The meeting took place on Thursday 27^th April at the Kindle Centre in Hereford. Representing Labour was Cllr Kath Hey; Cllr Ellie Chowns represented the Green Party; Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst attended for the Conservatives and current leader of the Council David Hitchiner spoke for the Independents. The Liberal Democrats were invited to attend but chose not to. The evening was chaired by Nicola Cutcher of the Friends of the Upper Wye and Alison Mclean, Chair of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.

All councillors were engaged in the event with no arguments against what was asked. Their visions for achieving nature’s recovery in Herefordshire were all generally positive but different. Each ‘ask’ was generally committed to by representatives of all four groups attending, except for elements of ask number four. While the opening statement from the Chairs made it clear that the convening organisations felt that all the asks were within the Councils power, this was disputed by the panel.

Visions of a Wilder Herefordshire

Each Councillor was asked to open with a two minute ‘Vision of a Wilder Herefordshire’ for their group.

Labour’s vision focused on border to border landscape connectivity ad the importance of wildlife corridors. Cllr Hey referenced the importance of farmers and communities; green spaces and the protection of endangered species.

The Green party acknowledged we faced a serious problem. Their vision was driven by care about climate and nature and the importance of diversity, flourishing, and regeneration. Cllr Chowns emphasised that progress needs to take place in all parts of our economy including construction and building and required support of the regulators.

Cllr Swinglehurst for the Conservatives suggested that the visions were likely to be all aligned but it was the question of how to get there that was at issue. The Conservatives see the Environment Act as the bedrock of positive change and that policy needed to back this up, as quickly as possible. Cllr Swinglehirst also championed the innate right of nature for its own sake.

Cllr Hitchiner gave his vision with reference to the current climate of working with reduced funding and said that the council priority was children’s services. He called for partnerships and consensus. The Independents’ vision included working with children, making the countryside more accessible and the positive mental health effects of being in nature.

Commitments

1. Work with us to create a Wilder Herefordshire…

• Meet with us twice a year during the next four years to drive progress on our Wilder Herefordshire Assembly asks for nature
• Ensure that Herefordshire Council’s Corporate Director for the Environment and Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy joins us at these meeting

All councillors were happy to commit to this ask.

Meetings were seen as essential for progress and vital that they lead to concrete actions. The Councillors offered an open door and recognised the need to engage stakeholders, to collaborate and to engage.

2. Support us to take action for nature…

• Create the proposed Essex Arms Wetlands site in Hereford
• Create five new allotment sites of at least 50 plots and promote their importance for wildlife (good habitats for reptiles and pollinators) 
• Create two countywide campaigns with us, to protect and increase hedgerows and to stop using pesticides for Council land and contracts

All councillors were initially reluctant to commit to these asks. However, when challenged, and when the ask was read back to them, they were all happy to unite behind this ask by supporting action.

3. Lead nature recovery at scale - deliver the UK Government commitment for 30% of land in Herefordshire to be protected and managed for nature by 2030. Work with ourselves, the farming community and landowners to deliver the ambition:
   • Work with us to create a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) underpinned by robust and best available evidence within a year of coming to office
   • Co-design a clear approach with us for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) implementation
   • Work with us to create a tangible plan for nature recovery in Herefordshire and ensure 2,500 hectares outside designated sites is protected and managed for wildlife during the next four years.

These points were all broadly committed to by all the panel.

Cllr Hey recognised that Herefordshire Council is somewhat behind the curve in this area.

Cllr Chowns said ambitious targets were required, as well as help to deliver them from the market and national policy, but the Council can lead on the LNRS, however the budget is limited.

Cllr Swinglehurst said that we need a benchmark measure to work from (i.e. how much land n Herefordshire is already protected and managed for nature) and that the approach should be strategic, collegiate and co-ordinated. She agreed that there is a lot of opportunity for progress in this area.

Cllr Hitchiner said that leadership in these areas is not that easy but that the Council needed to pull its weight and to collaborate.

4. Commit to our “Recover Our Rivers Charter” for the river catchments of Herefordshire

• Call for an immediate moratorium on all new chicken sheds and unproven Anaerobic Digester units in the Wye Catchment until the catchment is in good health
• Publish all the water quality data and manure management information you hold – and then step up to enforce the law and regulation with the powers you have and pressure the regulators to do likewise
• Join our rivers roundtable this summer with farmer leaders, Environment Agency, Natural England and businesses to create a shared vision for halting farm pollution with clear goals for healthy rivers where nature is restored and which can be enjoyed by the people who both live along them and visit
• Farmers must be rewarded for providing public goods and enabled to diversify into regenerative and sustainable methods of production which cause less pollution – tell us how you’ll use your powers to support this?

All Councillors committed to attend the roundtable.

Cllr Hey and Cllr Chowns were prepared to support the call for no new Intensive Poultry Units but the Conservatives and Independents felt that this was not within the power of Herefordshire Council.

All Councillors felt the regulators needed to do more to enforce existing laws and regulations.

The Conservative cllr suggested the Council could look at better using its own planning enforcement powers.

Case Studies

Before each ‘ask’, a case study was presented highlighting challenges and successes for nature’s recovery in the county. Many thanks go to the following for their inspiring presentations:

• Ruth Westoby showcased the Friends of Bartonsham Meadow campaign which led to the protection of this site, now managed by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust. While this campaign was led by a group of local residents, Ruth also highlighted the important role played by Herefordshire Council who leant their support to the plans.
• Ben Andrews, who farms organically in Herefordshire. Ben emphasised how adopting nature-friendly farming practices had not lowered the farm productivity.
• Citizen Scientist Fran Morgan and students St Thomas Cantilupe who described the important work done by citizen scientists.
• Tom Tibbits of Friends of the Upper Wye who took us on a deep dive of nutrient inputs and outputs in the Wye catchment and what this means for our rivers.

Reflecting on the Assembly, Chair Alison Mclean said:

“The next administration to lead Herefordshire Council needs to renew efforts to recover Nature in Herefordshire. They must influence regulators, national government and businesses for real progress; developing a clearer and more focused strategy to deliver for our local communities, our rivers and nature.”