Heritage coast facts for kids

A heritage coast is a special part of the coastline in England and Wales. These areas are chosen because they are very beautiful, have important wildlife, and often have a rich history. The main idea is to protect these special qualities and help people enjoy them.

In England, the group that helps with this is called Natural England. In Wales, it's Natural Resources Wales. These groups work with local councils to decide which parts of the coast become heritage coasts.

What Makes a Coast a Heritage Coast?

About one-third of the coastline in both England and Wales is a heritage coast. That's about 1,057 kilometers (657 miles) in England and 495 kilometers (308 miles) in Wales! The main goal is to keep these places naturally beautiful and make them easy for people to visit and enjoy.

Unlike national parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), heritage coasts aren't protected by a specific law in the same way. Instead, they are agreed upon by local councils and landowners.

However, many heritage coasts are also part of other protected areas. These include national parks, AONBs, and even famous places like the Jurassic Coast, which is a World Heritage Site. This means they have extra protection!

Some parts of England and Wales have more heritage coasts than others. For example, the southern coast of Wales and the counties of Devon and Cornwall in southwest England have a lot of them. Over half of Cornwall's coast and about 60-65% of Devon's coast are heritage coasts. In contrast, places like North West England have very few.

The very first heritage coast ever named was Beachy Head in England. It's famous for its stunning white cliffs!

List of Heritage Coasts

Here are some of the heritage coasts you can find in England and Wales. They are listed going clockwise around the coast.

Heritage Coasts in England

Heritage Coasts in Wales