The Protected Landscape Approach - Centre for Mediterranean ...

9. Protected landscapes in the United Kingdom
Adrian Phillips and Richard Partington
Evolving protection
Blessed by a relatively gentle climate and mostly fertile soils, the four countries of the United
Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) have a long history of human
settlement, and of the exploitation of land and natural resources. Its total population is about 60
million, and England is one of the most densely populated parts of Europe. Scotland, in
contrast, has some very wild and remote landscapes, but even here almost all land and water is
in some form of multiple use.
Conservation effort in the UK has therefore focused upon lived-in landscapes. The IUCN
List of Protected Areas currently features only two protected area management categories in the
UK: IV (Managed Nature Reserves) and V (Protected Landscape/Seascapes). The British
landscape is extraordinarily varied and rich in both natural and cultural interest. It is not
surprising that there has been a system designed to protect the most beautiful and vulnerable
parts – from the rugged Welsh mountains of Snowdonia, to the limestone dales in the
Derbyshire Peak District, to the remote, wild beauty of the Scottish Highlands, to the pastoral
vales and deep country lanes that are part of “Thomas Hardy’s” Dorset.
The UK has more than a half-century of experience of Category V protected areas. However,
arrangements in each country have taken a rather different course. England and Wales set up a
system of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) based on
legislation of 1949. This has been strengthened since: for example, each National Park is now
run by a freestanding authority, most Park funding comes from central government and new
AONB legislation was passed in 2000. Scotland introduced legislation for Regional Parks in
1967 and for National Scenic Areas (NSAs) in 1972. It has created its first two National Parks
only in the last two years. In Northern Ireland, AONBs were first set up in 1965 and some were
re-designated under 1985 legislation. In 2002, the Environment Minister commissioned re -
search into possible National Parks in Northern Ireland, which concluded that the Mourne
Mountains area would be the most appropriate starting point. The establishment of the New
Forest national park in southern England was announced by the government during 2004 and
work continues on the potential creration of a South Downs national park. Thus the develop -
ment of the UK’s Category V protected areas continues to this day and, as new challenges
emerge, there is a lively debate over Protected Landscapes in the UK.
Lived-in landscapes
The areas designated in the UK are characterised by their scenic beauty, for example, as
mountain, hill, wetland and coastal scenery. They are all lived-in landscapes: 289,000 people
live in the UK’s National Parks according to 2001 figures (Office for National Statistics, 2001
Census) and many more in the other Category V protected areas. Most land is privately owned,
mainly by farmers and landowners but also by other public and private bodies, including that
managed by conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), like the National Trust and
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