Looking ahead: the LNRS delivery phase 

With publication of the two Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategies imminent, we take a look at the next stage in the process: implementation.

Back in 2023, West Sussex County Council and East Sussex County Council were appointed as Responsible Authorities to prepare a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for their respective areas (West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove). Post publication, there is no direct accountability or responsibility for delivery of the 48 strategies across England. 

However more responsibilities (the four functions below) have been identified by DEFRA, to help Responsible Authorities ‘enable’ the delivery of the LNRS. Both East and West Sussex County Councils will play a key role in helping to coordinate delivery to turn ambition into action and help to drive nature’s recovery forward.

Four functions for Responsible Authorities: 

• Convene and lead a partnership to guide the delivery of the LNRS. 
• Strengthen links within the Responsible Authority and with Supporting Authorities, to embed the LNRS in Spatial Development Strategies, Local Growth Plans, public health initiatives and climate resilience and adaptation programmes.
• Identify, develop and publicise high-impact projects that advance LNRS priorities and showcase best practice.
• Track activities and projects delivering LNRS.

Tailoring delivery to suit local needs 

We are fortunate that West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove have a very active environmental sector with many organisations, initiatives and communities already working to recover nature on the ground. It is vital that any approach to delivery starts by listening to them to understand what is really needed, and how and where a LNRS delivery mechanism can add value. 

To begin to explore this, a workshop brought together over 60 representatives from 40 of the key delivery and enabling organisations for nature on the 11^th June 2026 at Kew - Wakehurst. 

This workshop aimed to: 

• Get attendees familiar with the four functions.
• Start a conversation about how they might work in practice.
• Give attending organisations the opportunity to shape a delivery mechanism that works for them and for the wider Sussex system.
• Deepen our understanding of the blockers to delivery and work together to identify where our Responsible Authorities (East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council) can really add value.

What happens next? 

The team is currently collating and reviewing all the outputs from the workshop. This is the start of a conversation about local needs and how to put our Local Nature Recovery Strategies into action. More events and updates will follow in due course.

Top image: Planting new hedgerows © CPRE Sussex