carbonneutraltourism.co.uk

Who knows what an AONB is? Perhaps not the best known abbreviation and when said in full – Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – it can sound as if the speaker is simply waxing lyrical.

But an AONB is in fact a nationally designated landscape – “a precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation’s interest to safeguard them” (NAAONB).

The primary purpose of AONB designation is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape. Two secondary aims complement this:

• To meet the need for quiet enjoyment of the countryside
• To have regard for the interests of those who live and work there.

In England, AONBs are on a legal par with National Parks – equivalent in terms of their landscape quality and planning status. The main differences between the two are:

• AONBs are managed by local authority advisory committees, whilst National Parks require a special authority of their own
• The statutory planning process is the responsibility of the National Parks Authority, whilst within AONBs, it is the responsibility of the individual local planning authorities the area falls within
• National Parks tend to be located in upland areas whilst AONBs are mostly lowland landscapes
• National Parks are legally obliged to provide for public recreational opportunities, whereas AONBs are not.

There are 39 AONBs in England and Wales and a further nine in Northern Ireland. Some of the best known ones perhaps are the Cotswolds, Chilterns and South Downs – for a full list go to www.aonb.org.uk – discover the Lincolnshire Wolds, Northumberland Coast, the Forest of Bowland and many more.

The Kent Downs AONB is the eastern half of the North Downs. This ridge of chalk stretches from Farnham in Surrey, where it is designated the Surrey Hills AONB, through to Kent and across to the iconic White Cliffs at Dover. This same ridge of chalk reappears on the French side of the Channel where it is designated le Parc Naturel Regional des Caps et Marais d’Opale.

One of the most renowned features of the Kent Downs is its chalk grassland. This habitat is of international importance because it has become so rare and supports so many species of flora and fauna.  A walk across an area of chalk grassland in May and June can be a feast for the senses – tantalising smells of wild herbs, a colourful array of orchids and other wild flowers and the sound of insects that rely on the plants for their survival.

The Kent Downs is famed walking country – you can tread the paths of Pilgrims along the North Downs Way National Trail and the mythical Pilgrims Way, or breathe in the sea air along the Saxon Shore Way. Explore the secluded dry valleys, ancient woodlands and downland villages. Easy to reach by train, many places are accessible in approx one hour from London.

www.kentdowns.org.uk

Sarah Loftus
Sustainable Tourism Officer
Kent Downs AONB Unit

tagged Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Interesting companies & organisations and UK

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 5:46 pm and is filed under Interesting companies & organisations, UK. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.