[1] The Agency was a government-funded advisory and promotional body; it owned no land and managed no facilities.

Its funding came from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as an annual budget of around £100 million.

The Countryside Agency worked with other bodies, such as local authorities, landowners and other public agencies, to provide grants and advice to conserve the natural beauty of the landscape, promote rural economies and make the countryside more accessible to the public.

The Countryside Agency had special responsibility for designating national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, defining heritage coasts, and establishing long-distance trails for walkers and riders.

The remaining parts of the Countryside Agency, largely research and policy functions, became the Commission for Rural Communities which was abolished in 2013.