UK Government Glover recommendations response

In January 2022 the UK Government published its response to recommendations contained in an earlier published independent review of England's protected landscapes (its National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

England is home to 10 National Parks and 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). These are treasured landscapes. Each one is different. They attract millions of visitors each year and are home to rural communities as well as rare wildlife.

The review was commissioned to explore what could be done better. It considered the crisis facing nature everywhere and within these protected landscapes, the management and governance of these landscapes, and the changing needs of rural communities in these landscapes. Led by Julian Glover, a report with recommendations from the Review was published in September 2019.

After publishing its response in January 2022, the Government opened a public consultation for feedback, closing on 9 April 2022. The Trust, in its response:

• welcomed a strengthened first purpose for nature recovery in protected landscapes that is clearly and solely focused on nature as a priority
• suggested criteria and outcomes for making payments for farming and land management in protected landscapes under the new Environmental Land Management Schemes
• welcomed a second purpose of nature connection
• supported a role for AONB in local authority planning processes and decision making
• recommended that greater diversity on governing boards be something that is pro-actively sought

You can download the Trust's full response below.