The National Estate for Nature (NEN) group has taken an important step forward in its mission to drive nature recovery across England’s major estates.
On 14 October, the group of major landowners – who collectively manage one tenth of England’s land - took a decisive step forward by agreeing its terms of reference and affirming their shared commitment to collaborative action and national leadership.
Formed this year, the NEN brings together major landowners from government, private estates and the third sector to work towards the terrestrial Environment Act targets and 30by30. Together, these organisations are uniquely positioned to deliver nature recovery at scale.
Setting shared objectives
Members have agreed to hold each other accountable, tackle operational challenges together, and provide clear routes for other landowners to replicate successful strategies, helping to scale up nature recovery across England.
To ensure a shared foundation, members have agreed a minimum standard on their estate. This includes:
- publishing estate management plans that quantify land cover and land use, with SMART targets and clear trajectories to contribute to the Environment Act targets and the Government’s 30by30 commitment
- reporting annually on plans and progress to the Group and/or publicly
- applying the Land Use Framework Principles (as currently published) across their landholdings
- participating in and contributing to Local Nature Recovery Strategies relevant to their localities
- considering implementation of Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures recommendations where appropriate to their organisational purpose
All members are planning to have estate management plans available for publication by April 2026. These plans will provide a clear picture of land use and set measurable targets for nature recovery, creating transparency and accountability, as well as consistency.
Plans will also enable better coordination across landscapes, helping to identify opportunities for unified action and ensuring progress towards national environmental goals.
Building collaboration and leadership
The NEN is designed to foster cooperation and partnerships – exchanging evidence, tackling barriers, and providing practical advice to other landowners.
This collective effort will help achieve landscape-scale change and support wider priorities such as food security and economic resilience. Read members key thoughts below:
“The NEN is taking shape and has potential to really show national leadership by estates, both public and private, working collaboratively to achieve amazing outcomes for nature.”
John Varley, Chief Executive, Clinton Devon Estates
“The productive, sustainably managed forests cared for by Forestry England have an important role to play in restoring nature, providing people places to be active outdoors, and are a vital source of domestic timber. Now the Terms of Reference is in place for the NEN, we can move at pace through collaborative, joint action with others for nature recovery across landscapes.”
Mike Seddon, Chief Executive, Forestry England
Looking ahead
Agreeing the terms of reference and its minimum standard is just the starting point.
The Group intends to raise collective ambition for nature recovery, working together to define what that means in reality and ensure it reflects evolving best practice, policy developments and environmental needs.
By sharing learning and tackling barriers together, the NEN aims to act as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration that accelerates nature’s recovery across England, contributing to the restoration of nature and vital landscapes.
For more details and to read the terms of reference, visit the National Estate for Nature on GOV.UK.
1 comment
Comment by Richard Watson posted on
Very good news. I live on the edge of the Lake District where the National Trust has a vast estate. The Trust has successfully protected its land from development, but historically it has failed to prioritise nature over the production of lamb. This is slowly changing and the pace of change will hopefully accelerate. Sheep farming on the Cumbrian fells is a low-yield activity and it is very much in the national interest to re-purpose the uplands for carbon storage, flood mangement and biodiversity.