A plan to halt and reverse the decline of nature in York and North Yorkshire including action residents can take to help has taken a step forward.
The North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) calls on people to plant native trees and wildflowers in gardens and reduce on lawn mowing to help restore habitats.
An interactive map of habitats is also set to be launched online as part of plans being drawn up by York’s and North Yorkshire’s councils.
Cllr Jenny Kent, York Council’s Labour environment spokesperson, said the authority would be able to draw on a wealth of biodiversity expertise as the plan moves forward.
It comes as the council’s executive heard last week that the LNRS was set to go before the responsible authority North Yorkshire Council for final approval in January.
The draft LNRS stated that residents can also help by creating ponds and other small water areas in their gardens.
It added they could also join volunteering groups to help monitor species numbers in their local area.
The strategy also calls on farmers and landowners to do more to integrate habitats into areas used to produce food, timber and fuel.
Council environment executive member Cllr Kent said: “The opportunities for this are huge, vital and exciting.”
