North of England first nature positive economy - Northumberland National Park

The North of England can become the first nature positive regional economy

• That’s the view of over 50 cross-sector groups, businesses and partnerships

• Launching Tuesday 25 February (2025) in Sheffield, and shaped by over 400 contributors, is: ‘Investing in Nature for the North; A Strategic Plan for a Nature Positive Regional Economy’

The North of England can drive investment in nature recovery and become the first nature positive regional economy say over 50 cross-sector groups, businesses and partnerships. Being launched today (Tuesday 25 February 2025) in Sheffield, and shaped by over 400 contributors, is: ‘Investing in Nature for the North; A Strategic Plan for a Nature Positive Regional Economy’. It is produced by Nature North, which is supported by £500,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

The strategic plan lays out how the North is uniquely positioned to scale up green initiatives, drive economic growth, attract public and private investment and improve the prosperity, wellbeing and resilience of communities. It sets out clear steps and actions for a Northern nature-positive economy, and what Nature North will be doing to help drive change. The plan references successful live initiatives to build upon across the region. From The Great North Bog and The Northern Forest to projects in Sheffield, Manchester, Cumbria, Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire and the North East.

Nature North is also developing five additional investable propositions. These are compelling cases for investing in large-scale, or aggregated, nature-recovery projects linked to rivers, coasts and estuaries, farming, urban nature and connecting nature networks with transport and energy infrastructure.