New report shows progress in protecting and restoring local biodiversity
13 Mar 2026
A new report released today outlines the policies and actions the council has taken to meet its biodiversity duties and have a positive impact on local biodiversity.
The report documents how West Suffolk Council works with partners to support wildlife, enhance habitats, and integrate biodiversity into its work, whilst also highlighting the wider challenges affecting the environment. All councils in the country are required by government to prepare these reports.
Among the report’s key findings is that the West Suffolk Local Plan 2024 to 2041, adopted in 2025, contains nine policies seeking to restore and enhance the natural environment and reverse the decline of biodiversity.
The report also identified that 90 protected species have been found at Aspal Close in Beck Row, a council owned and maintained site since 2024.
Further findings in the report reveal that park volunteers that help the council to maintain country parks and gardens contributed 11,146 hours of their time from 2024 to 2025.
Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Governance, Regulatory and Environment at West Suffolk Council, said: “Protecting and restoring environmental resilience in West Suffolk is a key strategic priority for the council. Since declaring a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019, we have been working to strengthen habitats, support wildlife and reduce the council’s own carbon emissions to net zero by 2039.
“Our aim is to make sure that biodiversity is considered in everyday decisions and operations, helping to restore and protect the natural environment and the variety of plants, wildlife and habitats it contains.
“The Biodiversity Report not only meets our statutory duty under the Environment Act 2021, but also sets out how we will continue to protect our natural environment across the district.”
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