The Biodiversity Duty
Public authorities who operate in England must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity and agree policies and specific objectives based on the considerations. This is the strengthened biodiversity duty introduced by the Environment Act 2021. The council will regularly publish the actions taken for biodiversity under this duty in a biodiversity duty report.
View Biodiversity Duty report 2024-2025
Biodiversity Action Plan
The Cherwell Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan sets out how we will contribute towards conserving wildlife and the natural environment. It includes aims, actions and targets relating to five themes:
- Planning and sustainable development
- Land and buildings management
- Council land and buildings management
- Green space and conservation target areas
- Health and wellbeing
Many of these are achieved through work with biodiversity partners such as the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre and the Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.
Some of the most important sites, habitats and species in Cherwell are protected by legislation, others by planning policy. Guidance can be found the Biodiversity and Planning in Oxfordshire document.
Parish councils and communities can provide vital help for wildlife by appreciating, protecting and enhancing biodiversity in their local area.
Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Oxfordshire’s Local Nature recovery strategy was published in November 2025. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) has been developed with extensive local engagement and describes and maps important actions and priorities for nature recovery across Oxfordshire. It target actions in locations where they are most needed and where those actions could provide the best environmental outcomes as well as wider benefits. LNRS’s across the country will help to join up national efforts to reverse the decline of biodiversity
The LNRS consists of four parts – a Description of the strategy area, a Statement of Biodiversity Priorities, a Species Priority List and an interactive Habitat Map. The Oxfordshire LNRS can be accessed here: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/environment-and-planning/local-nature-recovery-strategy-lnrs
Wildlife Conservation
Cherwell District Council works with a number of partners to help deliver action for wildlife and communities, Further information and reports from partner organisations can be found at Wildlife Conservation in Cherwell.