A Local Nature Reserve or LNR is a statutory designation in England made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by principal local authorities. Parish and town councils can also declare LNRs but they must have the powers to do so delegated to them by the principal local authority.

To establish a LNR the declaring local authority must first have a legal interest in the land concerned, for example, they could own it, lease it or have a nature reserve agreement with the owner. The land must lie within the area which the declaring authority controls.

LNRs are of local, but not necessarily national, importance. LNRs are almost always owned by local authorities, who often pass the management of the LNR onto County Wildlife trusts or other local environmental bodies. LNRs also often have good public access and facilities. An LNR can also be a Site of Special Scientific Interest, but often is not, or may have other designations (although an LNR cannot also be a National Nature Reserve). Except where the site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest there is no legal necessity to manage an LNR to any set standard, but management agreements often exist.

An LNR may be given protection against damaging operations. It also has certain protection against development on and around it. This protection is usually given via the Local Plan, (produced by the planning authority), and often supplemented by local by-laws. However there is no national legal protection specifically for LNRs.