Lancashire County Council’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) has been officially launched, promising to restore habitats and protect iconic species including hen harriers, red squirrels, and rare insects. But leading conservation organisations tell us that some claims in the press release cannot be independently verified.
Lancashire County Council’s press release announced the launch with a confident narrative: “A groundbreaking new Strategy, which aims to help Lancashire’s most important habitats and species to recover and thrive, has been officially launched at a nature reserve.” It said local residents, wildlife charities, conservation organisations, land managers and local businesses had helped shape the strategy, which supposedly “aims to restore habitats, stop species loss, help local wildlife flourish, and make the environment more resilient” while bringing “wider benefits to residents and funding opportunities to rural communities.” The press release went on to name species such as red squirrels, Atlantic salmon, rare bees, moths and butterflies among those “that could be lost in Lancashire, without important measures to restore their natural homes.” It quoted Councillor Joshua Roberts as saying: “Already, the iconic hen harrier, red squirrels, Atlantic salmon, rare bees, moths and butterflies as well as other species are being helped to thrive.”
Representatives from Natural England and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust were also quoted, emphasising local collaboration and optimism about future habitat restoration. However, when independent comment was sought from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Buglife, and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), the responses suggested that many of the claims made in the press release could not be substantiated on the basis of available evidence.
Experts feel the situation is more complex than habitat alone
Responses from the three consulted conservation organisations revealed they could not independently confirm the press release claims. The RSPB emphasised that while it supports coordinated approaches to nature recovery, it could not confirm that the species cited in the press release were already “thriving.” In regard to hen harriers specifically, the RSPB noted that “no amount of habitat restoration can successfully restore hen harrier numbers until the illegal persecution of hen harriers is stopped.” This tells us that habitat alone is not sufficient for recovery.
Buglife did not provide evidence that rare bees, moths, and butterflies, named in the press release, are currently benefitting as claimed. Without access to population data or independent monitoring of results linked to the strategy, the claims could not be verified.
The CPRE also said they could not confirm the assertions in the press release. It indicated that while habitat protection can be positive, the press release did not provide sufficient evidence for independent verification of the actual beneficial effect.
These responses underline that while the strategy may have potential, nature and wildlife charities feel that more may be needed to really help the animals mentioned in the press release.
Hen harriers, red squirrels, and insects
The press release singled out several species it said were being helped by the strategy. For hen harriers, a bird historically persecuted in parts of England, the press release associated their inclusion with recovery prospects. Natural England’s own commentary on hen harrier numbers however, indicates that while there may be slight national increases in nesting pairs, the species remains extremely rare and heavily impacted by illegal killing and disturbance, rather than habitat quality alone.
RSPB’s response reiterated that while habitat change is important, another important factor for hen harrier recovery is illegal persecution. For other species such as red squirrels and rare invertebrates, the organisations consulted could not provide data confirming the press release’s claim that these species are already thriving or benefiting as claimed. It will take independent, time-series data or monitoring reports, to check if the strategy has the desired effect.
Habitat mapping and community engagement
The Council’s press release highlighted the Local Habitat Map as a central feature of the strategy and a guide for land managers, residents, and conservation groups, which can help target action and funding to priority areas. Natural England characterises Local Nature Recovery Strategies as blueprints for collaborative action and planning, intended to support longer-term biodiversity goals across England. These strategies are designed to inform and coordinate local partners, but they are not delivery mechanisms in themselves.
Experts emphasised that mapping and planning, while valuable, do not automatically equate to ecological outcomes without implementation, monitoring, management, and enforcement, particularly in cases where factors like illegal persecution remain barriers. Community engagement, cited in the press release, was not disputed; however, the effect of engagement on ecological outcomes remains unquantified in the responses received.
How can we measure the success
The press release states that the strategy will help species “recover and thrive,” but does not mention how this will be measured. RSPB recommended that the public refer to published biodiversity assessments such as government and NGO reports to judge progress.
The statutory context underpinning Local Nature Recovery Strategies includes legally binding targets under the Environment Act 2021, which set ambitions for species and habitat recovery but do not confer evidence of current success without verified data. Without explicit performance indicators, the claims of success in the press release appear aspirational rather than evidence-based.
Natural England described the LNRS as the result of collaboration and stated it can provide a “good basis for recovery” for species such as hen harriers with implementation. The description aligns with the strategy’s role as a planning tool intended to coordinate long-term action, rather than as proof that species are already thriving. The nuance between planning and implementation is significant in assessing the press release claims.
In practical terms:
- Readers should be cautious about interpreting optimistic statements as evidence of current ecological success.
- Independent monitoring, transparent reporting, and published data are necessary before claims of species recovery can be confirmed; and
- Clear differentiation between planning, potential outcomes, and measurable achievements is essential for accountability.
The press release emphasises ambition and collaboration, but independent verification of its claimed impacts remains absent in the responses obtained.
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