LNRS priorities and actions

The LNRS for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin identifies 16 priorities and 51 suggested activities for recovering or enhancing biodiversity. Some actions are mapped, meaning they correspond to specific locations – you can explore these on the interactive map. Other actions (like restoring hedgerows or enabling access to nature-rich sites) are relevant to, or can happen in, lots of different places across the county and so are unmapped.

The LNRS builds on past and ongoing action, initiatives and projects. Read more about how you can get involved to help nature now.

Our nature network

The LNRS maps:

1. 'Areas of particular importance for biodiversity' – referred to in this strategy as the 'Existing Nature Network'

and

2. 'Areas that could become of particular importance' – referred to collectively in this strategy as the 'Opportunity Network'.

You can explore the network maps and mapped actions online, using the interactive tool. Not all actions in the LNRS have a specific location, so refer to the priorities list below for a full overview.

Woodpecker

Habitat priorities

Enhance nature alongside food production
  •   A1.1 - establish farmer groups
  •   A1.2 - enhance soil health and nature on arable land
  •   A1.3 - enhance soil health and nature on pastures
  •   A1.4 - create, restore and manage nature-rich farmland mosaics

Restore, enhance, expand and appropriately manage the hedgerow network
  • A2.1 - restore and manage the existing hedgerow network
  • A2.2 - create more connectivity in the landscape by establishing new hedgerows

Re-naturalise rivers and stabilise flows
  • A3.1 - improve water quality
  • A3.2 - reduce both flood risk and low flows
  • A3.3 - remove physical barriers
  • A3.4 - restore streams and rivers to a more natural state
  • A3.5 - create, enhance and appropriately manage riparian buffers

Restore peatland and wetland mosaics
  • A4.1 - restore existing areas of high-quality peat, fen and bog habitat
  • A4.2 - restore, connect and expand areas of wetland mosaic habitat
  • A4.3 - restore ability of catchment headwaters to ‘act as a sponge’
  • A4.4 - target regularly flooded land for wetland creation and grazing marsh

Create, restore and manage ponds, glacial pools and meres
  • A5.1 - enhance existing ponds, pools and meres
  • A5.2 - create new ponds

Enhance canals for wildlife and people
  • A6.1 - enhance canals for wildlife and people

Safeguard and enhance veteran trees
  • A7.1 - identify, appropriately manage and safeguard the future of veteran trees
  • A7.2 - secure continuity of veteran trees in the landscape

Restore and expand nature-rich woodlands
  • A8.1 - restore and expand nature rich ancient semi-natural woodland and long-established broadleaf woodland
  • A8.2 - improve condition of deciduous, mixed and wet woodlands
  • A8.3 - restore plantation on ancient woodland sites
  • A8.4 - create new woodlands

Restore and expand nature-rich woody habitats
  • A9.1 - restore and expand wood pasture
  • A9.2 - restore parkland
  • A9.3 - plant and manage mosaics of scrub
  • A9.4 - establish new, and safeguard traditional, orchards
  • A9.5 - plant more trees in the farmed landscape

Restore, connect and expand species-rich grasslands across the county
  • A10.1 - set up infrastructure to support grassland restoration and creation
  • A10.2 - safeguard and enhance traditional hay meadows and other existing species-rich grasslands
  • A10.3 - create and restore species-rich grassland
  • A10.4 - restore grassland on roadside verges and alongside paths and tracks

Restore, connect and expand heathland sites
  • A11.1 - establish effective management regimes for heathland sites
  • A11.2 - restore heathland where geology allows to increase habitat connectivity

Increase the area of upland fringe habitat
  • A12.1 - enhance areas of upland fringe habitat
  • A12.2 - create new areas of upland fringe habitat to benefit a wide range of species

Enhance the wildlife value of open mosaic habitats
  • A13.1 - create, enhance and appropriately manage close mosaics of open habitats on former coalmining and post-industrial sites
  • A13.2 - enhance open mosaic habitats on brownfield sites
  • A13.3 - retain the wildlife value of scree

Bring nature into towns, villages and amenity spaces
  • A14.1 - integrate nature recovery within new developments
  • A14.2 - create wildlife-friendly gardens at homes and businesses
  • A14.3 - enhance wildlife value of multifunctional green space
  • A14.4 - effective water management in the built environment
  • A14.5 - reduce the adverse impact of light pollution on wildlife
  • A14.6 - increase canopy cover in the built environment

Reduce invasive non-native species across whole catchments
  • A15.1 - prevent the spread of invasive non-native species
  • A15.2 - implement a targeted programme to reduce invasive non-native species

Enable more access to and connection with nature for health and wellbeing
  • A16.1 - enable access to nature-rich sites
  • A16.2 - create a more comprehensive network to enable active travel
  • A16.3 - enhance peoples’ connection with nature

Species priorities

The LNRS for Shropshire identifies 25 individually named species and nine species assemblages that need specific actions or groups of actions beyond those identified under the habitat-based priorities. The methodology for identifying these species followed a process of longlisting and shortlisting, determined by Defra guidance.

Taxon

Mammal

Species

Dormouse

Scientific name

Muscardinus avellanarius

Taxon

Mammal

Species

Hedgehog

Scientific name

Erinaceus europaeus

Taxon

Mammal

Species

Pine marten

Scientific name

Martes martes

Taxon

Mammal

Species

Water vole

Scientific name

Arvicola amphibius

Taxon

Bird

Species

Curlew

Scientific name

Numenius arquata

Taxon

Bird

Species

Dipper

Scientific name

Cinclus cinclus

Taxon

Bird

Species

Nightjar

Scientific name

Caprimulgus europaeus

Taxon

Bird

Species

Pied flycatcher

Scientific name

Ficedula hypoleuca

Taxon

Bird

Species

Red grouse

Scientific name

Lagopus lagopus

Taxon

Bird

Species

Swift

Scientific name

Apus apus

Taxon

Bird

Species

Wheatear

Scientific name

Oenanthe oenanthe

Taxon

Bird

Species

Willow tit

Scientific name

Peocele montanus

Taxon

Bird

Species

Lesser black-backed gull

Scientific name

Larus fuscus

Taxon

Plant

Species

Green-winged orchid

Scientific name

Anacamptis morio

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Hoverfly

Scientific name

Cheilosia semifasciatus

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Noble chafer

Scientific name

Gnorimus nobilis

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Grayling butterfly

Scientific name

Hipparchia semele

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Scarce blue-tailed damselfly

Scientific name

Ischnura pumilio

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Wall butterfly

Scientific name

Lasiommata megera

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Scarlet malachite beetle

Scientific name

Malachius aeneus

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Slender mud snail

Scientific name

Omphiscola glabra

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Grizzled skipper

Scientific name

Pyrgus malvae

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Black darter

Scientific name

Sympetrum danae

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Lilljeborg's whorl snail

Scientific name

Vertigo lilljeborgi

Taxon

Invertebrate

Species

Desmoulin's whorl snail

Scientific name

Vertigo moulinsiana

Species assemblages

  • Deadwood species assemblage
  • Woodland species assemblage
  • Species reliant on arable land
  • River species assemblage
  • Species reliant on bog and other wetland habitats
  • Plants requiring growing from seed for planting out
  • Inland rock and open habitat species assemblage
  • Species reliant on heathland and grassland mosaics, including ffridd
  • Bat species assemblage