From driving a robust Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)^[1] and tackling climate change to ensuring fair access to green spaces, we envision a Greater Lincolnshire where nature thrives, communities flourish, and everyone benefits from a sustainable future. We urge all mayoral candidates to champion this vision, turning ambition into action for a greener, healthier tomorrow.

Lincolnshire is more than just productive farmland and historic settlements — it is home to extraordinary habitats of national and international significance. Our coast, estuaries, and hinterland support thousands of migrating birds along the East Atlantic Flyway, a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status. The Wash supports a thriving fishery and is the UK's most important estuary for wild birds. We boast globally rare chalk streams, dwindling yet diverse wetlands — including lakes, fens, and degraded peat soils — and species-rich but vanishing grasslands and meadows. Fragmented yet irreplaceable, our ancient woodlands remain vital, and our county is also home to some of the world’s most iconic trees, including Sir Isaac Newton’s legendary apple tree. These natural treasures make Lincolnshire unique and provide essential ecosystem services. Let’s cherish, protect, and restore them for generations to come.

We are calling on the mayoral candidates to commit to:

1. Embrace Nature: To lead the charge in delivering and advocating a bold Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Greater Lincolnshire.
We’ve all poured a huge amount of energy into shaping this strategy. Now it must become a living document and a practical tool embedded in Local Plans, shaping policies, and safeguarding irreplaceable habitats. Only by fully integrating it into planning and action can we ensure nature’s resilience in the face of climate change and secure a thriving, biodiverse future for Greater Lincolnshire.

2. Build Nature-Rich, Climate-Resilient Communities: To work towards, and to exceed, the 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legal minimum across Greater Lincolnshire, setting a higher standard for nature’s recovery and stronger ecosystems.
Landscape-scale^[2] efforts, already successful on the South Humber Bank, proves what’s possible when ambition meets action. At the same time, prioritising green infrastructure and nature-based solutions — integrating trees, wetlands, parks, and hedgerows into planning — will help build communities and industries that prosper alongside nature. By going beyond 10%, we can enhance biodiversity, combat climate change, and create resilient, sustainable spaces.

3. Cut Emissions Fast to Protect Nature and People: To ensure every decision in energy, industry, housing, farming, and transport drives rapid greenhouse emission reductions.
This means accelerating renewable energy deployment in the right places, boosting building energy efficiency, supporting low-carbon farming, and investing in sustainable transport. These actions will help reduce emissions, lower energy bills for households, and create thousands of green jobs in renewable energy, construction, and sustainable agriculture.

4. Flow and Grow for Nature: To commit to restoring waterways, wetlands, and soils to create resilient ecosystems, including:

• Improving water management to boost natural flood resilience, mitigate droughts, and revitalise blue-green habitats^[3].
• Expanding native tree cover and promoting agroforestry to help farmers blend food production with carbon sequestration while improving soil health.
• Promoting nature-friendly farming that will strengthen Lincolnshire’s rural economy and food security through sustainable land management supporting the UK’s nature and climate goals.
• Backing the UNESCO World Heritage bid for our coast to showcase its global significance and help secure its long-term protection.

5. Nature for Everyone: To ensure equitable access to high-quality natural green spaces for the well-being of all residents.
Expanding and improving accessible green spaces enhances physical and mental health, and fosters a deeper connection to nature. These spaces reduce stress, promote exercise, and lower the risk of conditions like obesity, heart disease, and depression — leading to significant cost savings for healthcare services. Investing in nature is an investment in public health, community cohesion, and a greener, healthier future for all.

We and our members extend this invitation to mayoral candidates across Greater Lincolnshire, urging them to seize this moment for positive change for nature and climate. By embracing the five key priorities outlined above, we have the unparalleled opportunity to cultivate a region where nature recovers, communities blossom, and environmental stewardship reigns. We look forward to each candidate’s commitment to cheerleading these initiatives for all residents.

Ask your candidate to stand up for nature

Paul Learoyd, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Chief Executive, said, "2025 will be a vital year for wildlife, and nature’s recovery will be the only way to solve the interlinked climate and ecological emergencies. Having a nature rich environment is essential for human health and well-being, for restoring the planet’s life support systems and to support the amazing range of wildlife species which underpin our existence and enjoyment of life.  We benefit from nature in every aspect of our lives. We need to help our elected leaders to truly embed protection and restoration of nature in their decision making and plans, so we can stop and reverse the severe decline in nature we have seen in the region over the last 100 years."

Richard Barnard, RSPB Area Manager for Yorkshire and the Humber, expressed that, "We know that looking after our environment isn't just good for nature its good for people too. Whoever takes on the mantle of Greater Lincolnshire Mayor after the election has a real opportunity to safeguard our natural environment and all that it does for us, and for future generations. We hope that they will work with us to take up this challenge."

Richard Dyer, East Midlands Friends of the Earth Campaign Organiser, stated: "The new mayor will have a pivotal role to play in tackling the climate and nature emergency. It’s time to put the environment at the very heart of policy-making to help build a greener, fairer future for us all. This should include reaping the benefits of the county’s huge renewable energy resources, fixing heat-leaking homes and developing a public transport system that enables everyone to access education, employment and leisure."

Ben Green, Woodland Trust External Affairs Officer, added, "Mayoral candidates, unite with us in championing nature’s cause for Greater Lincolnshire! Together, we can create a region where our woods and trees thrive, where biodiversity flourishes, and where every community enjoys the well-being benefits that nature provides. The county’s woodlands are not only a vital part of our natural heritage, but they also play a critical role in carbon storage, flood prevention, and providing habitats for wildlife. Time is short, but our resolve is unwavering. Let’s ensure Greater Lincolnshire’s trees and woodlands continue to contribute to a greener, healthier, and more resilient future for all."

Louise Ransberry, National Trust Assistant Director, said, “The future Lincolnshire Mayor has the power to leave a lasting legacy on the biodiversity of the region, securing a healthy, prosperous and resilient future for the people of Lincolnshire. By championing nature’s recovery our future Mayor will create benefits for Lincolnshire’s communities, help businesses mitigate the impacts of a changing climate and secure sustainable and resilient farming now and for years to come.”

Footnotes

^[1] Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are a new system of spatial strategies for nature covering the whole of England. They are designed as tools to drive more coordinated, practical and focussed action to help nature. LNRSs will support the delivery of mandatory biodiversity net gain, and provide a focus for a strengthened duty on all public authorities to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

^[2] Landscape-scale conservation involves working together with communities, partners, farmers and landowners across whole landscapes to restore ecosystems, bring back wildlife and mitigate against climate change.

^[3] Blue-green habitats encompass both coastal and marine areas (blue) and terrestrial areas (green), to benefit wildlife and address climate change through nature-based solutions.