What Councils Should Be Doing This Autumn for Biodiversity

jonathan6581
Sep 23
2 min read

Red Robin with food in its mouth, perched on green hedgerow with white flowers blooming.

Autumn is one of the most important times of year for councils to take meaningful biodiversity action. As the growing season slows down, there’s a window to review what has been achieved, prepare for winter works, and set objectives for the coming year. For town and parish councils, this is also a chance to show leadership on statutory duties and to demonstrate commitment to the community’s natural spaces.

Why Autumn Matters

In England, public authorities were required to complete their first consideration of biodiversity actions by 1 January 2024 under the Environment Act 2021. Parish and town councils are not required to publish formal reports, but they are expected to set clear policies and objectives as soon as possible after this date.

In Wales, councils are bound by Section 6 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, which requires public authorities to maintain and enhance biodiversity and promote ecosystem resilience. Section 6 reports are published every three years, so autumn is the ideal time to prepare evidence for the next reporting cycle.

Five High-Impact Autumn Actions

1. Reset mowing and verge management

Move to fewer, well-timed cuts, and remove cuttings to encourage wildflowers. Road verges and green spaces managed in this way can support hundreds of plant and pollinator species.

2. Plan winter tree and hedgerow planting

Autumn is the time to book tree stock, prepare sites, and plan volunteer planting days. Hedgerow gap-filling and species-rich planting improves ecological connectivity and resilience.

3. Run a light-touch biodiversity audit

Map the land your council owns or manages, note habitats, and check existing maintenance regimes. This baseline will guide priorities for 2025 and beyond.

4. Align with statutory duties

For Wales: collect evidence to meet your Section 6 three-year reporting cycle.
For England: keep records that feed into the January 2026 biodiversity duty reporting deadline for local authorities.

5. Budget for 2025/26

Include biodiversity actions in your council’s upcoming budget. Remember to cost not just initial works (ground works, planting) but also the ongoing management that secures long-term benefits.

Male and female volunteers in casual dress planting trees in a woodland area on a sunny day with a wheelbarrow, spade, watering can.

Quick Wins to Put in Place Now

Switch some amenity grass to a “meadow cut” and explain changes with on-site signage.
Identify priority sites for winter planting and community projects.
Add “biodiversity duty” as a standing agenda item at council meetings.
Engage local partners such as wildlife trusts, schools, and volunteer groups.

Communicating Progress

Councils that communicate their biodiversity actions clearly see greater community support. A simple web page or seasonal update is enough to highlight what has been done, where, and why. Linking your actions to Local Nature Recovery Strategies (England) or Section 6 priorities (Wales) also demonstrates alignment with wider government policy and can help secure future funding.

Ready to take action?

At Green Council Biodiversity Solutions, we are here to help Town and Parish Councils create and deliver effective Biodiversity Action Plans and implement projects that protect habitats, support communities, and build resilience against climate change.

Contact us today to discuss how we can support your next project and make biodiversity central to a sustainable future.

Young sapling tree planted with a stake in a field or orchard