Natural England Operational update: Coronavirus
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Update on access arrangements This week, the government issued new
access to open spaces. People in England can now spend more time
outdoors and enjoy a wider range of activities for any length of
time, subject to social distancing rules. Our National Nature
Reserves are open, but the facilities, such as hides and visitor
centres will remain closed. We are looking to open car parks when
and where we can, and I encourage you to check our Twitter page
(@NaturalEngland) for...Request free
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Update on access arrangementsThis week, the government issued new access to open spaces. People in England can now spend more time outdoors and enjoy a wider range of activities for any length of time, subject to social distancing rules. Our National Nature Reserves are open, but the facilities, such as hides and visitor centres will remain closed. We are looking to open car parks when and where we can, and I encourage you to check our Twitter page (@NaturalEngland) for updates on which car parks are open. The first ones will be open this weekend; please see the National Nature Reserves section below for details. While enjoying our nature reserves, we ask all our visitors to observe the government social distancing rules and we also ask dog walkers to keep dogs on leads and everyone to be careful of birds that may be nesting on or near paths. All visitors should follow the updated information on safe travel if coming to our nature reserves (or indeed any green spaces) and the new rules on outdoor visits that came into operation on Wednesday (13 May 2020) in England - see Safer Access To Green Spaces. How Natural England is workingIn common with most organisations dealing with the effects of coronavirus (COVID-19), Natural England is continuing to follow government guidanceand taking all steps necessary to protect our staff and help prevent the spread of the virus. We know that many people across the country rely on our services. This includes the advice and guidance we offer, our regulatory work, and helping to maintain the public’s access to nature in a safe and responsible way. As with many organisations, we have reduced staff capacity as a result of illness or caring responsibilities and therefore continue to re-prioritise some of our work. We have put in place measures to ensure our critical frontline services can be maintained. To do this we have paused or re-profiled some specific work areas. For example, where the current coronavirus restrictions mean that planned work has not been possible. We have confirmed our highest priority work areas for the current time period, which include our customer enquiries, Wildlife Licensing and Incident Investigation services, SSSI consenting services, Agri-environment work, Planning casework and essential work (including livestock management and health and safety) on our National Nature Reserves (NNRs). None of the necessary decisions to scale back or pause work were taken easily. A thriving and accessible natural environment will remain vital to the nation during, and as we recover from, the coronavirus crisis. We will therefore also sustain work that allows to us to progress the government’s key policy ambitions for the environment, such as the 25 YEP, the commitment to move towards net zero and the role of nature in mental and physical health, as well as ensuring that environmental law is maintained through our regulatory activities. The situation continues to develop and we will continue to publish updates on any changes here. StaffOur staff continue to work at home unless, for example, they are undertaking essential field work. We have systems in place to allow most of our work to be undertaken remotely. All can still be contacted as usual by email and phone. Meetings and engagements with customers and stakeholders continue but will now be conducted via phone, email or video conferencing. OfficesFrom 24 March 2020, our offices have been temporarily closed to staff and visitors. Please do not attend our offices. Post sent to our offices will not be opened, so we would advise you to send correspondence by email to our enquiries team wherever possible. Customer enquiriesOur customer enquiries service (enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk, Tel: 0300 060 3900) remains open. We ask you to use the email option in the first instance. Our regulatory workIncluding Sites of Special Scientific Interest consent, wildlife licensing, the Wildlife Incident Investigation Service, planning and marine consents and comments. Work in all of these areas continues as a top priority business so that we can assist all those people, businesses and groups who need consents and permissions from Natural England. Staff are dealing with case work remotely as far as possible. We will where necessary carry out any essential visits. For example, if we need to respond to a report of wildlife crime. Our development control/planning advice and wildlife licensing functions are particular priorities. Natural England staff working from home are able to receive and respond to consultations/applications electronically. However, with reduced staff capacity, and as surveying and monitoring plans are altered, and due to the huge demands placed on IT systems at this time, there will be situations when we cannot respond to normal deadlines. If necessary we will prioritise consultation responses and licences where the environmental risks are highest and where health and safety is concerned. We also appreciate that our customers and stakeholders are facing similar challenges and will work closely with you to understand what the impacts may be on existing or future Natural England consultation responses, statutory advice and licensing decisions. More detailed advice, including how best to make contact with NE staff and provide the necessary information is given on our blog. Site visit and field workWe are now beginning to restart essential field work where it is safe for our staff, customers and contractors, following government guidelines for working outdoors. For our survey work, as part of our phased and risk assessment-based approach, we have a new approach to contracted survey work on NNRs and other sites. This will allow work to restart in support of our priority environmental objectives, working within the latest government guidelines and with the health, safety and wellbeing of all those involved being paramount. For advice on managing protected sites or species, such as requests for consent for work on an SSSI, then please contact us as normal by emailing protectedsites@naturalengland.org.uk. We will then advise on next steps, making use of existing data where possible but with visits carried out where essential and safe to do so. Bear in mind, though, that we have staff unable to work as a result of the coronavirus and so our capacity to respond may be limited. The rules about protection of the natural environment are, of course, unchanged by the coronavirus outbreak. In exceptional circumstances, for example, if there are any concerns that immediate action is required to prevent harm, or where serious breaches of the law are reported that merit immediate investigation, then we may need to make a site visit but will ensure social distancing is observed. Advice to farmers and land managersWe are working with the Rural Payments Agency on making vital payments to the rural community and helping customers submit their claims and applications. Natural England is adapting the way it gives advice to support farmers, land managers and rural businesses during these unprecedented times. Our advisers are able to give advice without always needing to visit, in particular where they have worked with the farmer before. In order to enable land managers to develop Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme applications in time for the 1 May application deadline, our staff are able to provide advice on applications remotely (by phone or video call), so that schemes can be progressed in the absence of a site visit. We are also developing a range of processes looking at how to best use technology including remote sensing, digital solutions and virtual meetings, to support Countryside Stewardship 2020 applications. Natural England will be supporting mid-tier applicants through an off-farm advice programme whereby applicants can contact an adviser and book a clinic session. Applicants will receive advice on the options most appropriate to their holding and top tips on ensuring applications are correct. We will also continue to offer technical advice and support on Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) by remote/digital means, including where farmers need to make Countryside Stewardship mid-tier applications. For grants requiring Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) approval, you must contact your local CSFO by 31 May to guarantee help or a visit. Farmers, land managers and farm advisers all have an essential role in ensuring a healthy natural environment, essential for sustainable farming, is maintained now as always. We look forward to our continued work with you. Guidance on access to green spaces and Public Rights of WayThe government’s priority is to save lives, and the best way to protect yourself and others from illness is to stay alert. However, exercise is still important for people’s physical and mental wellbeing, so the government has said people can leave their homes for exercise. Exercise in green space has the added benefit of contact with nature, which we know is good for our wellbeing. Enjoying nature in our gardens if we are lucky enough to have them can be part of this. Green spaces such as parks in towns and cities can still be used, and the footpaths and other rights of way in rural areas remain open. Please follow this advice: The risk of the coronavirus being passed on to others from people using public rights of way and other paths and trails is considered to be very low as long as people follow the Government’s instructions to maintain social distancing. But if possible try to avoid using footpaths etc that may take you through a farmstead or other rural business where social distancing may be difficult. The rights of way network remains open and landowners do not have the legal right to block or obstruct public rights of way. However, in very limited circumstances where large numbers of people are using such routes, landowners may consider the following measures:
It can also be helpful if landowners tied gates on public rights of way open, if it is safe to do so, so that walkers and riders do not need to touch gates. All our National Trails remain open including newly opened stretches of England Coast Path, however people must follow the Government’s instructions to maintain social distancing. National Nature Reserves (NNRs)Natural England’s National Nature Reserves are open to the public, and we welcome our visitors to enjoy them freely whilst following the countryside code and the latest government coronavirus advice. You should be aware that visitor facilities such as public toilets and bird hides remain closed. We are opening up car parks when and where we can. Our nature reserve staff are working hard to open the majority of our car parks, and to safely carry out additional visitor safety checks. A small number of car parks remain closed until further notice because of additional safety or management requirements. These are the closed car parks:
For National Nature Reserves managed by other organisations you should contact the managing body for latest details on any opening restrictions. Please consider when deciding to travel to an NNR or other outside space that other commercial or public facilities in the local area may also be closed and you will want to bear that in mind in thinking about how far you might travel. Management work on NNRs is currently limited until further notice to essential tasks that are critical for things such as public safety, animal welfare and water level management. Working with NGOsWe are aware that many of our colleagues in the environmental, conservation and outdoor recreation charity sector may be facing financial challenges, along with concerns about maintaining nature sites during this challenging time. We will of course continue the funding for the important partnership projects we deliver with our non-government organisations (NGOs) colleagues and I am speaking to a number of organisations about how we can work together even more closely to face our common challenges, both now and in the immediate future, to minimise any impact on the natural environment. Further updatesWe will continue to update this page as necessary with any changes in the situation and our work. Natural England wishes everyone well during this difficult period. We remain committed to our mission to build partnerships for nature’s recovery, which the nation will need more than ever. I hope that this can bring us all together again in partnership, safely and enthusiastically, very soon. Marian Spain, Chief Executive |