This page gives an overview of the complex structure of environmental and cultural conservation in the United Kingdom.
With the advent of devolved government for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and of evolving regional government for England, the responsibilities for environment and conservation in the United Kingdom have become more complicated.
There follows a list of the legislation, conservation bodies (both governmental and otherwise), and conservation designations, which work together to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the UK. A list of 'objects of conservation' provides further links.
Some of the key legislation which governs conservation issues in the UK. This list is not exhaustive.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979
Badgers Act 1991
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
Environment Act 1995
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Environment (Wales) Act 2016
National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
Protection of Badgers Act 1992
Weeds Act 1959
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD)
The following are Executive Agencies of the UK government and regional executives, with note on their areas of responsibility.
Joint Nature Conservation Committee — co-ordination of regional bodies
England and Scotland
Forestry Commission — Forestry management
England
English Heritage — cultural and built heritage.
Natural England — nature and wildlife conservation, landscape protection.
Environment Agency — waterways, pollution, waste management.
Scotland
Historic Scotland — cultural and built heritage
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) — waterways, pollution, waste management
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) — landscape protection, wildlife conservation
Cadw — cultural and built heritage
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) (formerly Countryside Council for Wales, Forestry Commission Wales and Environment Agency Wales) — protection of landscapes and rural countryside, regulation of waterways, pollution, waste management
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) — conservation of natural and built heritage
Forest Service Northern Ireland
National Parks
The following designations are established or monitored by the executive agencies listed above.
Area of archaeological importance (under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979)
Area of archaeological potential
Conservation area
Country park
Green belt (intended to be a planning policy rather than a conservation designation, but often interpreted as the latter)
Listed building
Local nature reserve
Regional park
Regionally important geological site
Biosphere reserves
Ramsar sites
Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Special Protection Area (SPA)
SACs and SPAs are part of Natura 2000
World Heritage Sites
Article Four Direction
United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP)
Botanical gardens in the United Kingdom
Chalk figures in the United Kingdom
Forests in the United Kingdom
Heritage railway
List of abbeys and priories
List of castles
List of gardens
List of historic houses
Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom
Piers
Roman sites in the United Kingdom
Watermills in the United Kingdom
Waterways in the United Kingdom
Windmills in the United Kingdom
England
Abbeys and priories in England
Castles in England
Cycleways in England
List of English Heritage properties
Gardens in England
Historic houses in England
Lighthouses in England
National Trust Properties in England
Treasure Houses of England
Scotland
Abbeys and priories in Scotland
Castles in Scotland
Cycleways in Scotland
Gardens in Scotland
Historic houses in Scotland
Lighthouses in Scotland
National Trust for Scotland Properties
Abbeys and priories in Wales
Castles in Wales
Cycleways in Wales
Gardens in Wales
Historic houses in Wales
Lighthouses in Wales
List of Cadw properties
List of National Trust properties in Wales
Northern Ireland
Abbeys and priories in Northern Ireland
Castles in Northern Ireland
Cycleways in Northern Ireland
Gardens in Northern Ireland
Historic houses in Northern Ireland
Lighthouses in Northern Ireland
National Trust Properties in Northern Ireland
