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Marian Spain

Interim Chief Executive, Natural England.

SSSIs: A Golden Thread Through My Career

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming, Land Use, Landscape, Natural England, Nature
Marian Spain with a field behind her.

In this blog, Marian Spain reflects on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) as a golden thread through her time as Chief Executive of Natural England. Highlighting Dearne Valley Wetlands, West Penwith Moors and Downs, and Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast, Marian shows how SSSIs have evolved from academic curiosities into the backbone of nature recovery, …

Marian Spain - from first conversations to Landscape Recovery: a career in the field

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Farming, Landscape, Natural England, Nature, Species recovery, Wildlife
river bank surrounded by trees

In this blog, Marian Spain reflects on Landscape Recovery, the ambitious agri-environment scheme uniting farmers, NGOs and investors across whole landscapes for 20-year commitments. Highlighting projects like Upper Duddon, Boothby and Evenlode, Marian shows how nature restoration and farm resilience combine to deliver food security, climate benefits and thriving rural communities.

Why beauty still matters: reflections on a career spent fighting for our finest landscapes

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Landscape, Landscapes and access, National Landscapes, Natural England, Parks, trails and nature reserves
Marian Spain, Tony Juniper and Navroza Ladha with the Surrey Hills and Yorkshire Wolds project teams and the official signed and sealed designation Orders.

By Marian Spain, Chief Executive, Natural England As she nears the end of her career at Natural England, Chief Executive Marian Spain reflects on 40 years working with Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, from their early days as planning tools …

Putting Nature at the Heart of Healthcare: My Reflections from Bristol

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Planning
A man and a woman in formal work clothes with hiking boots sit in deck chairs in a greenhouse filled with plants, smiling and facing the camera.

By Marian Spain, CEO of Natural England In this blog, NE's Chief Executive Marian Spain reflects on her recent visit to healthcare sites in Bristol to explore how partners are incorporating nature into health and wellbeing, and discusses Natural England's …

Where nature strengthens community: celebrating England's first accredited Nature Towns

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Development, Green Infrastructure, Growth, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature
Photo showing 4 smiling women in smart casual clothing standing in a row looking at the camera, in a field with the coastline in the background.

By Marian Spain, Chief Executive, Natural England In this blog, NE Chief Executive Marian Spain reflects on her visit to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP), alongside senior leaders from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Trust, to see …

Nature and Growth - Reflections from UKREiiF

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Environmental Delivery Plan, Natural England, Nature, Nature Restoration Fund, Planning, Wildlife
A man and 4 women sit on individual armchairs on a stage, each with a microphone, engaged in a panel discussion in front of an audience.

By Marian Spain, CEO of Natural England In this blog, our Chief Executive Marian Spain reflects on her recent attendance at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum and discusses the major role that nature plays in growth and …

Greener, Faster, Better: How Partnership Working is Streamlining Development on the Lower Thames Crossing

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Growth, Natural England, Nature

By Marian Spain, CEO of Natural England It’s not often that a major infrastructure project is associated with being green, but recently I visited a project which aims to be ‘Britain’s greenest road’. This is a bold claim but one …

Royal Assent: Natural England and the Planning and Infrastructure Act 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Growth, Monitoring, Natural England

By Marian Spain, Chief Executive, Natural England The Planning and Infrastructure Bill received Royal Assent today. The new Act is central to the government's Plan for Change, representing one of the most significant planning reforms in a generation. The Act also represents a milestone for Natural England, giving more opportunities to to …

Why access and inclusion matter in our protected landscapes  

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Connecting People with Nature, Education, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Wildlife

By Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England  Earlier this month I had the pleasure of visiting Dartmoor National Park and meeting the inspiring Kats Koster-Shadbolt, winner of last year’s New Perspective Award at the Campaign for National Parks’ National …

Celebrating 75 years of the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Landscapes and access, Natural England, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Protected sites and species, Wildlife
Lake District. Ashness Bridge with Skiddaw behind. Photograph: Paul Glendell

By Marian Spain, Chief Executive, Natural England We know now that access to nature is vital for our health and wellbeing, and when we feel a connection with nature, we’re more likely to care for it and help its recovery. …