In the 18th century private Acts of Parliament were important in helping landowners to manage and expand their estates
Enclosure Acts transformed much of the rural landscape and helped to stimulate agricultural productivity
From the later 19th century parliamentary intervention has steadily improved the position of the tenant farmer
Modern agriculture has benefited enormously from the protection provided by the 1947 Agriculture Act
Popular interest in the countryside in the 20th century has led Parliament to provide rights of access and schemes for conservation
Parliament has established a secure framework of regulations for the protection of the nation's heritage
Follow the landmark items of legislation through which Parliament has introduced major changes in the countryside