Today, we celebrate 75 years of safeguarding the places that inspire us, sustain us, and connect us to nature—marking the transformative Act that gave life to National Landscapes (then AONBs), National Parks, and National Trails. This visionary legislation forever changed how we protect and cherish our natural heritage, ensuring these landscapes remain enduring sources of wonder, refuge, and renewal.
The committee which prepared the legislation said in 1938 as war approached:
‘The Government is engaged on a Health Campaign…but it is no less essential for any national health scheme, to preserve for the nation walking grounds and regions where young and old can enjoy the sight of unspoilt nature.’
Recovering that vision of unspoilt nature demands the same ambition and foresight today, driving collaboration and action at a scale never imagined. As we face the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, the 1949 Act’s vision feels more relevant—and essential—than ever. Big Chalk is a broad partnership with a bold ambition to recover nature in southern and eastern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes – home to some of our richest habitats and internationally important for nature.
Building the backbone of a Nature Recovery Network
Big Chalk started in the Protected Landscapes of southern England, but it was always clear that while they could be the backbone, we needed to widen the geography and partnership and follow the geology and ecology to recover nature at the scale required. We are immensely proud that the Big Chalk partnership has grown to include more than 150 partners, collaborating in support of our shared vision of nature-rich chalk and limestone landscapes that benefit all of us.
Following the calcareous soils which overlie the chalk and limestone geology, the Big Chalk geography covers 25,900 km2 or 20% of England. It stretches from Dorset and the Blackdown Hills, east through the South Downs, Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs, north through the Mendip Hills to the Cotswolds and east through the North Wessex Downs, the Chilterns, reaching Norfolk’s coastline. Of this, 9,065 km2 or just over one third falls within Protected Landscapes – 14 National Landscapes and the South Downs National Park. National Trails provide access through and between these landscapes for people and increasingly for nature.
For 75 years, these landscapes have stood as testament to the enduring connection between people and nature, but nature’s decline has been as keenly felt here as elsewhere. The teams entrusted with their care have set ambitious goals for nature’s recovery, working with local communities, landowners, farmers and many partners. Vitally, they work across the statutory designation boundaries, joining new partners to work at nature’s scale.
Views over Seven Sisters Country Park in the South Downs National Park
Ambitious goals for nature’s recovery
These goals, contributing to the Government’s primary nature target of protecting and managing 30% of land for nature by 2030 (30 by 30), include:
- Bringing 200,000 hectares of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) into favourable condition.
- Creating or restoring 100,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat outside SSSIs.
- Regenerating 36,000 hectares of woodland.
Achieving the 30% target—endorsed by signatories to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as critical for the health of our planet—requires us to think boldly and act collectively, as Bruce Winney and Professor James Bullock set out in a previous blog. Big Chalk embodies this approach, demonstrating how coordinated action across the chalk and limestone landscapes of southern and eastern England can drive transformative change.
This geography includes large areas of productive farmland as well as globally important habitats such as species-rich grasslands and chalk streams. The potential for restoring nature is enormous: by expanding remaining habitats, creating ecological corridors and stepping stones, and improving the health of our rivers and streams, we can secure the future of nature in these precious places.
Pewsey Downs looking towards Salisbury Plain
Silver Washed Fritillary Butterfly
Securing the legacy for future generations
In managing our most iconic landscapes for nature, we do much more too, including supporting sustainably produced food, clean water, soil health and improved health and wellbeing for people. Across the Big Chalk geography, our partners are leading the way, working collaboratively and supported by a growing diversity of funding sources, with private companies playing an increasing role alongside government, agencies, and grant makers.
As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Act and decide its long-term legacy, let’s grasp the opportunity Big Chalk represents and do together what we can’t do alone. We can create a national nature recovery network across 20% of England, with Protected Landscapes forming the backbone. That requires aligning the different parts of the nature recovery toolkit – including policy, regulation and resources – to ensure frontline teams, such as those caring for our Protected Landscapes, can catalyse progress by targeting and facilitating activity on the ground. It’s surely a prize worth striving for, inspiring collective action and hope for the decades ahead.
David Hoccom
Programme Lead, Big Chalk Partnership
