Statutory guidance

Conservation covenants: list of designated responsible bodies

Updated 12 December 2024

Applies to England

This list includes the designated responsible bodies able to enter into conservation covenant agreements with landowners in England.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will update this list to:

  • add new responsible bodies
  • remove organisations that are no longer responsible bodies

List of designated bodies

There are currently 21 designated responsible bodies: 

  • Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
  • Bracknell Forest Council
  • Buckinghamshire Council
  • City of Doncaster Council
  • Environment Agency
  • Greater Manchester Combined Authority
  • Greater Manchester Environment Trust
  • Harry Ferguson Holdings
  • Natural England 
  • Newt Conservation Partnership
  • Northumberland County Council 
  • Plantlife
  • RSK Biocensus
  • South Tyneside Council
  • Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Limited
  • Swindon Borough Council
  • The Land Trust
  • The Lifescape Project Limited
  • Warwickshire County Council
  • Westcountry Rivers Trust
  • Westmorland and Furness Council

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Date of designation: 26 September 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: local authority

PO Box 634
Barnsley
S70 9GG

Email: biodiversityconsultations@barnsley.gov.uk
Telephone: 01226 774 703

Bracknell Forest Council

Date of designation: 4 April 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: local authority

Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 1JD

Email: biodiversity@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
Telephone: 01344 352 000

Buckinghamshire Council

Date of designation: 2 May 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment and heritage conservation

Type of organisation: local authority

Walton Street Offices
Walton Street
Aylesbury
HP20 1UA

Email: biodiversitynetgain@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01296 395 000

City of Doncaster Council

Date of designation: 26 September 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: local authority

Civic Office
Waterdale
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN1 3BU

Email: conservationcovenants@doncaster.gov.uk
Telephone: 01302 734 924

Environment Agency

Date of designation: 9 December 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: public body

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY

Email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone: 03708 506 506

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Date of designation: 9 December 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: public body

Tootal Buildings
56 Oxford Street
Manchester
M1 6EU

Email: responsiblebody@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk
Telephone: 0161 778 7000

Greater Manchester Environment Trust

Date of designation: 26 September 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: registered charity

499-511 Bury Road
Bolton
BL2 6DH

Email: responsiblebody@gmef.org.uk
Telephone number: 01204 663 754

Harry Ferguson Holdings

Date of designation: 23 February 2024 

Area of expertise: natural environment 

Type of organisation: private limited company 

Kings Manor Farm 
Copse Lane 
Freshwater 
Isle of Wight 
PO40 9TL

Email: contact@hfenvironmental.com
Telephone: 01983 211 346

Natural England

Date of designation: 12 January 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: public body

Natural England
Kings Pool 
1-2 Peasholme Green 
York 
YO1 7PX 

Email: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 060 3900

Newt Conservation Partnership

Date of designation: 14 November 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: community benefit society

First Floor
Bury Knowle House
North Place
Headington
Oxford
OX3 9HY

Email: info@newtpartnership.org.uk
Telephone: 01865 595505

Northumberland County Council 

Date of designation: 23 February 2024 

Area of expertise: natural environment 

Type of organisation: local authority 

Planning Services 
County Hall 
Morpeth 
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Email: conservation@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone: 0345 600 6400

Plantlife

Date of designation: 9 December 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: registered charity

Brewery House
36 Milford Street
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2AP

Email: conservationcovenants@plantlife.org.uk
Telephone: 01722 342730

RSK Biocensus 

Date of designation: 23 February 2024 

Areas of expertise: natural environment and heritage conservation

Type of organisation: private limited company 

Spring Lodge 
172 Chester Road 
Helsby 
Frodsham 
WA6 0AR 

Email: responsible.body@rskbiocensus.com
Telephone: 0330 223 1074

South Tyneside Council

Date of designation: 12 September 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: local authority

Town Hall & Civic Offices
Westoe Road
South Shields
Tyne & Wear
NE33 2RL

Email: ResponsibleBody@southtyneside.gov.uk
Telephone number: 0191 427 7000

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Limited

Date of designation: 26 September 2024

Areas of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: registered charity

The Wolseley Centre
Wolseley Bridge
Stafford
Staffordshire
ST17 0WT

Email: bionetgain@staffs-wildlife.org.uk
Telephone: 01889 880 100

Swindon Borough Council

Date of designation: 26 September 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: local authority

Civic Offices
Euclid Street
Swindon
SN1 2JH

Email: sbcdc@swindon.gov.uk
Telephone: 01793 445 500

The Land Trust

Date of designation: 26 September 2024

Areas of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: registered charity

1 Dewhurst Road
Birchwood
Warrington
WA3 7GB

Email: responsiblebody@thelandtrust.org.uk
Telephone: 01925 852 005

The Lifescape Project Limited

Date of designation: 12 September 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: registered charity

The Willows
Ipswich Road
Long Stratton
Norwich
Norfolk
NR15 2TG

Email: adam.eagle@lifescapeproject.org
Telephone number: 07814 991 892

Warwickshire County Council

Date of designation: 2 May 2024

Areas of expertise: natural environment and heritage conservation

Type of organisation: local authority

Shire Hall
Warwickshire County Council
CV34 4RL

Email: naturalcapital@warwickshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01926 418 060

Westcountry Rivers Trust

Date of designation: 26 September 2024

Areas of expertise: natural environment

Type of organisation: registered charity

Rain Charm House
Kyl Cober Parc
Stoke Climsland
Cornwall
PL17 8PH

Email: covenants@wrt.org.uk
Telephone: 01579 372 140

Westmorland and Furness Council

Date of designation: 26 September 2024

Area of expertise: natural environment and heritage conservation

Type of organisation: local authority

Planning 2
Voreda House
Portland Place
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7BF

Email: Fergus.McMorrow@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Telephone: 01768 212 111