Draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy Consultation

Results updated 18 Sep 2025

Dorset local nature recovery strategy consultation – survey results

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) consultation. We’ve now analysed all the feedback from the main survey and youth survey, and the results are published below.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what you told us:

66% agreement with the Shared Vision
86% agreement with the Joint Mission
Over 90% agreement with Nature Recovery Priorities 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 & 12
Over 80% agreement with Nature Recovery Priorities 1, 5 & 8
59% will use the strategy to find potential activities they can do to make space for nature, and 50% will see how their activities join up with others

Your feedback also highlighted areas where we can improve the strategy or inform future delivery.

Here’s a snapshot of how we’re responding:

What you said	What we will do
Strategy is long and maps are complex	Share clearer summaries during the delivery phase to help different sectors engage
More ways for people to access nature and get involved in nature recovery	Work with partners to promote opportunities for nature connection and involvement during the delivery phase
Hedgerows should be a priority	Add a new priority for hedgerows to reflect strong local support
More species should be prioritised	Explain how all the priorities support a wide range of species and add water vole to the priority list
More activities to deliver the priorities	Include many of your suggested activities under each priority
More projects and land to add to the local habitat map	Add many of your proposals to the local habitat map
Strategy should have targets to measure progress and action plans for delivery	Encourage all sectors to include nature recovery in their own delivery plans and share ways to measure progress during the delivery phase

You can follow the links below to explore the full findings in the consultation analysis report, along with an additional report explaining how we are responding to the feedback.

Visit Nature Recovery Dorset for more information and the latest progress updates.

Files:

Dorset LNRS consultation analysis report, 5.6 MB (PDF document)
Response to the Dorset LNRS consultation report, 2.5 MB (PDF document)

Overview

People and organisations across Dorset have come together to prepare a Local Nature Recovery Strategy to help restore and protect nature in our county.

The strategy sets 12 priorities for nature recovery in Dorset, supported by a list of potential activities and a local habitat map.

This consultation gives people the opportunity to help shape the strategy and get involved in nature recovery.

The survey includes questions for everyone. You can skip any questions that don't feel relevant to you.

The survey is likely to take around 10 to 20 minutes to complete, depending on how many questions you choose to answer or skip.

There is also a survey for young people.

If you have not already done so, please visit the local nature recovery strategy webpages to check out the strategy or download a PDF copy, before answering the questions.

If you would like to respond to the survey in a different way, like a paper survey, please contact us at LNRS@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or you can find a printable version of the survey in the 'Related' section at the bottom of the page.

Find a list of events and drop-in sessions that you can come along to during the consultation.

Please note, any data collected follows Dorset Council's privacy policy. If you provide your contact details at any point throughout the survey, they will only be used for the purpose in which you have provided them.

Accessibility note: this survey contains questions about the maps in the strategy. We know maps are not completely accessible, so if you have any accessibility requirements, or use a screen reader to access the content, we want to ensure you can still fully take part. To do so, please email us at LNRS@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or call us at 01305 221000 and we will support you in getting the information you need to respond. You can do this before starting the survey, or you can start answering the other questions and then click ‘save and come back’ when you get to the mapping questions to finish these later.

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