Catalogue description Records of Countryside, Sport, Recreation and Parks Divisions

Prior to 1951, responsibilities for the co-ordination of countryside, sport and active recreation policies; countryside, nature and wildlife conservation; and general planning advice in relation to the countryside, etc, had been exercised by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning.

When the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) was created in 1951, it took over the responsibility of the planning divisions of the Ministry of Town and Country Planning until 1965 when access to the countryside and related work were passed to the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources. In 1967, these functions were again transferred to the MHLG. Within these ministeries, these functions were exercised at various times by Planning Division C (to 1961); Planning (London and Home Counties) Division (1961-1962); Planning Division (1962-1966); Countryside Division (1967-1969); and Planning Division C (from 1969).

In 1970, responsibilities transferred to the Department of the Environment (DOE). The planning divisions of the DOE underwent many changes following the rationalisation of the planning units which it inherited in 1970. Of these, Planning Division C continued to have the initial responsibility for rural and countryside matters.

From 1972, rural planning issues were dealt with by the Planning, Minerals and Countryside Directorate, which also took on responsibility for national park policy. The directorate was divided into four divisions which were responsible for general questions on rural amenities, recreation and national parks, for policy and legislation on derelict land and for planning the use of minerals for both constructional and non-constructional use. The directorate also dealt with issues such as footpaths, commons, allotments, gypsy caravan sites, nature conservation and the planning of undeveloped coastal areas.

In 1974 the Planning, Minerals and Countryside Directorate merged with the Planning, Regional Development Directorate to form the Planning, Regional and Minerals Directorate, and responsibility for rural, sport and recreation policy issues was transferred to a newly created Planning Sport and Countryside Directorate.

The Planning Sport and Countryside Directorate was created to review countryside policy, to co-ordinate policy on sport and outdoor recreation, and to give planning advice relating to the countryside and coast. In addition to rural economy, its responsibilities included both the conservation of nature and the countryside (including nature reserves, the national parks, and forestry policy) and its use for recreational purposes, such as sport, tourism, public footpaths and rights of way, allotments, etc.

The Planning Sport and Countryside Directorate also had responsibility for the registration of common land under the Commons Registration Act 1965, footpath legislation, feasibility studies of caravan sites for gypsies, designation of national parks and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty, and general questions on allocation of grants under the National Parks Access to the Countryside (Grants) Regulations 1954. The directorate was also responsible for liaison with related bodies such as the National Parks Commission, the Countryside Commission, the Sports Council and the Nature Conservancy Council.

By 1976, the directorate had expanded from four to six divisions, and its work embraced also responsibility for wildlife conservation, and for international matters related to the environment, and to trade in endangered species. Matters relating to pop festivals were also added to its recreational responsibilities. The protection of wild birds was added to its responsibilities by 1977.

In 1977 the Planning Sport and Countryside Directorate was abolished and its duties were transferred to the Countryside and Recreation Directorate and the Sports Policy Directorate.

The Countryside and Recreation Directorate existed between 1977 and 1979. It was responsible for the co-ordination of countryside policy, the co-ordination of policy in sport and active recreation; countryside, nature and wildlife conservation and general planning advice in relation to the countryside.

In 1979 the Directorate of Rural Affairs was created within the department of the Environment taking over responsibility for rural affairs. Its primary function was to co-ordinate countryside policy. This involved liaison with interested bodies such as the Countryside Commission, the Development Commission, the Nature Conservation Commission, and the National Parks Planning Boards. It was also concerned with planning and research advice with regard to the countryside, coastal areas, recreation and tourism, and rural environmental issues, including protection of wildlife.The Directorate of Rural Affairs retained these duties until 1994, when it was replaced by the Wildlife and Countryside Directorate. In 1997, the functions of the directorate were transferred to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.