In a country as rich in its diversity of wildlife, habitats and geological heritage as England, we must take a range of integrated approaches if we are to successfully conserve this legacy for future generations. One of those approaches is to protect valuable sites as jewels in the wider countryside. Whilst it is right that all of us, and especially the statutory agencies and environmental bodies, give sufficient attention to the nationally and internationally important sites, there is a key role for local government, interest groups and local communities at grass roots level in this approach.

Non-statutory Local Sites, of which there are in the region of 35,000 in England, make a vital contribution to delivering both the UK and Local Biodiversity and Geodiversity Action Plan targets and maintaining local natural character and distinctiveness. They provide important and widely distributed wildlife refuges for most of our fauna and flora and, through their connecting, stepping stone and buffering qualities, support other site networks. The Government’s recent Planning Policy Statement on biodiversity and geological conservation (PPS9) reaffirms the importance of the contribution such sites can make to our overall biodiversity objectives. The diverse nature of Local Sites can also provide other benefits to individuals, particularly if they are open to the public and able to provide excellent opportunities for contact with nature and a contribution to the quality of life and well-being of the community. They can also provide a focus for community involvement in the management of sites or offer opportunities for research and education.

Traditionally, partnerships supporting Local Sites systems have organised themselves in a number of different ways. The purpose of this guidance is to promote a transparent and consistent approach to the operation of Local Sites systems, drawing together best practice while accommodating the strengths of existing systems. Our hope is that the guidance will encourage existing partnerships and prompt others to fill gaps so that the best of their local natural wildlife and geological heritage is protected. In this way, we aim to raise and consolidate the profile of Local Sites as an important mechanism in our overall approach to biodiversity and geological conservation.