Ducks and lapwings at Cley (iStock)
United for nature
Let’s make devolution a win-win for nature and people!
Norfolk and Suffolk are on the Government’s fast track to devolution - which will see the creation of a new overarching ‘strategic authority’.
This new strategic authority, known as a Combined County Authority is set to be established in 2026, and will have new powers and funding that could help the recovery of nature in Norfolk.
Our United for Nature campaign is calling on politicians to ensure that devolution works for both nature and people.
What Norfolk Wildlife Trust wants to see happen
We need our local leaders to recognise the importance of nature to people, communities, and businesses in our counties; and to seize the opportunity for nature to improve people’s lives and support our future prosperity. Restoring nature isn’t optional – it’s essential for a better future.
Together with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, we’ve produced a manifesto with a series of asks for the County Councils and new Combined County Authority.
We’re calling on them to:
- Protect our most precious places for nature
- Create more places for nature and people to thrive together
- Invest in a healthier, happier, more prosperous future
Get involved
Ahead of the Norfolk County Council elections on Thursday 7 May 2026, we’re calling on all parties and candidates to pledge to take positive action for nature if they are elected.
We will need your help to ask candidates in your area to pledge to take positive action for nature if they are elected.
Full details will be available here on how you can take part closer to the election. In the meantime you can sign up to our upcoming election webinar, which will take place on Tuesday 24th March.
Visitors at Sweet Briar Marshes (credit: Denzil Dean)
What is Norfolk Wildlife Trust doing?
The devolution process has been happening for some time, and we have worked hard to influence it every step of the way.
January 2026
On Thursday 8 of January Norfolk Wildlife Trust met with parliamentarians in Westminster to make the case for nature recovery to be placed at the heart of England’s evolving devolution agenda as the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill continues its passage through the House of Lords.
The event, hosted by Suffolk Coastal MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter and featuring speakers including Debbie Tann MBE, CEO of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, and Chris Luxton, CEO of Suffolk Wildlife Trust, was attended by local Wildlife Trusts from across the country, from areas selected for the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, and MPs and members of the House of Lords. You can find more information on this event here.
September 2025
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which sets up the legal framework for the new strategic authorities and the reorganisation of local councils into unitary authorities, was introduced to parliament. We briefed MPs in Norfolk on the changes we would like to see to the Bill as it progresses through parliament.
June 2025
A group of Council Leaders and Cabinet Members from local authorities, along with Norfolk and Suffolk Wildlife Trusts signed a letter to the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution - Jim McMahon - asking him to ensure the Government’s devolution proposals ‘maximise the benefits to local people, businesses, the economy, and the environment from nature-positive growth and development that support local and national ambitions and targets for nature recovery and net zero.’
March 2025
We joined forces with Suffolk Wildlife Trust and other nature charities to send an open letter to council leaders, local MPs, and the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution - Jim McMahon OBE MP – calling for devolution to give local governments the resources to restore nature across the two counties.
Read our full response to the Devolution Consultation
(The Devolution Consultation is now closed)
What are the next steps for nature positive devolution?
As the proposals take shape, we will continue to engage with councils and the Government to ensure that nature-positive growth and nature recovery are at the heart of a devolution deal in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Government has now introduced the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which will set the legal framework for the new strategic authorities. Making sure this includes specific powers, duties and funding for Mayoral strategic authorities to lead on nature recovery is going to be essential for nature recovery, not just in Norfolk and Suffolk, but for nature across the whole country.
We’ll need your help too – when the time comes, we’ll let you know.
Why does devolution matter for Norfolk's wildlife?
Devolution represents a once in a generation opportunity to give local government the resources and powers to deliver genuinely environmentally-positive growth that helps restore nature.
In addition to roles in strategic planning and delivery of housing, economic growth, transport, local infrastructure, energy, and health, Combined County Authority and new Mayor (once in post) will have the job of coordinating efforts to restore nature. This will be done though the delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategies for Norfolk and Suffolk.
These new strategies describe what is needed, and where, to help wildlife to recover from long-term declines. They are seen as crucial to hitting legally binding targets to halt biodiversity loss and protect 30% of the UK’s land and seas for nature by 2030.
Turning the strategies from a set of ambitions, priorities, and opportunities, into new wildlife habitats on the ground requires commitment and leadership.
What powers will the new Combined County Authority have?
In addition to roles in strategic planning and delivery of housing, economic growth, transport, local infrastructure, and health, the Combined County Authority and new Mayor (once in post) will take on the job of coordinating efforts to restore nature. This will be done though the delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategies for Norfolk and Suffolk, which are currently the responsibility of the County Councils.
These new strategies describe what is needed, and where, to help wildlife to recover from long-term declines. They are seen as crucial to hitting legally binding targets to halt biodiversity loss and protect 30% of the UK’s land and seas for nature by 2030.
Turning the strategies from a set of ambitions, priorities, and opportunities, into new wildlife habitats on the ground requires commitment and political leadership.