Plan to restore and enhance nature across Winchester district unveiled
Winchester City Council has published its Nature Improvement Plan 2025-2030, outlining its strategy for halting the decline in nature and wildlife species across the district and working with nature to combat the climate crisis.
The council declared a nature emergency in 2023 to recognise the impact that climate change is having on the district’s vital nature and wildlife habitats. We have created wildflower meadows, such as the ones at Chilcomb Recreation Ground and Topfield, Kings Worthy as valuable habitats for pollinators (including butterflies and moths), foraging birds, reptiles and bats. We have also improved the way we manage road verges and our church yards and cemeteries, including West Hill Cemetery, which provide a valuable, safe home for many species, especially slow worms.
The Nature Improvement Plan 2025-30 outlines our approach to conservation and sustainability projects, and the council’s commitment to supporting volunteers and partnership groups. A short video highlights this key area of work with the full plan available on the website.
Cllr Kelsie Learney Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency said:
“In Winchester district, we are the custodians of varied and internationally recognised habitats which we have a duty to protect and enhance, allowing nature to flourish.
Over the last few years, the City Council has shown we can achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions, and we need to take a similar approach to the alarming decline in biodiversity which led to the declaration of a nature emergency in 2023. We are determined to do all we can to reverse this, but we can’t do it alone. We need everyone who shares our passion for nature to help, and the Nature Improvement Plan 2025-2030 sets out how we can make a difference together.”
You can find out more about how the council plans to tackle the nature emergency, view the video and the Nature Improvement Plan 2025-2030 at www.winchester.gov.uk/nature-emergency .