Where communities and nature meet: lessons from Pear Tree Park 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Countryside Code, Development, Green Infrastructure, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Tree Planting, Wildfire, Wildlife

By Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England In this blog, NE Chair Tony Juniper reflects on his recent visit to Pear Tree Park in Ealing with the Deputy Mayor Mete Coban to talk about the importance of green spaces for …

Protecting the Thames Basin Heaths: evidence from 15 years of the SAMM Project

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Birds, Connecting People with Nature, Countryside Code, Evidence, Mental health and wellbeing, Monitoring, Natural England, Nature, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Species recovery, Wildlife

By Zoe Shorter, Project Manager for the SAMM Team, Thames Solent Area Team This blog explains the findings of an independent evaluation of the 15-year Thames Basin Heaths SAMM Project. Evidence suggests the project is successfully mitigating recreational pressure on …

Leading the way in Greater Manchester – bringing people, nature, connectivity and growth together

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Development, Green Infrastructure, Growth, Natural England, Nature

Lucy Abram, Deputy Director of the Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside Team CyanLines is a bold plan to link and transform Greater Manchester’s green and blue spaces - and it's just celebrated its first birthday. This blog explores how Greater Manchester is putting nature at the heart of its …

An Online Hub for Local Wildlife Sites: New Resources for a Vital 5% of England 

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Evidence, Landscapes, Natural England, Nature, NCEA, Wildlife
Cabila Woods, Cornwall. Image © Laura Snell.

By Sofía Muñoz and Scott Mitchell, Senior Specialists for Data Engagement and Analysis, Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme This blog explains what Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) are, why they matter, and the importance of the new online hub where …

Why beauty still matters: reflections on a career spent fighting for our finest landscapes

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Landscape, Landscapes and access, National Landscapes, Natural England, Parks, trails and nature reserves
Marian Spain, Tony Juniper and Navroza Ladha with the Surrey Hills and Yorkshire Wolds project teams and the official signed and sealed designation Orders.

By Marian Spain, Chief Executive, Natural England As she nears the end of her career at Natural England, Chief Executive Marian Spain reflects on 40 years working with Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, from their early days as planning tools …

Tony and Marian make the case for nature to Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Evidence, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, Wildlife

This blog is a summary of Marian Spain and Tony Juniper's appearance in front of the Environmental Audit Committee, and reflections on their time in office. Natural England's Chair Tony Juniper and Chief Executive Marian Spain appeared before Parliament's Environmental …

Explore More for Less: Affordable South East Nature Days Out

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Coast and access, Connecting People with Nature, Countryside Code, Mental health and wellbeing, National Nature Reserve, Natural England, Nature, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Wildlife, Woodland

This summer, if you’re looking for fun and accessible days out that are low-cost, then we have you covered. Not only is spending time in nature great for your wellbeing, it can also be great for your bank balance. Here are our suggestions for …

Explore More for Less: Affordable Southwest Nature Days Out

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Coast and access, Connecting People with Nature, Countryside Code, Mental health and wellbeing, National Nature Reserve, Natural England, Nature, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Wildlife, Woodland

If you’re looking for fun and accessible days out that are low-cost, then we have you covered. Not only is spending time in nature great for your wellbeing, it can also be great for your bank balance. Here are our suggestions for our favourite affordable days out in …

Your land, your choice: how Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier can work for farmers and land managers 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming, Natural England, Nature, Nature Recovery, wildlife and farming
English white park cow on a grassland restoration site near Hartington Peak District

By Dougal McNeill, Principal Officer, Agri-Environment Delivery, Natural England This blog explains and breaks down the role of Defra, RPA and NE in the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier process, while also discussing some of the benefits and challenges of the …

Putting Nature at the Heart of Healthcare: My Reflections from Bristol

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Planning
A man and a woman in formal work clothes with hiking boots sit in deck chairs in a greenhouse filled with plants, smiling and facing the camera.

By Marian Spain, CEO of Natural England In this blog, NE's Chief Executive Marian Spain reflects on her recent visit to healthcare sites in Bristol to explore how partners are incorporating nature into health and wellbeing, and discusses Natural England's …