Natural England homepage

About us

What we do

We're the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide.

Who we are

We have 2,000 staff in offices throughout England, with a head office in York. See a map of our offices.

Responsibilities

Within England, we’re responsible for:

• promoting nature conservation and protecting biodiversity
• conserving and enhancing the landscape
• securing the provision and improvement of facilities for the study, understanding and enjoyment of the natural environment, eg new tower hide at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve
• promoting access to the countryside and open spaces and encouraging open-air recreation
• contributing in other ways to social and economic well-being through management of the natural environment, eg changes to wildlife licensing to improve flexibility for developers

Priorities

From 2014 to 2019, our priorities are:

• terrestrial biodiversity
• marine biodiversity
• landscape and geodiversity
• access and engagement
• environmental land management
• National Nature Reserves
• support to the planning system
• wildlife management
• evidence
• corporate services

For more details about our responsibilities and priorities see our latest annual report and corporate plan.

Corporate information

Access our information

Jobs and contracts

Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information. Read our policy on Social media use. Find out About our services.

Corporate reports

• Humberhead Peatlands restoration LIFE+ project

  15 September 2016

• Accredited country parks in England

  26 August 2016

• Research opportunities on National Nature Reserves in England

  22 July 2016

• Cumbria BogLIFE project

  21 July 2016

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2015 to 2016

  14 July 2016

• Hoveton Wetlands restoration project

  12 July 2016

• Natural England financial schedule of delegation

  6 July 2016

• Natural England non-financial schedule of delegation

  6 July 2016

• Natural England’s response times to planning consultations in England

  1 July 2016

• Conservation advice for Marine Protected Areas: project background

  16 May 2016

• Natural England designations programme for areas, sites and trails

  13 April 2016

• Local Access Forums: annual reports

  19 February 2016

• Defra’s strategy to 2020: creating a great place for living

  19 February 2016

• Natural England corporate plan 2014 to 2019

  2 February 2016

• Bedfordshire's National Nature Reserves

  22 January 2016

• Nature Improvement Areas: improved ecological networks

  20 January 2016

• National Nature Reserves: improved public access

  19 November 2015

• National Trails: management standards

  9 September 2015

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2014 to 2015

  2 July 2015

• Improvement programme for England’s Natura 2000 sites (IPENS): summary report

  21 May 2015

• National Trails: annual report

  19 May 2015

• Outdoors for All: fair access to a good quality natural environment

  5 May 2015

• SAC features and SPA supporting habitats: general descriptions

  30 March 2015

• Heritage coasts: protecting undeveloped coast

  6 January 2015

• Areas of outstanding natural beauty: Natural England's role

  6 January 2015

• Paths for Communities (P4C) scheme: final report

  13 November 2014

• Environment Agency and Natural England report on triennial review action plan

  13 November 2014

• Natural England's strategic direction

  31 October 2014

• Natural England's improvement plan for planning and licensing

  29 October 2014

• Sites of Special Scientific Interest: designation

  22 October 2014

• England Coast Path: how a new stretch is established

  8 October 2014

• Nottinghamshire's National Nature Reserves

  1 October 2014

• Northamptonshire's National Nature Reserves

  1 October 2014

• Derbyshire's National Nature Reserves

  1 October 2014

• National Character Area profiles: data for local decision making

  30 September 2014

• National Parks: Natural England's role

  30 September 2014

• Merseyside's National Nature Reserves

  2 September 2014

• Lancashire's National Nature Reserves

  2 September 2014

• Cheshire's National Nature Reserves

  2 September 2014

• Cumbria's National Nature Reserves

  2 September 2014

• Northumberland's National Nature Reserves

  2 September 2014

• Cleveland's National Nature Reserves

  2 September 2014

• Durham's National Nature Reserves

  1 September 2014

• Oxfordshire's National Nature Reserves

  2 August 2014

• Isle of Wight's National Nature Reserve

  2 August 2014

• Surrey's National Nature Reserves

  2 August 2014

• Kent's National Nature Reserves

  2 August 2014

• Hampshire's National Nature Reserves

  2 August 2014

• Greater London's National Nature Reserves

  2 August 2014

• East Sussex's National Nature Reserves

  2 August 2014

• Buckinghamshire's National Nature Reserves

  2 August 2014

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2013 to 2014

  1 July 2014

• Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England (NE) triennial review

  28 March 2014

• West Sussex's National Nature Reserves

  2 August 2013

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2012 to 2013

  8 July 2013

• Natural England corporate plan update 2013 to 2015

  4 April 2013

• Improvement programme for England’s Natura 2000 sites (IPENS)

  18 December 2012

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2011 to 2012

  2 July 2012

• Natural England corporate plan 2012 to 2015

  5 April 2012

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2010 to 2011

  4 July 2011

• Natural England corporate plan 2011 to 2015

  1 April 2011

• European Landscape Convention: guidelines for managing landscapes

  19 November 2010

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2009 to 2010

  21 July 2010

• Natural England corporate plan 2010 to 2011

  1 July 2010

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2008 to 2009

  6 July 2009

• Natural England corporate plan 2009 to 2012

  1 July 2009

• Dorset's National Nature Reserves

  1 December 2008

• Wiltshire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Somerset's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Devon's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Cornwall's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Gloucestershire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Avon's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Staffordshire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Worcestershire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Shropshire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• West Midlands National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• North Yorkshire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• North Lincolnshire National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• South Yorkshire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Suffolk's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Norfolk's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Hertfordshire's National Nature Reserve

  31 October 2008

• Essex's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Cambridgeshire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• East Riding of Yorkshire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Leicestershire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Lincolnshire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 2008

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2007 to 2008

  21 July 2008

• Natural England corporate plan 2008 to 2011

  1 April 2008

• Natural England annual report and accounts 2006 to 2007

  8 October 2007

• Herefordshire's National Nature Reserves

  31 October 1998