SWINDON, England, April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- National Trust has joined campaign groups in an effort to encourage the Government to recognise Britain's coasts and seascapes as more than just a view.

More than sixty years after laws were passed to protect Britain's landscapes the UK Government and devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland need to extend the same protection to the UK's seascapes, campaign groups are urging.

Phil Dyke, coast and marine adviser at the National Trust, said: "As an Island nation it does seem strange that it's taken us more than six decades to start thinking about how we protect our seascapes, these wonderful yet fragile places that mean so much to people."

The UK Marine Policy Statement heralds the beginning of the development of a marine planning system across the UK however while seascapes are mentioned campaign groups fear that they are not given the prominence they deserve and so they have come together to launch a new manifesto for coasts and seascapes*.

The manifesto for coasts and seascapes is supported by the National Trust, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW), Campaign for National Parks, the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Europarc Atlantic Isles.

Neil Sinden, policy and campaigns director of the CPRE said, "Our marine area is becoming increasingly busy, with more shipping, military training, fisheries, energy production, port development and aggregate extraction.  This is placing pressure on what's left of the beauty and tranquillity of our coasts which are such an important part of our quality of life and national identity.  That's why we need a robust marine planning system that extends the protection that we have for our landscapes to our seascapes"

Three of the key areas that the manifesto focuses on in terms of early action by all levels of Government are to:

- Recognise coasts and seascapes as a key resource in the marine environment.

- Identify the character and distinctiveness of the coastline and seascapes.

- Identify areas that are of national importance and a means by which they can be conserved by the planning process.

In addition to the fundamental contribution to the economy and culture of Britain's coastal communities, research by the National Trust found that two thirds of Britons said that visiting the coast is important to their quality of life**.

Current planning protection and designations only apply to land stopping at the low-tide mark, leaving seascapes vulnerable to pressures from human activities.  Seascapes are, in just the same way as energy production, port activities and aggregates extraction, a key resource of the marine environment.  The challenge is to ensure seascapes are safeguarded, linking their protection with that offered to adjacent areas of coast for the benefit of future generations. The new system of marine planning across the UK provides this opportunity.

Phil Dyke, added: "As a nation we clearly love the coast.  We have to seize this chance to ensure a robust and sensible planning approach to one of the most precious and delicate resources we have.  We should become a world leader in protecting our coastal and marine natural and cultural heritage for future generations."

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Notes to editors

* A copy of the manifesto is available by emailing/ calling the National Trust press office

** National Trust coastal values survey 2010

About National Trust

The National Trust manages 710 miles of coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland providing a wide variety of coastal walks and days out across the UK and a range of things to do in Northern Ireland.

Its first ever parcel of land was a two hectare site called Dinas Oleu in North West Wales.  The Trust manages one third of the coast of the South West of England and twenty per cent of the Welsh coast and iconic sites such as the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.

For further press information and images please contact:
Steve Field
Assistant Press Officer
The National Trust
Heelis
Kemble Drive
Swindon
Wilts SN2 2NA
01793 817740
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

SOURCE The National Trust