Natural England

Natural England has appointed a new Regional Director to help secure and enhance the North West’s natural environment.

Liz Newton, from Stockton Heath, near Warrington, has worked in the environmental field for 25 years. She will play a key role in helping Natural England deliver environmental stewardship projects, where farmers are encouraged to diversify and use their land in environmentally friendly ways.

Liz said: “I am delighted to be leading the work of Natural England in the region. We have an experienced and committed team here in the North West who are focusing on maintaining continuity of delivery whilst shaping our new programmes and activities.”

Natural England is a new public body set up to ensure the country’s unique natural environment is protected to safeguard our wellbeing and economic prosperity for future generations.

A significant proportion of the North West’s population in conurbations such as Merseyside and Greater Manchester suffer from poor access to natural environments in which to undertake physical activity. Natural England will work with health authorities and health providers to ensure that recreation and access to the natural environment are recognised and funded as a central and cost-effective part of preventative public health solutions.

Natural England is also working with partners to understand how we can help the natural environment become more resilient to climate change.

Liz, who grew up in Knutsford, Cheshire, added: "I am deeply committed to the need to secure a healthy, accessible environment that is managed in a sustainable way for present and future generations and I am looking forward to working in the North West to help achieve this."

Most recently, Liz was Natural England's Director of Risk and Governance.

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Notes for Editors

Liz Newton’s biography.
Liz has a degree in Environmental Sciences her early career focused on habitat management and landscape restoration. Previously she has held the post of North West Regional Director for the Countryside Commission, several national roles including the Countryside Agency's Director for Strategic Planning and Regional Management, overseeing the delivery of several large urban fringe regeneration projects, the Countryside Agency's Market Towns initiative and policy development for rural economies.

Liz has always been interested in the natural environment and anything that gets her outdoors, particularly on water. A keen rower, she spends much of her spare time on the River Mersey either rowing or coaching, but also enjoys cycling and walking.

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

The North West region provides contrasting physical areas from the upland fells and moors of Cumbria and the Pennines, to the rolling plains of Cheshire and West Lancashire and the rural fringes of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and other industrial towns.

The region covers an area of approximately 14,000km2, with 6.9 million inhabitants. 80% of the region is rural but 58% of the population lives in the Greater Manchester and Merseyside conurbations. 29% of the region is designated as a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the region has a coastline extending over 1000km. The region also has 10 European Special Protection Areas (SPAs), 30% of England’s commons, 37 European Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and 429 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Agriculture covers 80% of the North West’s land area and in the region there are over 689,385ha of land under agreement in agri-environment schemes.

Issued on behalf of Natural England by GNN North West.