National Parks, AONBs and Heritage Coasts

What the finest landscape designations mean ?

© Copyright Natural England
England's finest countryside is so important that it is marked out for special protection and management as National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coasts

National Parks
National Parks are extensive areas of countryside, which encompass some of England's finest landscapes. They are managed by National Park Authorities set up by law with the twin purposes of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage, and to provide opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park by the public. National Park Authorities also have a duty to foster the social and economic well being of their local communties. 
Funds for National Park Authorities are provided directly by Government (75%) and the local authorities within the park area (25%).

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are of national importance for their landscape quality, which is considered equal to National Parks.  The primary purpose of the designation is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty. 

As a result of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, local authorities have a statutory duty to prepare and publish AONB management plans. The Act also allows the establishment of Conservation Boards if there are benefits and local support for doing so and places a duty on all public bodies to have regard to the purposes of AONBs when carrying out statutory functions.

AONBs are managed by partnerships made up of a wide variety of parties such as local authorities, Natural England and other government organisations, local communities and interest groups. The partnership is supported by a dedicated staff team. Funding is provided by Natural England and local authorities to enable the delivery of a number of core functions.

Heritage Coasts
Heritage Coasts cover the finest stretches of undeveloped coastal landscapes in England and Wales. They are a non statutory landscape designation.  There are four main objectives for Heritage Coasts :  

  • Conserve, protect and enhance natural beauty
  • Facilitate their enjoyment by the public 
  • Maintain and improve the environmental health of inshore waters
  • Take account of the needs of agriculture, forestry and fishing and of the social and economic needs of the small communities on these coasts.         

Local authorities take the lead in managing Heritage Coasts, often supported by partnerships and staff units.