Natural England

Today marks the official launch of the London region of Natural England, a new and powerful government agency that has been created to champion the natural environment.

The centrepiece of the launch will be the announcement of four major campaigns which go to the heart of Natural England’s purpose and will aim to inspire, motivate and engage people across England.

Natural England will, for the first time, unite in a single organisation responsibility for protecting and enhancing biodiversity and landscapes, as well as promoting greater access and recreation – helping people to enjoy more green spaces both in the countryside and urban environments. Natural England will be the government’s independent watchdog to advise on how policies affect the natural environment.

The four campaigns will be a call to action. Each campaign addresses one of the critical challenges that face the natural environment. Common to all will be connecting people and the natural environment. The campaigns will be launched over the next two months and will focus on protecting the marine environment, preventative health solutions, farmers’ stewardship of biodiversity and climate change; targets will include establishing a network of marine protected areas by 2012 and championing the provision of accessible green space within five minutes walk of every home.

Alison Barnes, Natural England Regional Director for London, says: “Natural England has created a new London region as we are as much about the urban as the rural environment. We will be focusing on four things for the benefits of Londoners: having a healthy natural environment, people’s enjoyment of the natural environment, sustainable use of our natural resources and a secure environmental future.”

“We will work with Londoners and partners to promote the care and enjoyment of the wildlife and landscapes in and around London. Increasing accessible natural greenspace and dealing with the impact of climate change are particular challenges. We all face potential changes in how we live in urban environments and we know that the natural environment is good for health and well being for all ages. We need to put the two together.”

Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England, says: “The creation of Natural England is a landmark moment for the natural environment. No other organisation in Europe matches the breadth of our legislative remit, and the scale of our challenge. By uniting responsibility for landscapes and biodiversity, Natural England will be working to build resilience into our natural systems in the face of climate change.”

Ends

Notes for editors:

1. Almost two thirds of Greater London is greenspace, about a third of which is private gardens, a third is parks or in sports use, and a further third is in a wide variety of open spaces, including much wildlife habitat. The capital city has a wide ecological range and varied landscapes including grazing marshes, historic parklands, heaths and commons, chalk downland, ancient woodland, wetland and the tidal Thames. London supports iconic species such as breeding peregrine falcons and nationally important populations of water voles, as well as distinctive landscapes such as Richmond Park and the countryside around Downe studied by Charles Darwin when he was writing his seminal Origin of Species.

2. Most of the region’s natural environment assets are a product of urban influences: a desire to protect historic landscapes (the Royal Parks); a legacy of infrastructure (reservoirs and gravel pits); the amenity needs of an urban populace (parks and greenspaces); and the decline of industry and manufacturing (brownfield sites).

3. The London region has 120 Local Nature Reserves and Doorstep Greens managed in partnership by local authorities and local communities to provide places for people and wildlife. There are also 32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the Thames Path National Trail. The Thames Path National Trail runs from the capital’s western boundary to the Thames barrier at Greenwich. Doorstep Greens are brand new open spaces created in urban areas.

4. Our key aims in the London region are to work towards ensuring there is accessible natural greenspace within walking distance of peoples’ homes and protecting and enhancing the wildlife and landscapes in and around London. Measures to green the urban landscape to help combat climate change will also be a priority.

5. Natural England was established by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Its purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

6. Natural England’s Strategic Direction 2006-09 sets out how it will deliver this purpose through incentives, advice and regulation. This identifies four strategic outcomes Natural England will seek to deliver: a healthy natural environment, enjoyment of the natural environment, sustainable use of the natural environment and a secure environmental future.

7. Natural England has been formed by bringing together English Nature, the landscape, access and recreation elements of the Countryside Agency and the environmental land management functions of the Rural Development Service. Natural England has a budget of £500 million and employs 2500 people. Natural England’s headquarters are based in Sheffield.

8. Details of Natural England’s four campaigns can be found in the attached backgrounder.

For further information contact: John Rennie, Regional PR adviser

Telephone: 07976 666969

Email: jrennie@dial.pipex.com

Or contact the national press office on 07970 098 005

For broadcast media, B roll available on Digicam, call Katy Darby on 020 7238 5676

Website: For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk