Natural area
Natural areas are sub-divisions of England, defined by Natural England, each with a characteristic association of wildlife and natural features. They provide a way of interpreting ecological variations in terms of natural features, illustrating the distinctions between one area and another.
Ref The HS2 London-West Midlands Environmental Statement, Glossary of terms and list of abbreviations, DETR 2013.
National Character Area (NCA) profile documents explain how environmental evidence and information about places can be accessed and used. They divide England into 159 natural areas defined by a unique combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity, history, and cultural and economic activity. Their boundaries follow natural lines in the landscape rather than administrative boundaries.
See also: Landscape character area
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- Designated sites.
- Landscape character area.
- Local Nature Reserve.
- National nature reserves.
- National parks.
- National trails.
- National Trust.
- Natural England
- Natural environment white paper.
- Natural Resources Wales.
- Nature improvement area.
- Scottish Natural Heritage.
- Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI).
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
- Types of land.
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