Find out more about LNRS Potential Measures for creating and enhancing ponds, small wetlands and protecting watercourses. The hyperlink in each title opens an ArcGIS Storymap where you will find details of the measure, further maps, case studies and best practice guidance.

Potential Measure 1: River and stream re-naturalisation

This measure focuses on the nature recovery opportunities associated with re-naturalising watercourses and removing man-made barriers. These activities can be carried out at a range of scales, down to small streams and ditches. PM1 is mapped to some specific locations where projects could achieve considerable benefits, but the suggested actions could be delivered anywhere to benefit nature. These types of activities are likely to require permission or licensing so seek expert advice.

Potential measure 4: Protect and improve water resources

This measure recognises the importance of land management decision-making in improving the quality of the water within our rivers and streams. It suggests actions that could be taken to protect watercourses, wetlands and aquifers. PM4 is a non-mapped measure and would be beneficial for nature when delivered in any location. 

Find out more about LNRS Potential Measures for the creation and enhancement of tree, scrub and hedgerow habitats. The hyperlink in each title opens an ArcGIS Storymap where you will find details of the measure, further maps, case studies and best practice guidance.

Potential Measure 12: Create new woodlands and plant trees outside woodland

This measure seeks to encourage an increase in tree cover, both as woodland and trees outside woodland. It highlights the opportunity to include areas of nature-rich native broadleaved habitat within or alongside mixed, productive woodland. PM12 is mapped to locations that would best support the buffering and expansion of the existing woodland habitat network, but the principles of the measure could be applied anywhere that woodland would be a suitable addition to the landscape.

Potential Measure 13: Enhance condition of existing woodlands for wildlife 

This measure encourages the active management of existing woodlands to bring them into better condition and enable the habitat to support a greater range of wildlife. PM13 is mapped to woodlands over a certain size threshold that are within Worcestershire’s woodland habitat network, but the principles of the measure could be applied to any woodland. The measure is not mapped to Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (see Potential Measure 10) or to woodlands designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Potential measure 17: Enhance condition of hedgerows

This measure promotes good practice in the enhancement and management of hedgerows for the benefit of a variety of species. PM17 is a non-mapped measure and would be beneficial for nature when delivered in any location.

Potential measure 18: Increase numbers of hedgerow trees

This measure encourages the planting and management of hedgerow trees. PM18 is a non-mapped measure and would be beneficial for nature anywhere within Worcestershire.

Potential Measure 23: Create and enhance a habitat mosaic

This measure seeks to deliver habitat creation and enhancement in locations where a mosaic of habitats would provide the greatest benefit for nature. PM23 is mapped to locations where data modelling for wooded habitats and for open habitats intersects, suggesting that a mosaic of trees, scrub and grassland would be appropriate.

Potential Measure 24: Create and enhance scrub habitat

This measure promotes the creation and management of scrub as a valuable habitat for wildlife in its own right. PM24 is a non-mapped measure and could be delivered anywhere to benefit nature.

Potential Measure 27: Create new traditional orchards

This measure promotes the planting of new traditional orchards, an important habitat within Worcestershire, and their management according to wildlife-friendly organic principles. PM27 is mapped to locations where new habitat creation would extend, buffer or improve the connectivity between existing, older traditional orchards, helping to provide that continuity of habitat for species that rely on it.

Potential Measure 28: Plant hedgerow fruit trees

This measure encourages the planting of fruit trees within hedgerows to provide food for wildlife, noting that species such as damson and crab apple are locally distinctive within parts of Worcestershire. PM28 is a non-mapped measure and could be delivered anywhere to benefit nature.

Find out more about LNRS Potential Measures for the creation and enhancement of habitats in greenspaces and residential areas. The hyperlink in each title opens an ArcGIS Storymap where you will find details of the measure, further maps, case studies and best practice guidance.

Potential Measure 38: Increase the extent, connectedness and quality of wildlife habitats within the built environment

This measure focuses on the opportunities that exist to create or enhance wildlife-rich habitats within the built environment. The measure suggests actions that can be taken within gardens and small areas of greenspace, as well as actions that can be incorporated into the design of new developments and within the public realm. PM38 is mapped to all of Worcestershire’s larger villages, towns and cities.

Potential Measure 39: Enhance community greenspaces for wildlife

This measure encourages the wildlife-friendly management of community greenspaces such as playing fields and allotments. PM39 is mapped to all places identified as greenspace by the Ordnance Survey National Geographic Dataset.

Find out more about LNRS Potential Measures for reducing the harms that artificial light at night can do to wildlife. The hyperlink in each title opens an ArcGIS Storymap where you will find details of the measure, further maps, case studies and best practice guidance.

Potential Measure 45: Reduce levels of artificial light at night in the countryside

This measure seeks to reduce the impact of artificial light at night on wildlife within the wider countryside and suggests ways that this could be achieved. PM45 is mapped to buffer zones around existing Areas of Particular Importance for Biodiversity and movement corridors such as watercourses.

Potential Measure 46: Reduce the impacts of artificial light at night on wildlife within the built environment

This measure seeks to reduce the impact of artificial light at night on wildlife within the built environment and suggests ways that this could be achieved. PM46 is mapped to existing dark corridors within urban areas that should be protected to remain as dark as possible, and also to urban areas with the greatest amount of blue light pollution which are adjacent to wildlife-rich habitats.

Find out more about LNRS Potential Measures for the creation and enhancement of habitats within our transport corridors. The hyperlink in each title opens an ArcGIS Storymap where you will find details of the measure, further maps, case studies and best practice guidance.

Potential Measure 40: Install gully pot escape ladders

This measure seeks to mitigate the risks to wildlife, particularly amphibians, posed by highway drainage structures. PM40 is a non-mapped measure. Gully pot escape ladders are suggested by the LNRS to be a design feature of all new roads and for retrofitting to roads within Worcestershire’s ‘pondscapes’, defined by Potential Measure 7.

Potential Measure 41: Enhance the biodiversity value of non-statutory nature conservation sites

This measure seeks to ensure that all local, non-statutory nature conservation sites are in appropriate management which enhances their value for nature. PM41 is mapped to all Local Wildlife Sites, Local Geological Sites, Roadside Verge Nature Reserves and Grassland Inventory Sites.

Potential Measure 43: Create wildlife crossings over or under roads or rail lines

This measure promotes the concept of ‘green’ bridges or tunnels to enable wildlife to safely cross transport corridors such as roads and railways. PM43 is a non-mapped measure and should be considered as part of the design concept for any new or re-engineered road or rail features.

Potential Measure 44: Create arboreal links between woodland blocks

This measure encourages the creation of connective links within the tree canopy that would allow wildlife to cross man-made barriers, for example where woodland blocks are separated by a road. PM44 is non-mapped and would be beneficial for nature anywhere within Worcestershire, in particular for species such as dormice (see Potential Measure 51) and woodland bats (see Potential Measure 60).

Potential Measure 47: Enhance the biodiversity value of greenspace within transport corridors

This measure acknowledges the potential of habitat within transport corridors to be nature-rich and to provide linear, landscape-scale connectivity. PM47 is non-mapped, and the actions suggested within the measure would be beneficial anywhere within Worcestershire.

Find out more about LNRS Potential Measures to recover species populations. The hyperlink in each title opens an ArcGIS Storymap where you will find details of the measure, further maps, case studies and best practice guidance. LNRS Priority Species are those that need bespoke action to support the recovery of their populations. Many other species are equally important within Worcestershire, but they can be helped by delivering measures to provide more, bigger, better-managed areas of joined-up habitat.

Potential Measure 50: Expand the range of the two core Adder populations

This measure seeks to recover sustainable populations of adder within Worcestershire by enhancing habitat and protecting the species from threats and disturbance. PM50 is mapped to suitable habitat within a buffer around the two remaining locations where the species is still recorded – the Wyre Forest and Malvern Hills.

Potential Measure 59: Increase nesting habitat and food sources for House Martin and Swift

This measure details the actions needed to ensure that House Martins and Swifts can access safe nesting sites and find the insect food that they need to successfully breed. PM59 is mapped to Worcestershire’s bigger villages and towns where larger colonies of these species have been recorded, however the actions could be undertaken anywhere as both species are seen across the county.