Dorset Local Nature Partnership is delighted to host the launch of the Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
We are delighted to host the official launch of the Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) at this year’s Annual Forum!
Join us on 25 March 2026 from 9.30am-3.30pm (registration from 9am) at the George Albert Hotel, near Dorchester.
Over the past few years Dorset Council – working as the Responsible Authority alongside BCP Council and Natural England as Supporting Authorities – has led an extensive and collaborative effort to create the Dorset LNRS, formally adopted in December 2025.
This milestone has only been made possible thanks to the involvement of so many organisations, community groups, land managers, farmers and individuals from across the county, including those who contributed valuable insights at our 2024 Annual Forum.
This year’s forum is about celebrating some of the fantastic work already happening to restore nature in Dorset and marking the transition from developing the strategy to delivering it collectively on the ground.
The event is free and includes:
- plenty of networking opportunities
- information stalls
- a complementary buffet lunch
We look forward to welcoming you for an inspiring and energising day focused on nature recovery in Dorset.
Programme
Session 1: will look at the Dorset nature recovery strategy and its maps – how it will drive real change – and introduce Nature Recovery Dorset, followed by an interactive Q&A.
Session 2: brings a lively panel discussion on the realities of delivery – celebrating successes, exploring challenges and hearing honest perspectives from a farmer, community representative, a business voice, a conservation organisation, the health sector and a youth voice.
Session 3: our keynote speaker on behaviour change will inspire fresh thinking on motivating action at scale. A workshop will give everyone the chance to help shape how we get more people doing more for nature across the county in order to meet our 30 by 30 target.
We will close with the official launch of the Dorset local nature recovery strategy led by Cllr Nick Ireland, leader of Dorset Council, Cllr Andy Hadley, Portfolio holder for Climate Mitigation, Energy and Environment from BCP Council and Ian Alexander, Senior Officer, Natural England – a milestone moment making Dorset shift from planning to delivery.
9.00 Welcome – Phil Sterling (Dorset LNP Chair)
9.40 Session 1: Putting the strategy and maps into practice – Amy Smith / Bridget Betts (Dorset Council) & Ruth Wharton (BCP Council)
10.30 Break / Networking
11.00 Session 2: Delivery – Successes and challenges: Panel session. Presented by Lizzie McLaughlin (Podcaster). Panel members: David Brown (National Trust), Tim Gelfs (Farmer), Tanya Bellows (CommuniTree), Benn Kitchiner (Your Eco Gardener), Bev Lagden (Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), Sophie Burry (Graduate Ecologist at ABR Ecology)
12.15 Lunch / Networking
13.15 Session 3: Using behavioural science in nature recovery – Toby Blume (Social Engine)
13.45 Growing Nature Recovery Dorset: Workshop session (Explanation)
14.45 Official launch of Dorset LNRS. Ian Alexander (Natural England), Cllr Andy Hadley (BCP Council) & Cllr Nick Ireland (Dorset Council)
15.00 Forum summary and close of meeting
An Event Report will be published here in due course.
Location
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Contact
If you have any queries, please email: info@dorsetlnp.org.uk