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There has been a recent shift by environmental agencies towards recognising the positive contribution made by humankind to the creation of valued landscapes. This discussion outlines the growing appreciation of cultural landscapes in various European countries. Particular attention is given to protected areas and the role of local communities in Britain. Landscape is concerned with more than mere marks on the ground, but also with the associations that people attach to their localities.

Charged with the responsibility for conserving “natural beauty”, National Parks are, theoretically, ideally placed to promote integrated conservation policies. The experience of the Parks in this regard is reviewed, and the question posed as to whether the increasing interest paid to them in the 1980's may have served to deflect attention away from losses in the amenity of our wider countryside.