Cornwall Council’s plan to bring more nature back to your park

Butterflies, birds and wildflowers are about to get a bigger say in how Cornwall Council runs its parks, rivers and public spaces. The authority has set out, in writing, how it intends to let more of them in.

What the council has published

Cornwall Council has launched a plan to deliver a healthier environment across the land it owns and manages, by increasing nature-rich spaces in its parks and public places and putting nature recovery at the centre of its decision-making.

The Grow Nature Action Plan, published on July 30, 2026, sets out the next stage of the council’s response to the ecological emergency. It pledges to deliver more biodiversity on the land, rivers and bathing waters the council owns or manages across Cornwall.

The authority also wants nature recovery built into its planning and policies, including the development of the new Local Plan.

Where the plan came from

It follows the council’s commitment to work with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership to protect and restore nature across the region’s land, rivers and seas. Those plans are detailed in the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy and the Marine Nature Recovery Framework, both published last year.

The new plan sets out how the council will deliver nature recovery and encourage more wildlife, from butterflies and birds to wildflowers, to help improve Cornwall’s environment and residents’ well-being.

‘Lead by example’

Councillor Loic Rich, Cornwall’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said Cornish residents care deeply about nature.

“Cornish residents care deeply about nature, as evidenced by the wide-scale responses during the development of our Nature Recovery Strategy. They want us to act, so this is why we have published our own Grow Nature Action Plan.

“We want to demonstrate how we are striving to lead by example. The plan sets out how we will embed nature recovery across the council. It reflects our priorities, aligns with national climate and nature goals and responds to Cornwall’s unique opportunities to be clean and green with healthy rivers and seas.”

What it means for communities

The plan also sets out how the council will support communities to connect with nature on their doorstep to help boost their health. And it aims to help businesses, public bodies and landowners build nature recovery into their own planning.

You can find out more on delivering nature recovery or get ideas on how to help nature thrive in your community on the council’s Let’s Talk pages.