Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that nature recovery projects support (a) biodiversity and (b) community wellbeing in Essex.

Essex is particularly rich in nature, from ancient woodland to nature-rich farmland to wild coastal marshes. Seven National Nature Reserves and numerous designated sites provide statutory protection that underpins rich biodiversity.

Essex County Council, as one of 48 Responsible Authorities supported by Natural England, was one of the first areas to publish its Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) earlier this year. The Essex LNRS sets out local priorities for nature's recovery and identifies where action could best be taken to achieve those priorities. It aims to target investment to restoring and connecting habitats, and integrate nature into planning. It will guide coordinated action not just for nature, but for flood resilience, climate adaptation and urban greenspace to build better places for people.

The Essex coast is internationally important for birdlife, rare plants, insects and marine wildlife. The vast majority of this long coast is protected for its special value for nature under a range of different statutory designations.

In the Blackwater estuary a Natural Flood Management Project delivered by Harwich Haven, Essex Wildlife Trust and the RSPB is using dredged material as bunds to protect homes from coastal erosion while providing new habitat for birds.

Transforming the Thames is a partnership of industry, government, nature groups and landowners, working to restore the fragmented and damaged wildlife habitats of the wider Thames Estuary.

The City of Southend-on-Sea along with regional partners, is working with local communities across Thurrock to develop Nature Based Solutions to drought, flooding and coastal erosion: Catchment to Coast.

This is just a small selection of initiatives which are strengthening Essex’s natural environment while creating healthier, and more resilient communities.