Natural England is the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England. Established in 2006 it brought together functions of its founding bodies and has a wide remit, helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide. This presentation provides a Natural England perspective on how landscape delivery has changed over the last 25 years and, in particular, how policy drivers since the Lawton Review1 (published 2010) and subsequent Natural Environment White Paper2 (published 2011) have led to landscape ecology principles being increasingly reflected in practical place-based delivery.
When these changes are examined through the lens of a long standing delivery partnership (Figure1) a picture emerges that shows a parallel evolution in relation to key policy drivers. The Humberhead Levels and Moors Partnership was formally established in 1997 at the time of the Countryside Agency Land Management Initiatives, projects set up to explore sustainable agricultural practices to benefit the environment, economies and communities. The partnership’s approach is underpinned by a strong understanding of landscape character and from this early foothold it has demonstrated the ability to take the opportunities offered by more recent changes to policy, most notably in becoming a Nature Improvement Area in 2012. The Humberhead Levels Partnership now works to a shared vision and delivery plan and demonstrates the practical importance of strong partnership working in achieving landscape delivery.
In October 2016 Natural England published Conservation 213, a strategy to identify what the organisation needs to do differently to help achieve the government’s ambition for England to be great place to live with a healthy natural environment on land and sea that benefits people and the economy (Figure 2). Conservation 21 identifies three key strategic shifts that centre around creating resilient landscapes and seas; putting people at the heart of the environment and growing natural capital. As the Humberhead Levels Partnership illustrates, these shifts have long been evident in the direction of travel, but Natural England has recognised that a step-change is required for them to be reflected more widely in practice, providing a potential opportunity for the landscape ecology community to contribute to practical place-based delivery.
Acknowledgement: Thanks to Sue Plaxton, Natural England, Lead Adviser, the Humberhead Levels Partnership
1 Lawton, J.H., et al (2010) Making Space for Nature: a review of England’s wildlife sites and ecological network. Report to Defra.
2 HM Government (2011) The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature.
3 Natural England (2016) Conservation 21 Natural England’s Conservation Strategy for the 21st Century. www.gov.uk/natural-england
