Funding and supporting nature recovery activities

Nature Recovery Dorset is a countywide initiative that has been born out of working with so many individuals across such a wide range of sectors. It celebrates and supports the individuals, farmers, landowners, communities and organisations who are helping restore nature in Dorset. There’s no cost to join the Nature Recovery Dorset network - just a shared desire to make more space for nature in Dorset.

By itself a strategy achieves nothing if it does not lead to effective action. To help promote a seamless transition from strategy preparation to delivery, the Nature Recovery Dorset network brings together the variety of nature recovery activities happening across the county.

Biodiversity net gain is a legal obligation, introduced in February 2024, that requires new developments to leave biodiversity in a measurably (10%) better state than before. Simply put this means developers must either create or enhance habitats on-site or, if that is not possible, purchase off-site biodiversity units to improve habitats elsewhere. The goal of biodiversity net gain is to ensure that development projects contribute positively to the environment by boosting wildlife habitats and overall biodiversity. Both BCP Council and Dorset Council planning authorities have guidance in place.

Dorset’s local nature recovery strategy maps high opportunity nature areas for habitat creation, connecting of existing ecosystems, and maximising of environmental benefits.

The high opportunity nature areas can guide on-site biodiversity net gain by influencing the habitats considered as part of site design.

They also guide off-site biodiversity net gain by agreeing evidence-based locations to expand and connect existing habitat. This can influence the ‘strategic significance’ multiplier in the Statutory Biodiversity Metric that is used to calculate biodiversity net gain.

This mechanism means that there is an incentive for developers to align with the high opportunity nature areas when choosing the location of off-site biodiversity net gain units. Understanding this link is crucial for developers, landowners, planning authorities, and ecologists involved in biodiversity net gain delivery. If you create or improve the habitat listed as the ‘primary activity’ in a high opportunity nature area, you might be able to earn 1.15 times more biodiversity units, thanks to the strategic significance multiplier.

Funding is made available through development contributions to mitigate the adverse impacts of housing and other development on internationally important habitats and species. This funding is spent to reduce impacts such as nutrient levels, air quality and recreational disturbance.

The focus is primarily on reducing negative impacts or restoring or recreating habitats that have been lost, but often mitigation activities can also be designed to contribute to nature recovery. For example, a suitable alternative natural greenspace (SANG) provides nature areas for people to enjoy as an alternative to sensitive habitats like heathlands, although their primary purpose is recreation, they can be managed using nature-friendly practices to also deliver for nature recovery. Similarly, managing land to help reduce nitrate inputs to rivers will often involve creating wildlife habitat that can boost biodiversity as well as delivering ecosystem services.

Find out more about Environment Mitigation delivery. 

Habitat compensation and restoration is also delivered as part of developing flood and coastal defences, this is coordinated through the Environment Agency’s Habitat Compensation and Restoration programme.

Dorset farmers and foresters incorporating sustainable food and timber production practices, alongside nature recovery, is the key to success in delivering the 30by30 target in Dorset. Many Dorset farmers and foresters are involved in long-term stewardship of our natural environment, alongside food production and other rural businesses. Several farmer clusters are running in Dorset, these are groups led by farmers who work together to collectively deliver greater benefits for nature across the farmed landscape.

Farmers working individually or in clusters have several ways to help deliver nature recovery and the farming sector is currently going through changes to payments available for different environmental actions. The Future Farming Resilience programme offers free support to farmers across the South West during this period of change, known as the Agricultural Transition.

Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs) are a set of government schemes designed to reward and provide financial incentives to farmers and landowners who deliver environmental benefits through nature friendly practices on their land.

Find out the latest about different schemes and government funding for farmers, growers and land managers.

In parts of Dorset, the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme provides funding and advice to farmers and land managers for projects that support nature recovery, or nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses. FiPL is available in the Dorset National Landscape and Cranborne Chase National Landscape.

The local nature recovery strategy helps guide which nature recovery activities are appropriate in different areas, so can provide evidence to support scheme or project plans and funding applications.

In Dorset, communities and individuals play a crucial role in delivering nature recovery by working together to create, improve, restore and protect local nature areas. Community-led initiatives, such as planting native trees, creating wildflower meadows, or restoring ponds, can all contribute to improving habitats for wildlife.

Dorset Wildlife Trust, a partner in the local nature recovery strategy, has developed new online resources to help more people take action for nature as an individual or community.

As part of this, case studies have been prepared to tell community stories and inspire more people to be part of nature’s recovery. These include a roadside verge, garden, churchyard, library garden, GP Practice, swift group, and partnership between a town council and its ‘In Bloom’ group.

Advice is also available to individuals and environmental groups from a range of organisations like, National Trust, Parks Foundation, RSPB, Dorset Council and BCP Council. And Volunteer Centre Dorset have a range of volunteering opportunities, including gardening, nature conservation and outdoor activities.

Nature recovery in action

Patients of The Adam Practice in Hamworthy have collaborated with Dorset Wildlife Trust and Poole Men's Shed to plant a raised bed with sensory plants and herbs to encourage wildlife. Together they have also built bird boxes and planted areas around the GP practice with sunflowers, shrubs and pollinator-friendly herbs. 

Businesses in Dorset are key to delivering nature recovery, from making space for nature on their own premises to helping fund nature recovery projects across the county.

Litter Free Dorset has been working closely with businesses across Dorset to inspire them to take action for nature. Through the Sustainable Business Network, businesses have been supported to become more informed about nature recovery and the simple steps they can take to get involved. From installing pollinator-friendly hanging baskets and bug hotels to creating wildlife-friendly outdoor seating areas, these efforts have supported local biodiversity and shown that every business can make a difference for nature. A ‘Nature Recovery’ category was introduced to the Sustainable Business Award, with 20 practical actions for businesses to adopt—whether they have large green spaces or limited outdoor areas. This category celebrates businesses that are taking meaningful steps to support nature. Over 50 businesses have already completed their nature recovery actions, proving that no matter the size or sector, every business can contribute to protecting and restoring Dorset’s natural environment.

Projects for Nature is a collaborative example of green finance bringing businesses together alongside Defra and other expert environmental bodies to bridge the funding gap and accelerate the finance needed to deliver nature recovery.

A range of funding streams are available or emerging to deliver nature recovery. A blended green finance approach might include private investment through nature or carbon markets, business investment as part of corporate social responsibility, and grant funding from government or charitable organisations.

For projects wishing to market the climate benefit of habitat restoration, the Woodland Carbon Code and the Peatland Code are useful quality assurance standards.

Throughout the implementation of Dorset's local nature recovery strategy, information on funding opportunities and potential delivery partners will be added to the Nature Recovery Dorset webpages.

The biodiversity duty refers to the legal or ethical obligation placed on public authorities to conserve and enhance biodiversity. This duty requires authorities to consider the impacts of their actions on ecosystems and wildlife, regularly report on action and progress and ensure sustainable practices that conserve natural habitats are in place. Public authorities can use the local nature recovery strategy to inform how they manage land and make relevant regulatory decisions. 

In agreeing Dorset’s priorities and activities, relevant spatial plans and strategies have been looked at to align this strategy with other relevant documents in the county. The links to local plans and national landscape management plans are summarised below. Find our more about other policies, strategies and plans relating to the Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy in the supporting document, including flood risk management and the BCP Green Infrastructure Strategy.

The government intends for local nature recovery strategies to inform the planning process. Local planning authorities must take account of local nature recovery strategies to ensure nature recovery requirements are properly reflected in the planning system. There are some similarities between what the local nature recovery strategy will provide and what the local plans must achieve.

Find out how the local plans and the local nature recovery strategy work together.

The local nature recovery strategy also relates to the management plans and nature recovery targets of both Dorset National Landscape and Cranborne Chase National Landscape, which together cover 52% of Dorset as shown in the map.

Landscape scale projects focus on large areas (over 500 hectares) by managing and conserving natural resources across big geographical areas, with diverse ecosystems, habitats, and land uses. For example, a project might work to restore wetlands, plant more woodland in degraded areas, and connect wildlife corridors, while engaging local communities, foresters and landowners in more sustainable farming practices. By working at a landscape scale, nature can recover more effectively by ensuring that wildlife can thrive across larger areas and ecosystems can function more naturally. These large scale projects aim to address environmental challenges holistically, considering ecological, social, and economic factors to create sustainable solutions.

Landscape scale projects are often collaborative, involving partnerships between environmental organisations, private landowners, sustainable farming and forestry practices and local communities all working together with a common goal of nature recovery as well as addressing issues such as climate change, flood management, and soil health. Landscape projects that are currently in development or are being proposed can be seen on Dorset’s nature recovery maps. 

Nature recovery in action

West Dorset Wilding is the organisation delivering the Brit catchment recovery project, it is a landowner and farmer-led charity taking action to restore ecosystems and increase nature in West Dorset through rewilding and regenerative agriculture.