Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth—including all species of plants and animals, their habitats, and ecosystems. Biodiversity surrounds us and in Gloucester, despite being a constrained urban area, there is a wide variety of green areas such as open spaces, parks and gardens of varying size, arboretums, meadows, allotments, nature reserves, wildlife sites and a large Country Park.

Some areas or wards have much greater biodiversity than others and it is important that improvements are made in coming years to address climate change to assist pollinators and our food systems and to the obvious benefit of people and wildlife.

Biodiversity Report

Local planning authorities in England are required to meet the strengthened Biodiversity Duty introduced by the Environment Act 2021. This means Gloucester City Council must consider how it can conserve and enhance biodiversity and it is required to review its actions in the past, to set clear objectives, and take action to achieve them.

The Council has prepared it’s Biodiversity Report.

• It outlines the biodiversity related activities undertaken by the Council in the period: 1 January 2021 to 1 January 2026, highlighting the work already undertaken across multiple council services.
• It aligns with national frameworks including mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Gloucestershire.
• It summarises Gloucester’s biodiversity related actions and the strategies produced, as well as ecological assets, designated sites.
• It looks at the future actions that need to be undertaken.

Further information is available in our Biodiversity Report 2026