The council is looking to place a greater emphasis on improving the environment for everyone over the coming years. 
 

From dealing with littering to creating more green spaces and woodlands, the council will be working hard to ensure the county’s stunning natural resources are protected and enhanced, now and in the future. 
 

It comes as the council plans to refresh and update the council’s climate change action plan and build on the successful work the council has done since it declared a climate emergency back in 2019. 
 

Council Leader Glen Sanderson stressed the council’s dedication and highlighted the importance of looking after our local environment. 
 

He said: “There is a clear need for us to explore new ways we can all work together to create an environment that works for everyone across our county.  
 

“Already we have taken great strides in achieving our goals, but we know there is still a lot of work to be done as we work towards carbon neutral and our work to refresh the climate change action plan is well underway and will set out our key priorities and areas for the next three years. 
 

"As a priority I’ve also requested officers to bring a report to cabinet  over the summer looking to declare an ecological emergency, so that we give greater priority to protecting nature and wildlife and enhancing habitats and biodiversity which are all key to our successful future. 
 

“On a wider environmental level, we have so much to be proud of with our green spaces, spectacular countryside, beautiful coastline, and our amazing wildlife and habitats and as a council we’re determined to protect these areas and make improvements where needed. 
 

“Everything that people see and touch around them that makes our county so special will be a focus over the next two years. 
 

“Whether that’s enhancements to our beautiful country parks and increased cycling and walking routes connecting our towns and villages, we will endeavor to make further improvements. 
 

“And on people’s doorsteps there’s a whole raft of schemes coming forward for our Queen Elizabeth II memorial projects to improve access to green spaces near to people’s homes, there’s new woodland schemes in the pipeline and thousands of residents and community groups have taken up our offer of free trees for gardens and parks. 
 

“We’ve all got our part to play in improving our environment, whether it’s on a personal level – however small - or county-wide, and we want residents to join us on this journey.”