Natural England

The landscape, its wildlife and heritage, is one of the North East’s greatest assets and an important part of its cultural identity. Over 30% of the region is designated either as National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and 138km of its coastline is Heritage Coast.

With 10,370 km of rights of way, three National Trails, including the newly opened Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail, the region’s countryside offers a major recreational resource.

But there are significant changes affecting the countryside. As in the rest of England, the rural North East is facing a number of economic, technological, societal and environmental pressures which threaten the viability of rural communities and the surrounding countryside.

In the North East, we are part of a unique partnership, to deliver the North East Rural Action Plan. (3mb pdf) This is an agenda for action which identifies eleven priority areas which will make the most difference to the North East over the next 3-5 years in achieving a lasting revival of the region’s rural economy, environment and communities. 

To download a copy of the North East Rural Action Plan

• One Year On report click here
  
  (5mb pdf)
• Two Years On report click here (2mb pdf)