Newark and Sherwood District Council initiatives to to enhance biodiversity and landscapes in the district

A number of initiatives are underway to protect, maintain and enhance biodiversity and landscapes across the district.

Newark and Sherwood contains a wide range of habitats and species, including a number of sites which receive specific protection due to their international, national or regional importance.

Newark and Sherwood District Council is continuing work to protect and maintain the district's wildlife, through a number of initiatives.

The initiatives include wildflower bunds at Newbury, Thorpe Oaks and Thorpe close, with the natural barriers introduced as a measure to help prevent illegal encampments.

As well as preventing the encampments, they attract insects and support the council’s climate emergency agenda.

The authority has also planted over 8,000 trees in the district over the past few years and has given away over 11,500 as part of the annual free tree scheme this year.

Over 60 saplings have also been distributed to town and parish councils.

The council recently committed an extra £30,000 to add to existing budgets to ensure that all the extra trees planted across the district are well cared for and maintained.

No Mow May is a national initiative the council will again take part in, in which the grounds maintenance team stop the mowing of certain areas around the district in order to allow green spaces and country parks to bloom.

£55,000 has also been committed to ensure that housing developers work with licensed and experienced ecologists when planning to build new houses.

The council's director of communities and environment Matthew Finch said: “Protecting, maintaining and enhancing biodiversity is a vital part of our work to create a green Newark and Sherwood.

“These initiatives are part of a brilliant programme of measures which we are already seeing the benefits of in many cases.

“Our district is home to a fantastic range of habitats and species, including animals, plants and microorganisms, and without this biodiversity there would not be the healthy ecosystems our environment needs to flourish.”

The community garden at Newark Library has been developed by the council and now boasts a range of biodiverse features including wildflower meadows, bug hotels, a living wall, and tree saplings.