Lound Lakes - Nick Jermy
United for Nature
Restoring nature isn't optional - it's essential for a better future.
Our local councils are changing. Suffolk and Norfolk are on the Government’s fast track to devolution, which means a new Combined County Authority is being created to take strategic responsibility for both counties.
This strategic authority will have new powers and funding that could deliver real change to halt wildlife decline and restore our local wild spaces.
That’s why we’ve joined forces with Norfolk Wildlife Trust to launch United for Nature: a campaign calling on local leaders to pledge to deliver meaningful action for nature and people across Suffolk and Norfolk.
What Suffolk Wildlife Trust wants to see happen
We need our local leaders to recognise the importance of nature to people, communities, and businesses in our region; and to seize the opportunity for nature to improve people’s lives and support our future prosperity. Nature needs us - and we need nature.
Together with Nofolk 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 Suffolk 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.
Voters: Ask your local candidates to sign our election pledge
Scrape creation at Peto's Marsh, Carlton Marshes - John Lord
FAQs
Why does devolution matter for Suffolk'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, the Combined County Authority and new Norfolk & Suffolk 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 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 Suffolk and Norfolk.
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 our region, but for nature across the whole country.
We’ll need your help too – when the time comes, we’ll let you know.
What is Suffolk 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 Suffolk 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, and CEOs from Suffolk, Nofolk and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trusts Wildlife Trust, was attended by local Trusts from across the country, from areas selected for the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, and MPs and members of the House of Lords.
Read more about our meeting in Parliament
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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk and Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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.
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 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.