaces and waterways must be restored not just for the next generation to enjoy but for our future health, resilience and prosperity. When nature thrives, so do our communities and our economy.
"Our new £5m Nature Fund is set to make major investments in landscape-scale environmental recovery to achieve those goals.
"Working together, we want to make a real difference and hope to soon see the programme's success and then share it with the world."
The funding will be set to be approved by the mayor and council leaders at their next meeting on Friday, June 5.
Projects will then be developed with the West of England Nature Partnership and approved for investment in autumn 2026.
The fund aims to complement existing investment in nature recovery over the next three years.
This announcement follows recent progress under the LNRS, including the first tree plantings for the Western Forest, the country's first new national forest in decades.
Cllr Kevin Guy, leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council; Cllr Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council and deputy mayor of the West of England; Cllr Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council; Cllr Maggie Tyrrell, leader of South Gloucestershire Council; and Cllr Ian Boulton, co-leader of South Gloucestershire Council, issued a joint statement supporting the fund.
They said: "The new £5m nature fund would be a significant step towards realising the goals of our Local Nature Recovery Strategy, ensuring nature recovery goes hand-in-hand with the region’s growth.
"Working together with our regional partners, we are determined to ensure that nature is restored, reconnected and recovering throughout our communities, supporting both people and wildlife for generations to come."
In June, the West of England will host the Festival of Nature, the UK’s largest free celebration of the natural world, organised by the Natural History Consortium and expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors.
Next month will also see the publication of the West of England's State of Nature report, which will include initial analysis from the Wildlife Index.
Sumita Hutchison, chair of the West of England Nature Partnership, said: "Nature is one of the West of England’s greatest assets.
"It shapes the character of our places, supports our health and wellbeing, strengthens our resilience to climate change, and underpins a thriving economy.
"This funding is a major opportunity to accelerate nature recovery at a scale that will benefit communities and wildlife across the region."
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