Many of the most beautiful landscapes in England are cared for and protected to ensure they remain that way for future generations.
National Parks
England's nine National Parks cover about 10,000 square kilometres (3,860 square miles). They have been specially chosen because of their extraordinary natural beauty, their proximity to centres of population and their extensive tracts of open country. Visit the National Parks
website for more information.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs)
The 37 AONBs cover about 15% of England. The smallest is the Isles of Scilly, while the largest is the Cotswolds. Much of the land of an AONB is privately owned with no special rights of access for the public. Some parts of an AONB may be designated as access land or may be crossed by one or more rights of way. Alternatively, there may be other arrangements in place. Visit the AONB
website to find out more.
Nature Reserves
Special sites in England are protected because the exceptional natural history of the area might be damaged or otherwise lost. Many Nature Reserves are on land that is open to the public by right or tradition, or because the owner allows it or because they are crossed by a right of way. Nature Reserves may be national and local, and are managed by various organisations, such as English Nature
, or by a local authority.
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