SSSIs: A Golden Thread Through My Career

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming, Land Use, Landscape, Natural England, Nature
Marian Spain with a field behind her.

In this blog, Marian Spain reflects on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) as a golden thread through her time as Chief Executive of Natural England. Highlighting Dearne Valley Wetlands, West Penwith Moors and Downs, and Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast, Marian shows how SSSIs have evolved from academic curiosities into the backbone of nature recovery, …

Marian Spain - from first conversations to Landscape Recovery: a career in the field

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Farming, Landscape, Natural England, Nature, Species recovery, Wildlife
river bank surrounded by trees

In this blog, Marian Spain reflects on Landscape Recovery, the ambitious agri-environment scheme uniting farmers, NGOs and investors across whole landscapes for 20-year commitments. Highlighting projects like Upper Duddon, Boothby and Evenlode, Marian shows how nature restoration and farm resilience combine to deliver food security, climate benefits and thriving rural communities.

Success builds on success for newts and developers 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Licensing, Monitoring, Natural England, Nature, Wildlife

By Stephanie Bird-Halton, Director - National Delivery at Natural England  The 2025/26 Annual Monitoring Report for Natural England’s District Level Licensing (DLL) for great crested newts has just been published. This blog explores the successes so far and shows that …

Tackling drought: why nature-based solutions are key to a resilient future

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Climate change, Evidence, Monitoring, Natural England, Nature, Wildfire

By Oliver Harmar, Natural England's Chief Strategy Officer This blog explains how climate change is affecting England, with a focus on drought and wildfire, while suggesting the actions that we can take to restore the natural landscapes that protect us …

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 …