‘Recovering nature for growth, health and security’: what Natural England’s new strategy means for rural businesses

Natural England has launched a new strategy that sets out an ambitious vision: treating nature as essential national infrastructure, alongside transport and energy, and linking environmental recovery with economic growth, health, and security.

For land managers and farmers, this vision offers opportunities, but it also raises critical questions about how ambition will translate into practical delivery.

The strategy signals a change in approach, moving away from piecemeal interventions toward systemic, landscape-scale recovery. Key principles include:

• Nature recovery at scale – connecting habitats across landscapes and seascapes
• Enabling and trusting others – a shift from control to collaboration
• Outcome-focused delivery – less process, more results
• Prioritisation for impact – targeting resources where benefits for nature and communities are greatest
• Addressing root causes – tackling systemic pressures rather than symptoms

The strategy also reiterates previously outlined targets. This includes the commitment for everyone to be at least 15 minutes to green or blue space, as outlined in the Environment Improvement Plan 2023, and the commitment to protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.

Central to the strategy is restoring ecosystems at scale through expanding National Nature Reserves (NNRs), growing Landscape Recovery schemes and tackling water, air, and soil challenges. For landowners, this could mean more partnership and less bureaucracy, but clarity on funding and regulatory expectations will be vital.

This outcome involves integrating nature into development and investment decisions. However, the promise of “streamlined regulation” needs definition. Will this mean faster approvals and clearer guidance, or proportionate regulation that focuses effort where environmental risk is greatest?

Initiatives like green social prescribing (connecting people to nature to improve health and wellbeing) and urban greening (adding trees, plants, and green spaces to towns and cities) aim to embed nature into everyday life. While positive for communities, the role for rural land managers is less clear. How will these programmes connect with farms and estates beyond urban boundaries?

This outcome involves using nature to help provide solutions for issues including climate resilience, food security, and green finance mechanisms. For example, using nature-based solutions such as wetlands to reduce flood risk and improve water quality. This also includes keeping farmers and land managers in agri-environmental schemes. However, a key practical challenge is the current limits on scheme availability.

Natural England’s approach promises systemic change, empowered local decision-making, and better regulation. The strategy signals a shift toward enabling others - landowners and managers, local authorities, and businesses - to lead delivery, supported by standards and frameworks. These are sound principles, but delivery will depend on effective relationships with Natural England advisers, clear frameworks, and predictability.

Resourcing is also a key challenge. Natural England has faced significant budget cuts and staffing pressures in recent years. Delivering the strategy will require capacity and continuity. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, if it passes in its current form, will add to Natural England’s workload (especially as a result of decreasing staff numbers). Without adequate investment in people and systems, the strategy risks remaining aspirational.

After working hard on behalf of members to evidence and explain the issues with Natural England and other arm’s-length bodies, our hope is that this will be a positive change, and allow Natural England to be an enabler rather than a blocker.

Taking a more strategic approach could mean a reduction in planning delays, and farm advisers able to be less risk averse. However, it all depends on the implementation and what happens next.

The level of flexibility and adherence to bureaucratic processes may differ regionally, creating uncertainty. Natural England’s strategy is ambitious and aligns with wider policy goals, but success will depend on turning the vision into action.

Read more about the strategy here.