The second annual review of the state of the historic nation has been published.

Compiled by English Heritage with the National Trust, the Historic Houses Association and other heritage bodies, it found that 75 per cent of all green spaces have lost historic features and in some conservation areas almost all the houses have lost their original windows and doors.

Tessa Jowell, culture secretary, said: "We are the guardians of the past and the trustees of the future. So I am delighted that the heritage sector has taken up the challenge I set to provide the hard facts to place the historic environment at the heart of contemporary life.

"As Heritage Counts demonstrates yet again, millions of us choose to live, work and relax in historic buildings and landscapes. So I want to involve communities more directly in how they are best safeguarded and preserved.

"To this end our Designation Review, which is already well advanced, is looking at a new system of protection that would give people a greater say. I hope it will unlock in the public mind the link between citizenship and heritage.

"This will only strengthen the contribution the historic environment makes to our education, our economic well-being and our quality of life."

Forum Response: English Heritage

Sir Neil Cossons, chairman of the Historic Environment Steering Group, said: "Heritage Counts 2003 is a guide to the true state of what is arguably England's greatest asset.

"Above all Heritage Counts 2003 delivers the resounding message that in our small, crowded and ancient country, the historic environment is all around us and that the vast majority, whatever their ethnic, social and cultural background, cares passionately about it.

"But statistics in the report show that much of our heritage is in peril - despite the evidence of its contribution to core government policies such as social and economic regeneration, sustainability, social inclusion, tourism, education and citizenship.

"Two thousand five hundred years ago, the city of Athens required that its citizens swear an oath, part of which ran more or less as follows: 'We will leave this city not less but greater, better and more beautiful than it was left to us.' This is the challenge before us today.

"Whilst the pleasure of a beautiful rural landscape or a fine street of historic buildings is self-evident and can be enjoyed freely by everyone, Heritage Counts provides the hard evidence for the government to justify giving the historic environment the financial and political support it deserves."

Forum Response: National Trust

Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust, said: "Heritage is about so much more than a record of our past or a good day out. It contributes tangibly to people's quality of life today and offers important opportunities to learn new skills, expand horizons or simply make new friends.

"We know that by involving people in caring for their heritage, they take far more pride in their local area. A high quality environment attracts investment, generates jobs, revitalises communities and improves the quality of people's lives.

"And this applies anywhere - from the spectacular, hidden treasure of Tyntesfield, where people can get involved in the whole programme of reconstruction and restoration of an almost forgotten Victorian gem, to the sense of pride and shared cultural heritage felt by the people of Liverpool with the opening of John Lennon's childhood home.

"Our heritage is hugely popular and vitally important for us all. The only surprise is that the government does not rank it more prominently among its own objectives."

Forum Response: Country Land and Business Association

Mark Hudson, president of the CLA, said: "This report vividly demonstrates the need for the overhaul of listing policy envisaged in the recent DCMS Heritage Designation Review. This is a vital review and one in which the CLA has been closely involved - it must underpin the follow up action to secure the future of our built heritage.

"We hope that the Review will be taken forward in a forward looking White Paper in the New Year, because it recognises that the conservation of historic buildings depends upon a partnership between English Heritage and their owners, and upon their being an economic use for buildings, especially the majority of non-residential listed buildings, many of which are owned and managed by CLA members in the countryside.

"Understanding the practical needs of owners and engagement of their voluntary co-operation, through management agreements where appropriate, lies at the heart of successful conservation.

"The participation of volunteers and others may be valuable in particular case, but should not be seen as an alternative to allowing owners to build an economically sustainable foundation for the maintenance of the great majority of listed buildings, wherever possible."

Forum Response: The Woodland Trust

Ed Pomfret, spokesman for the Woodland Trust, told ePolitix.com: "We welcome the publication of Heritage Counts as an important document that contributes to our understanding of the value of and threats to our natural heritage.

"We are pleased to see that it recognises the value of historic parks and gardens which provide areas for people to enjoy their natural historic environment.

"It is essential that these are protected from inappropriate development and we hope the government will take action on this.

"Ancient woods and ancient trees are another vitally important part of our natural heritage that are increasingly under threat.

"These provide living links back over thousands of years often providing archaeological interest and invaluable ecology.

"Unfortunately ancient woods only cover around two percent of the country now. Despite this we are aware of almost 300 individual cases of woods and trees under threat and we fear this is only the tip of the iceberg.

"It is essential that the government takes action to ensure that ancient trees and ancient woods are protected from development so we do not lose any more of our irreplaceable historic environment."

Forum Response: Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Oliver Foster, policy officer at RICS, told ePolitix.com: "Our historic environment is of enormous benefit in social, economic and cultural terms and this report is welcome as a way of ensuring the issue remains high on the political agenda.

"I read the findings of this audit with great interest as they add even more weight to the argument that the complex system governing our historic environment is in need of reform and increased resources.

"To this end we have welcomed the government's current review but caution that their proposals do not address the underlying structure of the system, whereby two government ministries (ODPM and DCMS) are separately accountable, two separate government agencies (EH and CABE) are administering, all of which are governed by a multitude of legislation".

"Of particular concern in the findings is the lack of sufficient numbers of sufficiently qualified local authority conservation officers and members ofthe skilled construction and conservation industry.

"Without a significant commitment to extra resources by government we fear that next year's audit could paint a picture of missed opportunities and failure to capture the full benefit of our historic environment in establishing and developing fully sustainable communities."