Getting involved
Natural England
Natural England is an independent public body whose purpose is to protect and improve England's natural environment and encourage people to enjoy and get involved in their surroundings.
Objective 5 (Theme 3)
Establish audit
SSSIs, NNRs and LNRs
Natural England maintains data on SSSIs, NNRs and LNRs in England. This includes digital boundaries, location and ownership information and descriptions of their features of interest. Site boundaries and citations can be seen at Nature on the Map.
Local Geological Sites
Natural England, working with GeoConservationUK and The Geology Trusts, is establishing an England-wide dataset of Local Geological Sites. Local Geological Site boundaries are being digitised to a common format, simple associated site information is being gathered and condition monitoring is being facilitated as part of this initiative.
Objective 7 (Theme 4)
Maintain and enhance through management
Favourable condition of geological SSSIs - 2010
Natural England are working towards a target of having 95% of SSSIs in favourable or favourable recovering condition by December 2010. On geological sites this is being achieved through site management works such as vegetation clearance.
Conservation and Enhancement Scheme 2012-13
During 2012-13 17 geological SSSIs came into Conservation and Enhancement Scheme agreements. These agreements totalled over £70,000 and funded work to improve geological exposures through vegetation clearance amongst other things. Further details of the scheme and a case study example can be seen in Earth Heritage number 39.
Objective 8 (Theme 4)
Share good practice
Assisting development of LGAPs
Natural England plays a key role in the development of LGAPs. Natural England has undertaken and funded research into LGAP development and has published good practice advice and guidance on LGAP development. Natural England encourages the further development of new and existing LGAPs and LGAP partnerships and is often a key consultee or partner in LGAPs
Advice on geological conservation
Natural England advocate good practice for geological conservation through their website and publications. Geological Conservation: a guide to good practice is a publication which describes good conservation management of different site types (eg quarries, coastal sections, caves and fossil or mineral sites), providing practical advice and case studies.
Guidance on managing geological specimen collecting
Natural England has published guidance on managing collecting on mineral, fossil and other geological sites. This guidance provides information on Natural England's approach to site management and provides good practice guidance on collecting specimens. See for guidance and case studies
Objective 12 (Theme 6)
Involve more people
Volunteering opportunities
Natural England offers a range of volunteering opportunities and currently has over 2,200 volunteers across the country, offering help on National Nature Reserves (NNRs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest and helping with projects in regional teams.
Objective 13 (Theme 6)
Increase financial support
Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund Grant Scheme
Natural England administered a grant scheme as part of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). This fund provided grants that supported projects to reduce the effects of aggregate extraction on local communities and the natural environment. Between 2002 and March 2011 some of the grants awarded have supported works to improve access, education and understanding and evidence gathering in relation to geodiversity at aggregates sites in England.
Objective 14 (Theme 6)
Encourage working together
Geodiversity Partnerships
Natural England has helped established Geodiversity Partnership throughout England. The partnerships bring together a range of organisations, groups and individuals with an interest in geodiversity. In particular, they are providing new ways to share experience between areas, developing new ways of working and raising the profile and value of geodiversity at local levels. Using geodiversity as a common resource the partnerships are starting to establish new links across a range of organisations using geodiversity as an innovative way of working with different local communities and groups and using geodiversity to link with our surrounding environments and landscapes. See the Geodiversity Partnership pages for more information.