Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Network (CLNRN)
For supporting Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy – Pilot Scheme
Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy Pilot Scheme
DEFRA is funding five Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) Pilots to inform national environment policy. Underpinned by the 25 Year Environment Plan (2018) and the Environment Plan 2020.
The purpose of the LNRS is to restore and link up habitats so that species can thrive, and agree the best places to help nature recover, plant trees and woodland, restore peatland, mitigate flood and fire risk, and create green spaces for local people to enjoy.
In August 2020 the government announced that Cumbria will be 1 of 5 Pilot areas trialling the development of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).
With an agreed LNRS in place, the nature recovery work of everyone in Cumbria – from the designated landscapes and large conservation partnerships, to farmers, local businesses and community groups- can help to deliver a bigger, better and more joined up nature recovery network across the whole of the county.
Habitats Mapping
Cumbria County Council is leading this project. The Council believes that working with a wide range of partnerships, organisations and individuals that have an interest or influence in nature recovery is a key to develop an effective strategy for the county.
Cumbria Local Nature Partnership (CLNP) and Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre (CBDC) worked on behalf of Cumbria County Council for the development of the Cumbria habitat basemap and Local Nature Recovery Networks (LNRN). CBDC mapped the LNRN according to a mapping approach that was discussed and agreed by CLNP and the Project data and mapping groups.
The mapping approach has three main stages:
- Auditing
- Mapping
- Modelling
Cumbria LNR Habitats Basemap
The Cumbria habitats basemap was developed from various sources, including habitat datasets from Natural England and Forestry Commission and locally held habitats data as well as habitats from locally identified wildlife sites. The basemap consists of 37 layers of habitat data that provide information on various habitat types in Cumbria.
Basemap interactive map
You can use the created interactive map to browse the habitats basemap. Depending on the speed of your internet you may need to give a time for the map to be downloaded. The interactive map includes the following tools:
Cumbria LNR Habitat Networks
The Cumbria Local Habitat Networks were created using the Natural England Habitats Modelling tool. This tool follows a standardised process that incorporates a range of data layers and identifies specific locations for a range of actions to help improve the ecological resilience for each of the habitats/habitat networks.
The standard process for creating the individual habitat network map includes using 8 standard mapping components. The mapping components are divided into (A) ‘Existing Habitat’ and (B) ‘Network Enhancement & Expansion’ as outlined below:
For more information, please download the National Habitat Network Maps User Guidance
Networks interactive map
The Cumbria Local Habitat Networks comprise a series of 16 individual habitat network maps plus two ‘Combined Habitat Networks Map’. You can browse any of these networks using the Cumbria LNR Habitat Networks interactive map.
Habitat Networks Download
You can download the maps in .pdf format and you can also browse the habitat networks on Google Earth using .KMZ files:
Please make sure you download the Google Earth application on your PC.
