Herefordshire Council Natural Environment Evidence

This map shows the outcomes of four components of Natural Environment Evidence Herefordshire Council commissioned in 2022. These support the delivery of the new Local Plan, which covers the period 2021-2041. It provides a framework to guide sustainable development within Herefordshire. The workstreams are the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy, which will provide a key delivery mechanism for securing GBI enhancements across the county, the Landscape Character Assessment, Open Space Assessment and Habitat and Species mapping and analysis.

Please use the buttons below to explore more detailed maps showing the findings of each study.

Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy

Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) forms an essential component of sustainable growth and is fast becoming recognised as a key feature in enabling both local and global communities to tackle environmental, ecological, social and economic challenges.

Landscape Character Assessment

Landscape Character Assessment is the process of identifying and describing variation in the character of the landscape. This report identifies and explains the unique combination of elements and features that make the landscapes of Herefordshire distinctive by mapping and describing character types.

Open Space Assessment

Access to high quality open spaces is important for the health and wellbeing of communities as well as providing wider benefits to nature and climate change adaptation. This report identifies the need for, and provision of open space across Herefordshire.

Habitats and Species

Habitats and species form the foundation of functional ecosystems. This analysis underpins the evidence of the wider Local Plan and the other three pieces of work i.e. the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy, Landscape Character Assessment and Open Space Assessment. It can also be used to inform the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.