Exclusive: National landscapes’ chiefs say environment secretary has given no budget assurances and they are to expect cuts

Proposed cuts to England’s most beautiful landscapes pose an “existential threat”, the managers of the National Landscapes Association have warned.

These 46 regions, including the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, the Wye Valley and the north Pennines, used to be known as areas of outstanding natural beauty but were renamed earlier this year as “national landscapes”. They cover 15% of England, including 20% of the coastline.