AONB Awards open for nominations

Nominations have opened for the awards that recognise the amazing contributions of individuals, groups, and organisations in the Dedham Vale and Coast & Heaths Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). The Robert Erith National Landscape Award in the Dedham Vale AONB, and the David Wood National Landscape Award in the Coast & Heaths AONB, both recognise the hard work and outstanding contributions that people are making to deliver the AONB purpose, to conserve and enhance natural beauty. Nominations can be made in any of the following categories: Landscape and farming

Biodiversity

Tourism

Community engagement

Outdoor education

Culture or heritage

Access to the countryside

Nominations can be made online until Monday 31 January 2022. Further details and application process on each website

Nominate in Coast & Heaths

Nominate in Dedham Vale Designated Landscapes Review

The Government's response to the Designated Landscapes Review, sometimes referred to as the Glover review, is anticipated in early 2022.

It is understood that the response will outline the approach Government wishes to take for AONBs and National Parks and will contain some additional questions, the answers to which will influence Government's thinking on our National Landscapes.

The RSPB have already shared some thoughts in a blog on the Wildlife and Countryside Link platform, including the following statement:

England's protected landscapes, our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, can help deliver the transformative changes needed to tackle the nature and climate emergency but only if they are given the right tools and resources.

AONB Grants Coming Soon!

The AONB team will be opening the application window for its grants in early 2022. The grants are designed to support projects that deliver work relating to environmental, economic or social wellbeing. For more information on the various grants available in Coast & Heaths AONB and in Dedham Vale AONB, and to read case studies from recent funded projects, please visit the respective websites. Additional Funds from Defra for delivering AONB purpose

Defra recently contacted each of the 34 AONBs in England to ask if they could deliver more for AONBs if they had some additional funds.

The AONB team have responded and outlined several projects it could deliver in partnership relating to nature recovery, reaching wider audiences and improving access.

Any additional grant will need to be spent by the 31st March 2022 and we should hear the outcome of our bids in early January.

Farming in Protected Landscapes

The Farming in Protected Landscapes is a Defra funded programme to support farmers to deliver projects for meeting the AONB purpose of conservation and enhancement of natural beauty in the four key themes of people, place, nature and climate. A Local Assessment Panel, made up of farmers, specialist interest groups and agencies, has met for the first time and made its first awards. Local staff are now in place, and we look forward to supporting farmers and landowners to develop more bids for this programme that can deliver significant gains for farmers, and for public good. National guidance on making an application was covered in a recent webinar, which is available to watch online. Please also contact our Farming in Protected Landscapes Officer, Alex Dinsdale, at [email protected] or 01394 445 227. News in brief

The Planning Inspectorate is formally requesting that the Secretary of State grant an extension to the Reporting Stage of the application for the Sizewell C project, for a period of six working weeks, until 25th February 2022.

Nick Collinson, General Manager, Essex and Suffolk Coast for the National Trust has been elected as chair of the Coast & Heaths AONB Partnership. Cllr Andrew Reid retains the role of chair for the Coast & Heaths AONB Joint Advisory Committee which oversees the staff team. Elections for vice chairs will be held in early 2022.

The Green Print Forum, a voluntary organisation facilitated by East Suffolk Council hosted a conference called Farming Today, Fit for Tomorrow. A recording of proceedings is available online.