Bracknell Forest Council is committed to protecting nature and creating a healthier environment for everyone. Our Biodiversity Report shares information about nature in the borough and the actions we’ve taken to support biodiversity.

Purpose of the report

The report comes in 2 parts. Each part has a different aim.

The Biodiversity Duty

Public authorities in England must look at how they can protect and improve biodiversity. 

Bracknell Forest Council must consider how we can conserve and enhance biodiversity. We must then set policies and objectives based on these considerations and take action to deliver those policies and achieve our goals. We must also report on progress at least every 5 years.

This strengthened duty was introduced by the Environment Act 2021, which updated Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

Reporting timetable

We intend to publish a Biodiversity Report every financial year (April to March). This approach will make reporting more consistent with other policies and strategies. It will also allow us to include wildlife survey data from both summer and winter seasons of the previous year.

However, to meet national requirements and align with policies like Biodiversity Net Gain and the Bracknell Biodiversity Action Plan, this first report covers a 2-year period. This is from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025.

The next report will cover 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2027.

This will bring us in line with financial years. From then on, reports will cover 1 April to 31 March each year.

We will publish reports within 12 weeks of the end of each reporting period.