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April news from the Chilterns AONB

In this Issue


Top image: Bluebells at Ashridge SAC by Steph Horn.

Our call to double AONB budgets during this Parliament: our views on the government's proposals for Protected Landscapes 

The Landscapes Review, led by Julian Glover, provided us with a once in a generation opportunity to understand and improve the vital role of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and other Protected Landscapes in England. 

We've been working with our partners to explore how best to take the recommendations forward, and last month we discussed the government's response to the Glover Review with Defra, Natural England, the National Association of AONBs and the wider family of Protected Landscapes. We've now submitted our views to the government.

While we welcome many aspects of the government's response, it is our view that it does not set out the ambitious, transformational change that Glover and his team envisaged and fails to match the government's own ambition for nature, climate and people.

We recommend doubling the budgets of AONBs over this Parliament, to reflect the critical role they play in society's wellbeing, ecosystems and economic infrastructure. We've highlighted a longstanding funding gap between AONBs and National Parks. Read on to see the extent of this chronic underfunding in numbers, and a summary of our response to the government.

Read more

Chilterns Walking Festival is back from 21st May - 5th June - bookings open!


Tickets are on sale for the Chilterns Walking Festival from 21st May to 5th June!


This year's festival has many new immersive outdoor experiences, from trike tours to outdoor singing walks; from nature photography walks to watercolour painting walks; from a climate action walk and talk to a 'crafternoon tea' learning traditional Chilterns bobbin lacemaking. Read more here >>>

For the seasoned hiker there are long walking challenges and speedy Nordic pole power walks. For history, heritage and architecture buffs, try a Tudor walk, a walking history of wells, a Roman road walk and a Capability Brown walk. There's also a Wilfred Owen walk and a Midsomer Murders walk.

Families will love the toddler walk and family wildlife experiences. For grown up nature lovers there's a butterfly and orchid spotting walk and skylark walk, plus nature reserve visits exploring geology and wildlife.
Book now

Chalkscapes and University of Bedfordshire's Research is recognised in a national climate action campaign 

A new piece of research linked to our Chalkscapes Project has been highlighted in Made At Uni’s latest campaign, ‘Climate Action’. Chalkscapes: Co-creating solutions with diverse communities using green spaces will evaluate access to and use of green spaces among minority ethnic communities living in Luton and Dunstable.

The University of Bedfordshire’s Institute for Health Research (IHR) is leading the research. The findings will help local organisations, including councils and charities, to co-create solutions to improve access to local landscapes for diverse communities.

“Luton and Dunstable are surrounded by the rolling Chilterns chalk hills, and yet many parts of this bustling urban community are disconnected from the landscapes on their doorsteps. The research will help the Chilterns Conservation Board and our partner organisations to understand and start to dismantle barriers to engaging with nature and the countryside. We hope to find new and vibrant ways for everyone to access the natural world  – especially for those who don’t feel the conventional routes of walking groups, muddy boots and birdwatching are for them,” said Inga Garrock, Project Manager, Chalkscapes Project (Chilterns Conservation Board).

Dr Nasreen Ali, Reader in Public Health Equality, is leading the Chalkscapes project. She said: “It’s great that the Chalkscapes project has been recognised by the Made At Uni: Climate Action campaign. It’s such an important environmental project, as it will help identify what prevents and what makes it easier for people from diverse backgrounds to use green spaces and the wider countryside.”
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Restoring hope for water voles and the River Chess 

Restoring hope for water voles

This March, a team of volunteers carried out pollarding and coppicing to extend the habitat for water voles at Restore Hope, Latimer. Learn how this will help the vole population become more resistant to predators, pollution and climate change. You too can join and volunteer on this project!  
Read more  >>
This month we also have an update on the River Chess Smarter Water Catchment Project. Read on to find out more about what a river catchment is, and how the project partners are working to study and protect it, creating a more resilient environment. 
Read more >>

 

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Citizen Science volunteering opportunities on the River Chess

The River Chess Smarter Water Catchment Project needs you to help monitor the health of one of our precious chalk streams The River Chess. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn how to survey the river habitat, spot sediment inputs in the river, and to help monitor insect numbers and diversity. You'll also learn how to measure water flows and water quality.

Whether you want to build a conservation or water quality CV or are looking for a nature-focussed retirement volunteering activity, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn from the specialists and contribute to river conservation. 

 
Read more

Chilterns Landscapes Art Exhibition

A special Chilterns Landscape Art exhibition combining community art and fine art ran from 24th April until Sunday 1st May at Wycombe Museum (closed Sat 30th). 

The Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Project team welcomed over 100 people to the prize giving event which saw local school children and their families and local artists collect prizes for their stunning works of art, now displayed proudly in the exhibition room.

Alongside these were 6 fine art pieces, reproduced from museums across the country, and a plethora of information about how the conservation work of Chalk, Cherries and Chairs relates to the artwork. Find out more and read about the winners below. 

Read more

200 visitors attend the Prehistory Day at Burnham Beeches 

More than 200 people attended a Prehistory Day at Burnham Beeches to see the site’s past come alive. Visitors could tour the live archaeological excavation led by Robin Bashford and witness a team of volunteers investigating an ancient earth bank and ditch to discover its age and function. On the Common, there were displays of ancient skills and crafts used in the Iron Age and Medieval periods, peak times for human activity in the Beeches.

These activities included a chance to see natural dyes and paints being made by Caroline Nicolay, smelting copper ore into objects with Dr Pete Hommel, fire making with bushcraft expert Dave Willis, and to talk medieval medicine with Julian and Valerie Rutherford.


The day was organised by our Beacons of the Past project in collaboration with Corporation of London staff at Burnham Beeches and with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Beacons of the Past

Inspiring farmers leading the way for biodiversity and carbon sequester

This month we can share case studies of two inspiring farmer's projects which are already having a positive impact on wildlife, biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Both projects were made possible with Defra's Farming in Protected Landscapes funding.

Neil Ashby is restoring the traditional orchard at Ivinghoe Aston Farm, planting 353 fruit trees. As the trees reach maturity, it's estimated that they'll sequester carbon at a conservative rate of 140.4 tonnes per year.
Read more >>

Eight farms from our unstoppable Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster have planted over 5315m of new hedgerow and gapped up, coppiced and laid even more hedgerow. This is creating essential habitats for wildlife and providing carbon sequester and reduction of surface run-off.
Read more >>

The next round of  Farming in Protected Landscapes funding is now open and we are already receiving enquiries from farmers. Find out more below.

Read more

A visit from Natural England, Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Mary-Ann Ochota

It was a pleasure to welcome the Chairs, CEOs and other colleagues from Natural England, Historic England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund on a visit to the Chilterns on 20th April.  

The organisations came together to discuss the synergies between natural and cultural heritage in Protected Landscapes.

The day included presentations from our CEO, Dr Elaine King, Beacons of the Past Project Manager, Wendy Morrison, and archaeologist, writer and hiking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota. Wendy, and John Shaw from Chiltern Rangers led a visit to Ivinghoe Beacon, a Chilterns hillfort. We’ve received some very positive feedback from those who joined us on day and are looking forward to progressing the conversations over the coming months. 

Cheese, woodland & a tree trunk picnic: a walk from Nettlebed through Warburg Nature reserve

Read our new walking volunteer Tom Horsfield's blog as he describes a stunning route starting and ending in the beautiful Chilterns village of Nettlebed. Tom passes through the Warburg Nature Reserve, peaceful woodlands, and visits the Cheese Shed, run by organic producer the Nettlebed Creamery.

Read more
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