[1] Over 1,600 sites are listed, ranging from the grounds of large stately homes to small domestic gardens, as well other designed landscapes such as town squares, public parks and cemeteries.
If a park or garden has been registered using the designation process under the National Heritage Act 1983 it has legal protection.
[2] Although the inclusion brings no additional statutory controls in itself, English local authorities are required by government to take the protection of the historic environment into account in their policies and resource allocations.
[5] The register is also used in influencing management decisions, to improve public awareness of important parks and elements within them and to encourage their owners to preserve and maintain them.
[9] Eligibility for the register is based around documentary research and field survey which attempts to classify and date each park according to set criteria.