Our natural environment gives us so much. Without nature, we wouldn’t have clean water, clean air, food, timber, flood protection or green spaces to relax in. The value of nature and the benefits it brings need protecting and enhancing.

Nature encompasses everything from forests and fields to rivers and reed beds. But it also includes canals and reservoirs, and urban green space, such as gardens, parks and street trees. It’s the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil we dig in our allotments and the earth we build on.

Within the boundaries of Greater Manchester, there are:

• 3 European Special Areas of Conservation
• 1 European Special Protection Area (2 Phases)
• large parts of the South Pennines Integrated Biodiversity Delivery Area
• 23 Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• 534 Sites of Biological Importance
• 73 Local Nature Reserves
• major river corridors including the Mersey
• a wide range of public parks and private gardens

Green and blue spaces make up half our city region. Nature cleans our air and locks up carbon and is proven to make us happier and healthier. Every year, our environment gives us £44m of food and reduces the financial risk of flooding by £6m. Nature makes us happier. Nature is good for our economy. Nature fights climate change. But nature is being lost.

Who we are

The Greater Manchester Natural Capital Group is an ambassador for the natural environment. It is one of 48 Local Nature Partnerships around England and is made up of representatives from the public, private and third sectors who are all working together to protect nature. The group gives advice to the GMCA on natural environment issues including how to stop the effects of climate change and lower emissions.

The Greater Manchester Natural Capital Group and its partners have produced evidence that helps us shape environmental policy. This evidence shows us the opportunities and challenges we face when protecting our natural environment.

Natural Capital Group area

The Greater Manchester Natural Capital Group is set in the economic powerhouse of the North – covering 493 square miles and 10 districts. Most of Greater Manchester’s landscape is urban or high-density urban. It is home to some 2.7 million people and a GVA of £56 billion, representing the largest functional economic area outside London.

However, there is also a wide and varied range of wildlife and natural habitats.

These landscapes cross borough boundaries within Greater Manchester and beyond. The Cheshire Plain, the West Pennine Moors and the Mersey River Corridor surround Greater Manchester. The Local Nature Partnership boundary adjoins and overlaps the proposed South Pennines and Peak District National Park Local Nature Partnerships.

Types of wildlife and natural habitats:

Our Partners

For practical purposes, the day-to-day business of the Group is overseen by a Partnership Board made up of key partners from across the public, private, third sectors and academia. It is chaired by Anne Selby (Independent).

For practical purposes, the day-to-day business of the Group is overseen by a Partnership Board made up of key partners from across the public, private, third sectors and academia. It is chaired by Anne Selby (Independent).

Behind the Group, there is a wider Partnership. This is open to any organisation to join, providing only that they accept the basic principles on which it has been set up. A key role of the Group is to provide a forum and means of communication that has enabled its members to link up or come together to share knowledge and good practice.

Our partners are:

Local Nature Partnerships

Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) bring together local organisations, businesses and people who want to improve their local natural environment. The Greater Manchester Natural Capital Group coordinates the LNP across our city region. We link up partners to strengthen local action and protect and improve their area’s natural environment.

LNPs are very valuable for the environment, as they:

• Raise awareness of the services and benefits of a healthy natural environment
• Contribute to the green economy
• Complement the work of local enterprise partnerships

Why are LNPs so important?

Read ‘The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature’.

Greater Manchester is home to a wide variety of wildlife and natural habitats. Take a look at the best places to explore nature, have a fun day out or even take a mini wildlife break.

Take a look at the best places to explore nature, have a fun day out or even take a mini wildlife break. Each of Greater Manchester’s 10 districts have dedicated webpages where you can find out where to explore local parks and open spaces.