Council puts nature at the heart of future decisions
Nature will play a greater role in how Amber Valley Borough Council makes future decisions following its declaration of a nature emergency.
(Pictured above - Woodland in Amber Valley. The council’s nature emergency declaration will see nature recovery built into future decisions, helping to protect and enhance the borough’s natural environment.)
The commitment will see nature recovery built into relevant council strategies and policies, while strengthening work already happening with residents, community groups and nature organisations across the borough.
The declaration follows a growing national movement calling on councils to recognise the pressures facing nature and take action locally.
The Woodland Trust has been encouraging local authorities across the country to declare nature emergencies, with Amber Valley among those encouraged to make a formal commitment.
Its Nature Emergency UK initiative, developed with mySociety and Climate Emergency UK, looks beyond the declaration itself at how councils turn that commitment into action, including through plans for nature recovery and by making nature part of future decision-making.
For Amber Valley, the declaration builds on work already under way.
(Pictured above: Councillor Amina Burslem, Amber Valley Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Street Pride and Wellbeing.)
The council’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, informed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Plan for Nature, sets out ambitions for protecting and enhancing biodiversity across the borough.
Work is also continuing on the council’s Climate Change Action Plan and its delivery plans for 2026 to 2028, with existing actions and projects being reviewed and developed following the declaration.
At the heart of this work is the Amber Valley Nature Network, which brings residents, community groups, councillors and nature organisations together to share ideas, learn from each other and support nature recovery across the borough.
The council now wants to build on the network, involve more residents in nature-based activity and work alongside the many local groups already doing valuable work in their communities.
Councillor Amina Burslem, Cabinet Member for Communities, Street Pride and Wellbeing, said: “Declaring a nature emergency is about much more than making a statement. It is a commitment to put nature at the heart of the decisions we make and make sure that commitment is reflected in what we actually do.
“There is already some fantastic work happening across Amber Valley, much of it driven by passionate residents, volunteers and local groups. We want to build on that, bring more people together through our Nature Network and look at what more we can achieve by working together.
“Residents may also notice changes in how some council-owned open spaces are managed, including allowing grass to grow longer in certain areas and reducing mowing to create more space for wildlife.
“These changes can provide food and habitats for pollinators and other wildlife, while giving our landscape teams more time for work such as planting trees and wildflowers.”
The council is also backing two proposed pieces of national legislation which aim to give nature greater recognition and protection.
The UK Nature Rights Bill seeks to strengthen the rights of nature, while the Nature and National Security Bill aims to recognise the importance of the natural environment to the country’s long-term resilience and security.
While Amber Valley declared a climate emergency in 2019, the two declarations have a different focus but are closely connected.
The climate emergency has driven a greater focus on reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency. The nature emergency focuses on the actions the council can take to protect and restore habitats and biodiversity, support nature recovery and make sure the natural environment is considered as part of future decisions.
The council believes the two must go hand in hand, with healthy natural environments also playing an important role in responding to climate change.
Residents will have an opportunity to get involved at the next Amber Valley Nature Network event on Saturday 3 October at The Grammar in Heanor.
The network is open to people interested in supporting nature across Amber Valley, whether they are already involved with a local group or simply want to find out more.
Further details about the event and how to get involved can be found at www.ambervalley.gov.uk or by emailing climate@ambervalley.gov.uk.
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