Natural England

Introduction

The natural environment matters

The State of the Natural Environment 2008 brings together for the first time the evidence we have about the current situation in our natural environment

The report demonstrates that the natural environment in England is much less rich than 50 years ago and remains under pressure from a significant range of threats. It illustrates the impact of those threats on our landscapes and biodiversity.

'The State of the Natural Environment' shows that our natural environment is not well placed to withstand the challenges.

Why it matters

The state of the natural environment matters to everyone in the East of England. It is an essential regional asset that provides the foundations for our economic and social well being.

A healthy natural environment provides essential public services, such as

• Clean air, clean water and productive soils
• Support for economic activity and sustainable energy production
• Security against the impacts of climate change
• A natural health service, contributing to people's health and wellbeing
• Places to experience and enjoy the natural world

Action is needed now

Natural England is, in its Manifesto for the natural environment [720 kB], calling for action to be taken now by national, regional and local government, businesses and communities to put England on a greener path to a more secure future, while conserving the nation's rich and diverse natural environment.

The State of the Natural Environment in the East of England region

Landscape

• The East of England Region is characterised by its very rural character in many parts; its low rainfall; its dispersed settlement pattern with numerous small towns, but with high levels of housing growth now planned around the main centres.
• Despite being a region heavily modified by intensive farming and development, many areas of Eastern England retain a distinctive landscape character and natural beauty.
• The extent of nationally designated landscapes (National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AoNB)) is less than most other regions, at about 7%.

Biodiversity

• The extent of nationally designated wildlife and geological reserves is about the same as the national picture (7% being in Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)).
• The condition of our SSSIs is slightly below the national average (77% by area are favourable or recovering).
• Although many have been improved in recent years, coastal developments and various pressures on water management are the main problems for SSSIs that are still in poor condition
• Loss of saltmarsh is occurring eastern England, largely due to coastal squeeze against hard flood defences, an pressures for coastal development.
• The fen raft spider is one of Britain’s largest spiders and rarest animals. They are restricted to areas of fen dominated by great fen sedge and are found at Redgrave and Lopham Fen and one other site in England. Problems with water quality and quantity, and decline of traditional management practices, jeopardise these populations.
• Wetland habitats are now often isolated, surrounded by intensively managed and drained agricultural land, starved of water and unable to function hydrologically. A recent sample survey of non-SSSI fens in Norfolk reported that 31% were in favourable or recovering condition, compared with 51% for SSSI fens in the county (NWT 2006).
• Farmland bird populations declined in the region by 5% in the decade to 2005, while woodland birds increased slightly.
• Important landscapes and wildlife in the region are often close to, and sensitive to, major development pressures. For example, the majority of ports lie within or adjacent to SPAs and SACs.
• The natural environment is changing - we can expect to see further major sea incursions inland during storms on the East coast. This is due to a combination of climate change and natural tectonic adjustment since the last ice age. Helping the natural environment adapt to climate change will be a major challenge for the region.

Enjoying the natural environment

• There are 4-5 million visitor days to the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads each year
• There are about 2,200,000 visits to our National Nature Reserves
• The region has the highest number of access routes (1,300 km), as well as over 1,000 ha of permissive access, under the agri-environment programme
• There are 57 Country Parks in the region, the second highest number in the country
• There are 156Km of National Trails in region Over 24,000km of Public Rights of way in the East of England region.
• However, less than 1% is designated open access land; and many of the best sites are not easily accessible from the main centres of population.
• There are 37 Walking the Way to Health Schemes in the Eastern Region backed by health professionals, encouraging their patients to join in.

Chelmsford Heart and Soul Health Walks Scheme

Meeting the challenge in the East of England region

We will work collaboratively with others for a better quality of life, creating a prosperous, healthy, socially cohesive region with an attractive, high quality environment. We will provide leadership within the region on actions needed to protect, enhance and enjoy the natural environment.

We will work closely with other partners, such as the Environment Agency, to get our SSSIs into favourable condition, particularly those suffering from coastal and water related pressures.

We will ensure that housing growth is achieved in ways which protect and enhance the natural environment. The recently published East of England Plan contains good policies for enhancement of nature and landscape, and the creation of much needed green infrastructure. We will work with planning authorities to convert these into effective local policies and decisions.

We want to make environmental stewardship an attractive choice for land managers – this is becoming a challenge given high crop values. We will give advice and encouragement to get the right schemes in the right places. The environmental value of these agreements is becoming ever-more evident.

We will find new ways of encouraging people to experience the natural environment. Our Walking the Way to Health Initiative, a joint venture with the British Heart Foundation, encourages people to walk in the outdoors to improve their health and wellbeing. We are also supporting highways authorities and local access fora, who are improving rights of way and finding out more about who is using the resource.

We will work with partner agencies and local communities to understand the impacts of climate change and develop solutions, including a resilient, natural coastline.

We will work with others to encourage landscape scale restoration and re-building of ecological networks.

Great Fen Project

How to find out more information and get involved

'The State of the Natural Environment 2008' report contains more data, maps and case studies for this Region. The report and resource documents (with more information not included in the main report) can be found at www.naturalengland.org.uk/sone.

Natural England is holding an event to discuss these priorities on 3 June 2008. We will develop this agenda through our work with numerous other organisations and key partnership groups such as Sustainability East, the regional biodiversity and landscape fora, the East of England Environment Forum and various partnership groups led by the Government Office, Regional Assembly and Regional Development Agency.

For more information contact: Linzee Kottman, Natural England, Communications, Cambridge (linzee.kottman@naturalengland.org.uk)