Waltham Forest Council declares nature emergency and launches recovery plan

The local authority’s nature recovery plan stated that a quarter of its borough consists of front and rear gardens, so it will redouble its efforts to secure support from its residents.

Meanwhile, the Waltham Forest nature recovery expert panel will convene with partners, including City of London Corporation, Walthamstow Wetlands, Lea Valley Park and those involved in nature recovery.

Waltham Forest Council’s climate residents panel will also be reactivated with a key focus on tackling the nature emergency.

The local authority’s local nature recovery plan will review its landholdings, including its housing and highways land, to boost habitat creation and restoration. Funding will be sought to accelerate these projects.

Further proposals will embed nature recovery as a priority within the council’s planning and design guidelines for new developments, and adopt the Greater London Authority’s local nature recovery strategy.

Developers and residents will be encouraged to incorporate boundary permeability for wildlife corridors, natural water sources for wildlife and artificial habitat creation through planning tools such as masterplans and planning briefs.

A framework will support the implementation of a well-connected, safe and accessible network of green spaces across the borough. The local authority will also continue to ensure urban greening is integral to new developments. This is alongside its commitment to biodiversity net gain requirements.

Concern has recently been raised about how nearly 40% of councils lack access to in-house ecological expertise amid the new environmental demands.

However, Waltham Forest Council highlighted its track record of tackling the climate emergency, including creating 45 pocket parks and parklets, distributing more than 900 trees and 250,000 bulbs last year, and establishing nature education centre The Hive to inspire the next generation.

In its nature recovery plan, Waltham Forest said: “The council calls on our residents, communities and partners to come together to take action in securing and embedding nature recovery as a cornerstone for a sustainable future for all.”