United Kingdom Field Projects
The National Trust in the United Kingdom (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) provides an example of comprehensive coastal conservation achieved largely through ownership and restrictive covenant strategies. A similar organization, The National Trust for Scotland, exists for Scotland. This case study does not focus on just one site-specific project, but provides a programmatic overview of the National Trust's coastal efforts.
Most intertidal and subtidal lands are owned by the Crown Estate, an amalgam of the interest of the monarchy and national government. The largest owner is the monarchy, which holds title to about 55 percent of intertidal areas, half of the beds of tidal rivers and estuaries, and nearly all the seabed out to 12 nautical miles. Local governments own most of the remaining intertidal and subtidal areas, with private estates and conservation organizations having some ownership interests as well.
Leasing and licensing of intertidal and subtidal lands are common. Local governments, private companies, sporting clubs, and conservation organizations lease from the Crown while private companies, sporting clubs, and conservation organizations can also lease from local governments. The Crown Estate has issued some 2,000 leases for works and activities related to ports, moorings, wildfowling, fish farming, off-shore renewable energy installations, oil and gas pipelines, telecoms and electricity cable routes, and conservation. Conservation organizations leasing lands from the Crown Estate include:
- The National Trust
- Natural England
- Countryside Council for Wales
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- Environment and Heritage Service
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and wildlife trusts.
Some 570 kilometers (21%) of foreshore is leased specifically for conservation purposes. Sporting rights are leased out on an additional 700 kilometers of foreshore, with many sporting clubs designating portions of their leaseholds as wildlife refuges.
In 1965, the National Trust initiated what is now known as the Neptune Coastline Campaign to protect coastal areas throughout England, Wales and northern Ireland. The coastline was conceived as extending from intertidal areas to the skyline and coastal hinterland. The objectives of the Neptune Coastline Campaign were to secure landscape and wildlife protection and provide public benefit through the provision of access to the coast. In its first 40 years, the Neptune Coastline Campaign raised over U.S. $91 million (₤45 million) for coastal protection. Today, the Trust owns or holds restrictive covenants over approximately 1,100 kilometers of the UK’s 12,500 kilometer coastline.
Left: UK foreshore. Right: UK shore, cliff and sea. Photos courtesy UK National Trust
Being an owner and leaseholder has allowed the National Trust to be a leader in coastal realignment. For example, in 1991, the Trust worked with English Nature and the Environment Agency to flood a small portion of Northey Island, allowing salt marsh to reestablish itself. Trust advocacy against shoreline armoring in Porlock Bay, Somerset, eventually led to the abandonment of armoring plans. After a 1996 storm broke through old shoreline defenses, salt marshes and lagoons have reappeared, bringing an increase in species diversity.
Site and Covenant Information
Through ownership and restrictive covenants, the National Trust cares for over 700 miles of coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, nearly 10 per cent of the total mileage. A restrictive covenant is a proprietary interest in the covenantor`s (freeholders) land which will then bind successive title holders. It is often described that freehold title is a “bundle of rights—the right to occupy, right to mortgage, right to sell and the right to develop.” A covenant is one of those rights (usually the right to develop) that is removed from the bundle and given to the National Trust. In effect when the owner sells the land—he sells it without the right to develop it unless the developer has the National Trust's consent. Every restrictive covenant is individual to the property concerned and is contained within a deed that is often dated in its wording and open to interpretation. Therefore, detailed negotiations are best done through the Rural Surveying Department. The National Trust is given part of the legal right of the property and is entrusted to uphold the conditions of the covenant. Therefore, it is essential to treat this land as we would land owned by the National Trust. Private individuals can make and hold covenants—but these are time limited. National Trust covenants go on in perpetuity.
Transaction Summary
| Lease | Numerous |
| Leased area | 435 km of coast |
| Fee simple | Numerous |
| Fee simple area | 655 km of coast |
| Resource | Coastal landscapes, from low water to hinterlands |
| Dates/duration | Campaign began in 1965 |
| Fee/price | $89 million (U.S. dollars) |
| Location | UK |
| Use | Conservation |
| Grantor(s) | Various |
| Grantee(s) | The National Trust |
Lessons Learned
Unavailable
Cost Summary
| Activity | Cost |
| Acquisition of coastal lands from 1965-present | 89 mil (USD) |
| Current funds available for coastal lands acquisition and management (as of January 2008) | 24 mil (USD) |
Funding Sources
- Private Donations
- Membership Fees
- Rents from farms and buildings
- Crown/Government Grants
- Visitor income
Lead Organization
The National Trust
Address: Central Office, Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon Wiltshire. SN2 2NA
Tel: 01793 817401
Email: enquiries@thenationaltrust.org.uk
Partners
Unavailable
Authorizing Agencies
UK Government
Marine Consents and Environment Unit
3 - 8 Whitehall Place (2nd Floor - Area D)
London, SW1A 2HH
The Crown Estate - Marine
16 New Burlington Place
London
W1S 2HX
General Tel: 020-7851-5000
Marine Tel: 020-7851-5080
Email: enquiries@thecrownestate.co.uk
Documents
None
Publications
None
Other Resources
None