A plan to restore wildlife habitats across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will be considered by county councillors this month.

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy sets out priorities for supporting wildlife, and includes targets to create 500 hectares of woodland and 10 kilometres of native hedgerow.

Staffordshire County Council said the strategy was developed alongside communities, farmers, landowners, environmental organisations, and with the support of other local authorities in Staffordshire.

The strategy intends to help guide local decision-making and target work to restore and improve habitats over the coming years.

Patrick Allen, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said: "Staffordshire's countryside is home to a huge variety of wildlife, habitats and landscapes, and we have a responsibility to protect them.

"This strategy gives us a clear plan for restoring habitats, supporting wildlife and preventing biodiversity loss.

"It has been shaped by communities, farmers, landowners and environmental organisations, and I want to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and helped us get to this point.

"Now we need to turn that plan into action so future generations can continue to enjoy nature just as we do."

Alongside woodland and hedgerow creation, targets include restoring 20 neglected historic orchards or creating new traditional orchards; restoring or creating 30 hectares of heathland; and re-wetting 50 hectares of habitats such as bogs, peatland and fen.

A Local Habitat Map also identifies places already important for wildlife, alongside areas where habitats could be created or improved.

The strategy - which is a requirement of the Environment Act 2021 - follows an eight-week public consultation during June and July.

The county council said the feedback helped shape the final strategy and map, with farmers and landowners also able to suggest where land should be added or removed from the mapping.

Staffordshire County Council has led its development through the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Nature Recovery Partnership.

Partners include Stoke-on-Trent City Council, district and borough councils, the Peak District National Park Authority, Natural England, wildlife organisations and farming and community representatives.

The strategy is due to be considered at cabinet on 18 November.

If publication is approved, the nature recovery partnership will oversee delivery, helping partners focus their efforts on projects that support the area's wildlife and habitats.

For more information about the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, visit the website here.