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Online survey reveals the county’s views on nature

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Online survey reveals the county’s views on nature

Our recent online public survey has revealed the relationship that residents in Derby and Derbyshire have with nature and their priorities for helping nature to thrive in the future.

Over 1,000 people completed the survey between 19 August and 10 October 2024, the findings of which have been used to support the development of the priorities and measures in the LNRS as well as to inform the approach to the public consultation phase in February and March 2025.

Key findings include:

  • Survey respondents generally have a strong positive relationship with nature: 99% of the survey respondents stated that nature makes them happy, and 98% stated nature is important for their health and wellbeing. 87% of respondents have noticed loss or damage to nature.
  • Survey respondents want to spend more time in nature: 81% of respondents would like to spend more time with nature and just over 60% would like to visit more and different types of nature.
  • There are key factors limiting access to nature: Respondents cited poor weather, lack of time and travel difficulties as being the biggest barriers to spending time in nature.
  • Respondents are concerned about nature depletion: The highest areas of concern are extinction or decline of species, reduction in natural pollinators, poor water quality, increases in extreme weather events, and increases in carbon emissions.
  • Respondents showed clear nature recovery priorities: The top five priorities for nature recovery in Derbyshire and Derby over the next five years are (shown in order of priority):
    • Healthier rivers, lakes, streams, springs and wells.
    • Protection of endangered species.
    • Improved condition of habitats.
    • More trees and woodland.
    • More hedgerows.
  • Nature recovery is already happening at a small scale: 93% of respondents said that they try to encourage wildlife in the garden 75% try to encourage pollinators in particular, and 45% reported that they have built bird/bat/bug houses, or similar.
  • Respondents want to do more to help nature recovery: 40% of respondents said that they would volunteer their time to help nature recovery projects and over 50% said that they would welcome more information on how to encourage biodiversity and protect nature locally.

Further information is available here