New environmental body launched

11 October 2006:

Natural England http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/, a new organisation with important responsibilities in respect of landscape designations and the protection and enhancement of the countryside, is now up and running. It brings together English Nature (the government's wildlife adviser), the environment activities of the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency's landscape, access and recreation division.

As the government's statutory adviser on landscape it has responsibility for designation of National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and Heritage Coasts. It is also involved with planning policy and a range of environmental and land management projects.