Outstanding Magazine: the best of the Chilterns for 2020/21
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Our annual magazine shares the best of the wonderful Chilterns landscape - its nature, heritage, people and communities. You’ll find articles on the best ways to keep active in the Chilterns, one-day itineraries for all to enjoy, as well as lots of project and conservation news.
There's also a great A to Z of the Chilterns and for our younger readers, a fun "Young Explorers" page with lots of activities, information and ideas to keep them busy.
Read online here or pick up your FREE copy at hundreds of locations across the Chilterns including; cafes, shops, restaurants, hotels, B&Bs, theatres, shopping centres, railway stations and libraries.
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Conference season: Chilterns Champions and our Annual Forum
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Chilterns Champions Conference
In October we celebrated citizen science with an all-day conference involving experts from across the country. Kicking off with a keynote speech from Chris Packham, we heard from a variety of local and national organisations who are working to protect and conserve rivers, other key habitats, wildlife and heritage.
During the day, our presenters and panellists discussed key areas of citizen science work, the importance of such research at the regional and national levels, and the benefits enjoyed by citizen scientists already gathering data across the Chilterns.
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A green recovery in the Chilterns
Also in October we convened an expert panel of leaders to discuss how we can all work together for a green recovery. Panelists included Chief Executives, Estelle Bailey (BBOWT), Marian Spain (Natural England) and Pauline Walsh (Affinity Water). During the event the panel considered questions such as: "what can the environment sector learn from the way communities responded to Covid-19 and how can we inspire everyone to take positive action for the environment."
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New Covid-19 guidance for visiting the Chilterns
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We know that being outdoors and experiencing nature's beauty has become more important than ever. With restrictions being strengthened in many areas, we have updated our guidance on how to get the best out of your time in the Chilterns countryside, while keeping yourself and other people safe.
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If you are planning to take exercise in the Chilterns, please plan carefully, respect the countryside and others around you, take care to follow social distancing rules, and have consideration for the farmers and other land managers who care for this special landscape.
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The future of planning – and what it might mean for the Chilterns
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In his latest blog, Chilterns Conservation Board planner, Dr Matt Thomson, discusses the government's recent proposal for assessing local housing need, and what this might mean for the Chilterns.
On 16 December, the government announced how it would be responding to widespread concern about its proposals to use a central computer model of household growth estimates and house prices to impose house-building targets on local communities. The outcome of this approach would have resulted in a requirement to build vast quantities of homes in London and the South East of England...
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Our exciting new "Chalkscapes" project gets the green light
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We are delighted to have received support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the development of Chalkscapes, an exciting new partnership project in the northern part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Made possible by National Lottery players, the project aims to undertake landscape-scale conservation across 172km2 of protected landscape whilst also inspiring urban communities in Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Hertfordshire to find new and creative ways of understanding and caring about the landscape on their doorstep.
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Disappointment over Heathrow Airport’s expansion plan
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Last week we were disappointed to learn that the Supreme Court has overturned previous legal rulings and determined that it was lawful for the government to confirm its support for the expansion of Heathrow Airport, including the construction of a third runway, through the publication of the Airports National Policy Statement in June 2018.
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The best Chilterns places to visit with kids this winter
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Guest writer, Vicky Harlock - a mum of three from Aylesbury and blogger at Free Time with the Kids - shares her favourite places to visit with the kids in the Chilterns AONB this winter.
From woodlands to snowdrop walks, and museums to viewpoints, Vicky takes us on a virtual tour of some of the Chilterns' highlights for those with small feet in tow (or pedal).
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Calling for a Chilterns National Park
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We are delighted that Dame Cheryl Gillan MP has repeated her call for the Chilterns to be designated a National Park. Writing in "The House" Magazine, she reiterates the need for "open spaces and the green ‘lungs’ around our cities, which provide tranquillity and revitalisation. They strengthen physical and mental resilience for countless people."
The Chilterns landscape is under pressure from unprecedented levels of housing and infrastructure development – including HS2 and the Oxford to Cambridge growth arc – increasing urbanisation, loss of biodiversity and habitat fragmentation against a global backdrop of climate change and alarming declines in wildlife.
The Glover Report of 2019 recognised the immense pressure on protected landscapes, especially the Chilterns, commenting, “Some national landscapes – the Chilterns for instance – risk changing very fast as a result and mostly not for the better. We shouldn’t just accept this as sadly unavoidable. It should shame our generation to leave uglier, less liveable human settlements than those left for us by the generations which came before.”
In our most recent issue of Outstanding Chilterns Magazine, we explore what being a National Park might mean for the Chilterns with our Chief Executive, Dr Elaine King, and we have an explainer here.
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How well do you know your history?
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Beacons of the Past Project Officer, Dr Ed Peveler, ran an Lidar/archaeology Christmas quiz for the project's volunteers last week. For a bit of light (?!) relief we've created this short version to share with you all...how many can you get right? Answers will be revealed in the next edition.
PS. It's not for the faint hearted!
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Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. You can also keep up to date with the latest news and information on our website or by following us on social media.
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