Working with others for nature recovery
By working in partnership and supporting others to take action, the council continues to enhance biodiversity through creating new wildlife habitats and boosting populations of species in the district. The council’s grant schemes also provide funding for community organisations.
Partnership working
Oxfordshire’s Local Nature Partnership (LNP) brings together councils, universities, environmental organisations, farmers, business and landowners, and puts nature at the heart of decision-making to help our communities and nature to thrive. The LNP will support the creation of a new Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Oxfordshire, which is a requirement of the Environment Act 2021.
The Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) supplies the council with up-to-date information on our most important habitats and species that helps us to make informed decisions about land use. They also provide data for many local environmental groups for use in their local action plans and Neighbourhood Plans.
We support the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) who provide land management advice to the owners and managers of Local Wildlife Sites, in South Oxfordshire. We have also supported BBOWT and the environmental impact investment advisor, Finance Earth, in an innovative Habitat Banking Pilot Scheme. The aim is to attract private investment into creating new or restoring existing habitats in the district which will help us to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
The Chilterns Conservation Board and the North Wessex Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are supported through the provision of core funding to help deliver the AONB Management Plans.
Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment has been working with the council to develop a method for delivering BNG requirements generated by new development. A project is also currently under way to help fund new green infrastructure from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions.
Wild Oxfordshire receives funding through the council’s revenue grant scheme to support its community ecology project which helps volunteer groups and parish councils to enhance and protect nature in their local area.
To get involved
There are so many fantastic community groups across the district working on nature recovery projects that if you’re interested in volunteering or helping out in any way then you can contact the groups above or below to get involved:
- Community Action Groups Oxfordshire
- Earth Trust
- Oxford Conservation Volunteers
- Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action
For even more information use the directory of environmental groups.
Contact us - Climate and Biodiversity Team
South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
