From the beginning of October 2006 English Nature, the environment activities of the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency�s Landscape, Access and Recreation division will be united in a single body called Natural England.

Natural England will be a new and exciting organisation with the responsibility to conserve and enhance the value and beauty of England�s natural environment and promote access, recreation and public well-being for the benefit of today�s and future generations.

To achieve these outcomes, Natural England will:
		Support individuals, organisations, land managers and business to take action to conserve and enhance the natural environment
		Increase the opportunities available for people to make the natural environment and enriching part of their everyday lives
		Develop and promote sustainable solutions to environmental problems at a national, regional and local level and as a result increase the social and economic value provided by the natural environment
		Bring together organisations and individuals that influence and shape our environmental future, to achieve longer term conservation and enhancement of the natural environment
		Play a role in international efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment through sharing our expertise, advice and advocacy

It will have all the powers of the founding bodies, including awarding grants, giving advice and information, designating Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, managing National Nature Reserves, and enforcing the associated regulations.

Natural England will work in partnership with the Environment Agency, who will continue to lead on environmental protection and improvement of soil, air and water, and the Forestry Commission, who will continue to lead on sustainable forest management.

Natural England 's statement of strategic intent, Strategic Direction 2006-2009 , is now available. To download an electronic copy of this document click here (pdf 503 KB).