Our priceless protected areas

Discover the UK's natural treasures, the species that call them home, and why they need protecting.

Beach including a woodland with a path running through it and salt marsh, RSPB Arne

What is a protected area?

From rare ancient woodlands to vast peatlands, protected areas are our natural treasures and greatest asset. Together, they work hard to combat the impacts of climate change and support a huge range of precious wildlife. 

The UK's most important sites have been granted special legal protections, recognising their value and fragility while seeking to protect them from harm and exploitation. These safeguards were fought for and secured in the 1970s, and have been defended to the present day, by nature lovers like you.

Protected areas help tosafeguardour future amidst a changing climate
Protected areas arehavens for wildlife like Puffins and Turtle Doves
Protected areas help tocreateplaces that are beneficial to our wellbeing
Over 7500 protected areas across the UK
Why are protected areas so important?

Protected areas are important as they conserve and enhance our priceless habitats and landscapes. This makes them a haven for some of our most precious wildlife, like Puffins and Turtle Doves.

These special areas provide invaluable benefits for people too. For example, peat bogs store carbon and filter water, coastal wetlands are an effective natural flood defence, and all help to safeguard our future amidst a changing climate. Being in these places is also incredibly beneficial to your wellbeing!

Where is my nearest protected area?

Closer than you think! In fact, our natural treasures are all around us.

Many are unmissable, like England's rolling heathlands and Wales' soaring sea cliffs. Others are hidden beneath our feet or the waves, such as Scotland's precious peat bogs and Northern Ireland's glossy loughs. All are a vital lifeline for nature and people.

In the UK, most of our protected areas are privately owned. However, you can experience many of them for yourself, with over 170 RSPB nature reserves ready for you to visit.  

Types of protected area:

You’ll see our protected areas categorised with the following labels:

SPAs – Special Protection Areas

Areas recognised for their international importance for rare and vulnerable bird species.

What are the main threats to our protected areas?

Our natural treasures are under pressure. We need our governments to strengthen safeguards on existing protected areas and urgently designate new sites. 

Yet, we're seeing the opposite. For example, in 2025 the UK Government passed its Planning and Infrastructure Act, which weakened the legal protections of some of our most precious places. The Act increased the likelihood of inappropriate development and, as a result, the destruction of precious habitats. Meanwhile, marine protected areas continue to be threatened by unsustainable fishing. And, a lack of government funding and advice is resulting in some protected areas being mismanaged or left to degrade.

That’s why it’s time to get to know and cherish your nearest natural treasures. By doing so, your community can unite and help maintain their protections and safeguard the precious wildlife, habitats and human benefits they support.

How do we protect these natural treasures?

As well as on-the-ground conservation action, at the RSPB we campaign for our protected areas at a local, national and international level. In line with the latest conservation science, we push for the protection, expansion and recovery of our precious habitats to help secure more, bigger, better, and more joined up habitats and landscapes.

This is only possible thanks to the support of our marvellous members, generous donors and brilliant volunteers who join us in taking action for nature.

How you can help

Take action

Sign up to our campaigns emails, including our fortnightly Action for Nature newsletter, and join a community of people fighting to protect our natural treasures. 

On our nature reserves and beyond, we strive to protect and restore many of our natural treasures through scientific research, on-the-ground habitat management, campaigning and advocacy. As such, we work in many precious landscapes across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including the following four featured sites:

Razorbill adult on sea cliffs at RSPB South Stack Nature Reserve
Holy Island Coast (Anglesey, Wales)

We’re working to safeguard protected areas at RSPB South Stack, a vital breeding ground for thousands of vulnerable seabirds like Razorbills and Puffins.

Heather moorland at sunset with dramatic sun rays in the background, RSPB Arne
Purbeck Heaths (Dorset, England)

We manage areas of Purbeck Heaths to create the ideal habitat for rare plants and animals, including Yellow Centaury and all six of the UK’s native reptiles.

Walking along boardwalk into woodland, RSPB Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond (West Dunbartonshire, Scotland)

In Scotland’s lush Loch Lomond landscape, we care for ancient oak woodlands and stunning species like Red Squirrels and Redstarts.

Curlew, perched on a rock in water
Lower Lough Erne (County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland)

We protect wildlife and wild places across a collection of islands on this freshwater lake, home to red-listed Curlews and breeding Sandwich Terns.

Take action for nature straight from your inbox

Sign up to our campaigns emails and join a community of people fighting to protect our natural treasures. You'll discover more about natural treasures, the threats they face and the different ways you can help to protect them.

You'll also receive our fortnightly Action for Nature newsletter, with ways to support wildlife in your community, nature news, facts and more:

  • News on important campaigns and ways that you can get involved. 
  • Updates on progress, so you can see how you’re helping to drive change.
  • We’ll send you campaigns, events and opportunities that are most relevant to where you live.