Natural England

Essential rural services can only be made available to the standards needed if money for rural local authorities is more fairly allocated. The Countryside Agency welcomes the Government's commitment., therefore, to "more intelligible and transparent" grant formulae - included in the Local Governance White Paper published today (Tuesday 11 December). more

Too much public money is being spent subsidising a regime of over production. Yet little is being spent on the contribution farmers make to conserve the culture and environment of the countryside. Farming is important for more than just food production. It is the very foundation of the English landscape which is valued by all who live in and visit the countryside, according to rural advocate and Countryside Agency chairman, Ewen Cameron, as he called for a shake-up of England's rural policy to safeguard its future.  more

No evidence of rural proofing in the Chancellor's statement today (27 November) was the initial reaction from the Countryside Agency. more

For some people in rural areas, having to compete for housing with more affluent weekenders, means that their choice can be so limited that they are forced to move away from the area, according to the Countryside Agency. Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford's announcement today (Friday 23 November), on the start of consultation on council tax proposals for second and long term empty homes is a very positive move. more

Launched today (6 November) the latest Countryside Agency survey, Rural Services in 2000, reveals new hope for some rural services that have seen long term decline. Rural transport, an essential local service under pressure for years, had reached an all-time low in 1997, with only six out of ten parishes receiving a six or seven day a week bus service. The 2000 survey highlights a welcome improvement with 67 per cent of parishes with such a service. more

Draft maps of open country and registered common land in the south east and lower north west of England are published by the Countryside Agency today. more

Local authorities need to work together, developing closer partnerships across their boundaries and understanding the interdependence of urban and rural areas, if they are to deliver an effective and consistent level of service for all, according to Countryside Agency deputy chair Pam Warhurst.  more

The Countryside Agency's response to publication of the Haskins and Rural Recovery Task Force reports.  more

The Countryside Agency launches a website for its Eat the View initiative to help consumers and producers make the links between the countryside they love and the products they buy. more

The Countryside Agency calls on those involved in providing vital services to England's rural areas to consider the benefits of joint provision more

The Countryside Agency is supporting national Farmers' Market Month and encouraging people to visit their local farmers' market as a way of supporting rural areas through the foot and mouth crisis. more

The Countryside Agency has published a comprehensive report on the impact foot and mouth disease has had on rural areas. more

Countryside Agency supports Royal rural initiative more

Latest update on state of rights of way in England.  more

76% of rights of way in England now open more

Countryside Agency welcomes the announcement that plans for regeneration and transport improvements around Hastings will not involve the construction of two bypass sections around Hastings. more

The Countryside Agency announces the first stage of its new Community Renewables initiative. more

Latest information on open footpaths throughout the country. more

The Countryside Agency outlines its strategy for sustainable land management in the future. more

The Countryside Agency's new 'Doorstep Greens' initiative, which will provide grants for urban and rural communities with little outdoor community space to create a Doorstep Green, is now open for business. more

64% of Rights of Way in England are now open. more

The Countryside Agency's successful Rural Housing Enabler scheme is to be extended across England to help increase housing choice for rural people. more

A new rationale for planning is required for delivering the public services, homes and jobs the nation needs according to Richard Wakeford, chief executive of the Countryside Agency more

"People Make The Difference" is a new good practice guide for housing providers issued by the Countryside Agency and the Housing Federation more

The Countryside Agency welcomes the Government's decision to create a new department for environment,food and rural affairs. more

26% of all paths are open for walkers across England this weekend - but this varies from county to county more

The Peddars way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail is now fully open apart from three small diversions on the Peddars way section of the route  more

Working for the Countryside - a five year vision for developing countryside tourism in the wake of foot and mouth is launched by the English Tourism Council and The Countryside Agency more

The Countryside Agency is providing £1.5 million of match funding to three charities who are working to help relieve distress caused by the foot and mouth outbreak amongst rural communities. more

The Countryside Agency is providing match funding for a scheme set up by the Hadfield Trust to help Cumbrian Farmers. more

The Countryside Agency announce details of a £3.8m "Rights of Way Recovery Fund" to support local authorities in re-opening those rights of way which can be used safely. more

Joint provision of local services in rural areas makes sense according to new research published by the Countryside Agency more

Government departments need to build in a rural dimension to their thinking as policies develop says Countryside Agency chairman and rural advocate Ewen Cameron more

The Countryside Agency's annual report into the social, economic and environmental state of the English countryside shows that those areas hit hardest by foot and mouth disease, are already the most vulnerable to economic setbacks. more

The Countryside Agency has launched a scheme which will implement the government's commitment to match fund donations made by the public to help alleviate distress rural people are suffering due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. more

Rural advocate and Countryside Agency chairman, Ewen Cameron, comments on the impact that the foot and mouth outbreak is having on Cumbrian hill farmers and the potential knock-on effects for the Cumbrian landscape. more

Rural advocate and chairman of the Countryside Agency Ewen Cameron comments on the Government's initial measures to aid rural businesses more

To help people find out where they can go without risk of passing on the foot and mouth virus the Countryside Agency has launched new maps and information more

Public perception that all of the countryside is a no-go area must be overcome according to the Countryside Agency more

The Countryside Agency, English Heritage, English Nature and the Environment Agency are launching "Quality of Life Capital", an internet based source of information. more

Rural Advocate Ewen Cameron supports the setting up of a rural recovery task force following a meeting with the Prime Minister. more

Welcome help for small businesses, property repairs and tax relief for cleaning up contaminated land....but little else for countryside in crisis more

Rural Communities can meet their own local transport needs with funding from a new Countryside Agency grant scheme  more

Two new Countryside Agency grants will bring better services to thousands of villages and other rural communities  more

Foot and Mouth Implications for Wider Rural Businesses - 1 March 2001 - potential £2 billion loss to rural economy  more

Rural advocate kicks off long term strategy for the countryside  more

Rural Advocate today warned that both local and central government must take much greater account of the needs of rural areas and people when drawing up policies. more

Practical tips, incentives & information on funding for walking goes on-line more

76% of rural rights of way are easy to use and 66% are well signposted from the road, according to a report by the Audit Commission. Yet this is a very long way from the target set of having a fully joined up rights of way network by the year 2000. more

Signing a contract today (Tuesday 9 January 2001) the Countryside Agency took a decisive step towards providing people with new access to thousands of acres of English countryside more

Few people realise that the decisions they make about what to buy and where to buy it have a direct impact on the English countryside that we all cherish. Buying locally produced goods means people contribute to the local, rural economy and support local producers. more