Councillors set to approve unique new partnership to protect the environment

At a Horsham District Council Cabinet Meeting on 28 November, councillors are set to approve a unique partnership between the Council and the Sussex Wildlife Trust. This will build on the close working relationship between the two organisations.

The aim of the partnership is to ensure that the District’s natural environment is protected and enhanced so that it remains an attractive place to live and work. It will work to reverse the decline in species and habitats across the District, as well as contribute to tackling and reducing the impacts of climate change.

The proposed five year partnership, if adopted, will:

* Help wildlife thrive across the Horsham District

* Create networks of land that are protected and enhanced for wildlife, allowing habitats to expand and species populations to increase, which will ensure that they are resilient to change

* Increase awareness of actions that communities can take to improve their local natural environment and the benefits that wildlife provides

* Maximise the opportunities from protecting and enhancing wildlife in tackling climate change and reduce the impacts of a changing climate.

The proposed partnership supports the Council’s recently published Corporate Plan for 2019 to 2023, which sets out one of its major ambitions to prioritise the protection of our environment as we move to a low carbon future.

In June 2019, the Council committed to reducing its carbon footprint and working towards the national target of becoming carbon neutral.

This challenging ambition presents a great opportunity for us to enhance our natural heritage and wildlife by embracing this ground breaking partnership with such a well-respected organisation as the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

“As a council we already have a strong track record of dealing with environmental matters, particularly in areas of biodiversity, and we have already built strong working relationships with many volunteers and partners to help us achieve this.

“But we cannot rest on our laurels and we need to do more to protect our natural habitats and create the right ecological environments to tackle the considerable climate change demands we face.

“I see this proposed partnership with Sussex Wildlife Trust as a major step forward and commitment to reversing the decline of wildlife that has taken place over the last few decades.

“The partnership will need the support of residents, businesses and landowners to achieve its ambitious aims.”

Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture Cllr Jonathan Chowen