Countryside Agency (Natural England)

The Agency was formed from the merger of the Countryside Commission and the Rural Development Commission. The Agency became part of Natural England in 2006.
 
Its main aims were to 'conserve and enhance England's countryside, spread social and economic opportunity for the people who live there and help everyone, wherever they live and whatever their background to enjoy the countryside and share in this priceless asset more'. Funding came from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as an annual budget of around £100 million. The Agency was based in Cheltenham with smaller offices in London and the regions.