The Interactive Map shows the areas that are 'already of importance to nature' and 'focus areas for nature recovery'. It can also be used to find out what the priorities for nature recovery are in your local area, and potential measures to deliver those priorities, by clicking on the layers 'Areas used to group priorities' or 'Focus areas for nature recovery'.

You can view the areas that are already of importance to nature and focus areas for nature recovery separately or together.

By default, the boundaries for the Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset are shown on the map. If you wish to hide these from the map, please click on any of the other layers (e.g. 'focus areas for nature recovery'). To show the boundaries again, you can reset the map view.

You can add a comment to the map anywhere on map using the 'add a comment' box in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. These comments will form part of the public consultation on the Toolkit.

Focus Areas for Nature Recovery

These are areas in which action for nature recovery will have the biggest impact and/or is most feasible, and where funding for nature recovery could be concentrated. In Regulations, these are referred to as ‘areas that could become of particular importance’, unless they are already designated for their importance to nature (see ‘Areas that are already of importance to nature’).

Both inside and outside of these Focus Areas, ‘Priorities for Nature Recovery’ and recommended measures are set by the ‘sub-area used to organise priorities and measures’. Delivering local priorities for nature is particularly important in focus areas, and the ‘landscape recovery’ measures are particularly relevant in focus areas.

As part of the public consultation we are particularly interested to hear:

• Is there anywhere you think should be mapped as a Focus Area for nature recovery that is not currently mapped, and why? Please use a pin to place this on the map.
• Is there anywhere you think should not be mapped as a Focus Area for nature recovery that is currently mapped, and why? Please use a pin to place this on the map.

Sub-areas used to organise priorities and measures

We have set out local priorities across the whole area covered by the toolkit, rather than just the Focus Areas for nature recovery. This is so that all users can understand how the priorities are relevant to them locally and anyone wishing to take action for nature can see what is important in a given place.

These 'sub-areas' are used to show which priorities are relevant locally and potential measures to deliver local priorities. In a given sub-area, the relevant ‘Priorities for Nature Recovery’ and recommended measures will be the same. Together, these sub-areas cover the whole of the Toolkit, so that every piece of land has priorities and relevant measures associated with it.

Clicking anywhere on the map will allow you to see the locally relevant priorities and potential measures, which you can comment on as part of the public consultation.

Areas that are already of importance to nature

These are sites that are already designated for their value to nature. They include nationally designated for their value to nature, Local Nature Reserves, locally designated ‘Sites of Nature Conservation Interest’ (SNCIs), and irreplaceable habitat including ancient woodland.

Many of the locally designated sites are also included as Focus Areas for nature recovery, as they may benefit from continued or improved management.