LNRS user guides: Schools, colleges and other education settings

Schools, colleges and other educational settings have a fantastic opportunity to support nature’s recovery - both on the land they manage and by inspiring the next generation and building their connection with nature. Many are already doing great work to improve their grounds for wildlife, educate children, and support the local community.

This guide shows how the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) can help your school plan actions, apply for funding, and show how your work is connected to our wider goals and actions for nature.

Take action in your school grounds

Your site might include (or have space for) habitats like trees, ponds, grassland, hedgerows, or wildflower areas. The statement of biodiversity priorities lists simple, effective actions you can take - from planting trees and hedges, to managing existing habitats like verges and orchards.

By taking those actions, your school directly contributes to countywide nature recovery work, and funders are more likely to support your plans if they align with the LNRS actions and mapping.

What can you do locally

Some parts of Oxfordshire are especially well-suited for restoring and connecting areas of nature. Use the local habitat map to:

• Check whether your school has specific nature recovery actions mapped on your grounds
• See which actions are recommended nearby (e.g. creating ponds, planting trees)
• Help you to create action plans and funding bids
• You can adapt these suggestions to suit your space, budget and time.

Even if your grounds aren’t mapped with a specific action, taking those actions where you can still plays a vital role. All habitat improvements, big or small, help create a healthier network for wildlife provide the connection with nature that has been shown to be so hugely beneficial to children; those who spend time outside connecting with nature see improvements in school attendance, behaviours, academic achievement and social skills.

Support rare and threatened local wildlife

Nearly 900 species in Oxfordshire are threatened or at risk with extinction. The species priorities list explains which species need extra help locally, which may live near your school, and what you could do to help. The list includes wildlife such as great crested newts, hedgehogs, bats, swifts, various butterflies, house martins, and certain types of flowers, plants and trees.

Use the list to see which species will likely be near your school and plan projects that could support them — a great way to engage students and strengthen funding bids for your nature recovery work.

Explore the bigger picture

Find out more about Oxfordshire’s nature and the challenges it faces. You can read and explore sections of our description of the strategy area document.

You might find particular information that could be of interest to students.

Further support and resources

You can get help, ideas and funding from:

• National Education Nature Park offers free biodiversity and climate resources
• Learning through Landscapes can help with project ideas and grants (e.g. £3,000 from The Royal Society)
• Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment gives local funding for school nature projects
• Oxfordshire Schools Sustainability Network (OxSSN) enables schools to connect with other schools and pupils
• BBOWT Team Wilder offer support for creating wild spaces in schools