The following section sets out the council's planned actions for the next reporting period, reflecting the strengthened requirement under the Environment Act 2021 for public authorities to consider what more they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity. These future actions build on the policies, programmes and partnerships described throughout this report and are aligned with the seven themes that structure Gateshead's approach to nature recovery. They identify where continued effort, targeted improvement and new initiatives are required to deliver long‑term ecological resilience, support priority species and habitats, embed biodiversity within decision‑making, and strengthen community involvement.
Together, these planned actions provide a forward‑looking framework that will guide the council's work over the next five years. They ensure that biodiversity considerations remain embedded across council functions and that Gateshead continues to contribute meaningfully to local, regional and national nature‑recovery objectives. The table below summarises these future actions by theme, demonstrating how Gateshead will continue to fulfil its statutory Biodiversity Duty while promoting wider environmental, social and climate‑resilience benefits for the borough.
Table 1: Future actions to meet the Biodiversity Duty| Theme | Future actions |
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| 1. Conserving and enhancing woodland habitats | - continue delivering the More and Better Woods Action Plan, supporting the creation of 250 ha of new woodland and securing at least 100 ha of additional land.
- implement the Woodland Management Plan through ongoing thinning, natural regeneration, enrichment planting, PAWS restoration, and invasive species control.
- maintain cyclical management of coppice, scrub, rides and glades, with annual monitoring of deadwood, regeneration, INNS and SSSI condition.
- support volunteer involvement and embed protected‑species considerations across woodland operations
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| 2. Conserving, restoring and enhancing other terrestrial and aquatic habitats | - prepare detailed management plans for priority sites and secure funding for implementation
- undertake targeted habitat improvements such as scrub removal, restoration works and planting native species to support pollinators and priority fauna
- continue conservation grazing at selected local wildlife sites
- apply developer contributions to deliver ecological enhancements borough‑wide
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| 3. Recovering priority species and addressing biodiversity pressures | - continue supporting the Northern Water Vole Recovery Project, including funding bids, habitat restoration and community involvement
- maintain and expand mink control at key sites
- continue training staff and volunteers to improve species‑data coverage (for example, harvest mice)
- review the North East INNS Strategy in 2026 and explore long‑term funding for invasive‑species management
- continue Kittiwake Partnership work: population monitoring, conflict‑resolution measures and public engagement
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| 4. Protecting, expanding and connecting green and blue infrastructure | - maintain and improve habitats along the Tyne Derwent Way; deliver access upgrades; expand volunteer programmes; explore long‑term funding
- integrate green infrastructure into future highways and public‑realm schemes, expanding tree cover and ecological connectivity
- implement actions from the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy, including expanding habitat networks, improving strategic water corridors, and creating nature‑rich urban spaces
- review grounds‑maintenance practices (mowing, vegetation management, tree care) to strengthen borough‑wide ecological networks
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| 5. Embedding biodiversity in planning and decision making | - Housing services: Expand biodiversity‑sensitive design features (for example bat/bird boxes), refine ecological survey processes and integrate ecology in project workflows.
- Council projects: Address the need for increased ecology resource; improve internal awareness; integrate biodiversity considerations into reviews of corporate asset‑related plans (Housing, Highways, Corporate Asset Strategy).
- Local Plan: Embed biodiversity in the new Joint Local Plan to ensure development conserves and enhances biodiversity, protects priority habitats and species, and strengthens ecological networks.
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| 6. Raising awareness, engagement and stewardship | - appoint Biodiversity Champions across council services
- expand ecological‑awareness training, including refresher sessions and targeted workshops
- improve internal procurement and support for ecological services and address resource/knowledge gaps
- continue school and community tree‑planting events; explore increasing school involvement through Eco‑Schools, National Education Nature Park funding and careers events
- expand volunteer training (for example species surveys) to support community‑led nature recovery
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| 7. Providing strategic leadership and capacity for long‑term nature recovery | - finalise and adopt the LNRS in 2026; establish and lead the regional LNRS delivery partnership
- develop habitat banks on council land with Durham Wildlife Trust for local BNG delivery
- support a multi‑agency wildlife‑crime partnership led by Northumbria Police's Wildlife Crime Officer
- explore university partnerships to support research, innovation and evidence‑led habitat connectivity and BNG work
- strengthen collaboration with the North East Combined Authority and support the North East Carbon and Nature Marketplace.
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