Tranquillity

Photo: R Coulam / Northumberland National Park
Walkers enjoying tranquillity in Northumberland National Park

Tranquillity is important for everyone – for our hearts, minds and bodies. We all need to ‘get away from it all’ every now and then. Tranquil areas provide a means of doing this in a crowded, heavily built-up country. Being largely natural and free from intrusive manmade noise and structures, tranquil areas in the countryside allow us to escape the noise and stress of cities, towns and suburbs, to be inspired and to get refreshed.

It has become harder to experience tranquillity over the past few decades – and may get harder still. Tranquillity is threatened by the steadily increasing urbanised area, the development of the road network, the growth in road and air traffic and the expansion of energy infrastructure.

There are only a few really large areas of tranquillity left in England. We must all work together to protect not only these areas that are most tranquil, but to protect and enhance those of ‘medium’ tranquillity, often near built-up areas and greatly valued and needed.

Tranquillity maps where your live
> National and regional tranquillity maps
> County maps

The campaign was made possible by support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.