The magazine that went on to become CLM first went to print in the spring of 1993. At this time it was named enact, and was published by English Nature (the forerunner of Natural England). The quarterly magazine aimed to promote land management for nature conservation and provide easy-to-understand advice on useful techniques. As enact, the magazine featured a wide variety of topical articles written by those working in the field. Practicality has been at the heart of publication since its inception, and its distinctive fact boxes have continually been put to good use in explaining relevant concepts and novel approaches to management.
English Nature went on to publish enact for a further ten years, but in 1995 production of the magazine was handed to British Wildlife Publishing (BWP). BWP was established in 1989 by Andrew and Anne Branson, and by 1995 had gained a reputation as a well- respected small publishing house specialising in natural history. For BWP, already well known for publishing the highly regarded British Wildlife magazine, taking on the production of CLM was to be the start of a long and ongoing association with the publication.
In 2003, ten years after enact was first published, it was decided that the magazine was in need of a makeover. The spring of that year saw the publication relaunch as Conservation Land Management, with BWP being tasked with giving the cover and interior an overhaul. The themes and subjects covered in the renamed magazine remained the same, but new features such as ‘Briefing’ (listings of relevant events and publications) and ‘On the ground’ (updates and advice on the latest products) made their first appearances.
Conservation has changed greatly over the past 25 years, and CLM today covers a wider variety of practical conservation issues than did enact. The core aim of the publication has, however, remained the same throughout its history, and it has firmly established itself as an invaluable source of information about good conservation land management practice. In 2018, 25 years after enact was first published, it was decided that the time was ripe for the magazine to be updated once more. CLM was given a complete redesign and volume 16.1, published in spring 2018, was the first to display the new look. While the publication has changed greatly over the years, it continues to serve those people on the ground working to conserve nature in the British countryside.