AONBs, National Parks and Heritage Coasts

England's finest countryside has been designated by the Countryside Agency as National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

These areas are protected by law to ensure conservation and enhancement of their natural beauty not just for today, but also for future generations. Both National Parks and AONBs have their origins in the same post war movements to protect the countryside and were given protective designation under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to conserve and enhance their natural beauty. They are havens for wildlife and traditional rural ways of life, and places for people to live, work and enjoy the countryside.

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is exactly what it says it is: a precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation's interest to safeguard them. There are 40 AONBs in England and Wales and 8 of these are in the South East of England - a higher concentration than in any other region of the country. These are: Kent Downs, High Weald, South Downs, Surrey Hills, Chichester Harbour, Isle of Wight, North Wessex Downs and the Chilterns. More Information...

National Parks are extensive areas each with their own managing authority to conserve and enhance their natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of their special qualities. There are 8 National Parks in England & Wales, plus the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads which have equivalent status. They provide their 110 million annual visitors with the opportunity to explore some of England's most dramatic and remote landscapes. The South East is proud to have England's newest National Park as the New Forest was designated in 2005. We will soon be gaining another one as the process for designating the South Downs is well underway. More Information...

In addition, 33% (1,057km) of scenic English coastline is conserved as Heritage Coasts. These special coastlines are managed so that their natural beauty is conserved and, where appropriate, the accessibility for visitors is improved. There are 5 Heritage Coasts in South East England, representing stretches of our most beautiful, undeveloped coastline. These are: South Foreland and Dover-Folkestone in Kent, the Sussex Heritage Coast and the Hamstead and Tennyson Heritage Coasts on the Isle of Wight. More Information...