A wide-reaching plan to weave biodiversity into every aspect of the council’s remit across North Lincolnshire has been agreed.
It will mean every council decision will include how best to conserve and enhance the natural habitat – for example sowing wildflower seeds when verges have been dug up.
Other possibilities include installing nest boxes for birds and bats on public buildings and council-owned land and reducing the use of chemicals.
The details have been laid out in a recent cabinet report, which details the council’s commitment to Government requirements regarding biodiversity.
Cllr Christine Patterson, cabinet support for environment, said: “Our existing A Green Future strategy means we already take the environment into consideration in everything we do.
“This recent report underlies that commitment in every way and ensures this commitment to protecting and enhancing the environment is aligned to job creation – it must not be at the expense of living standards but part of improving them.
“Increasing biodiversity is vital to help preserve the environment for generations to come – and ensuring that every decision we make has this consideration is essential.
“It will increase the number of plants and wildlife in the region as well as creating more and better habitats, enabling nature to recover and thrive and supports new projects and importantly jobs.”
The Government requires councils to consider all aspects of biodiversity and publish a report by January 2026 including policies and objectives to promote nature’s recovery.
The council has developed a range of urban wildlife habitats, including the largest roadside wildflower meadow in the UK along Mortal Ash Hill. More than 100,000 trees have also been planted as part of the Northern Forest scheme.
