Natural England

A fund to boost sustainable development in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) has succeeded in getting more than four hundred environmentally friendly, community focussed and economically beneficial projects up and running.

In the Chilterns AONB £15,900 was awarded to seven projects in Hertfordshire, including a grant of £8,375 for conservation work on its Aldbury Nowers and Alpine Meadow nature reserves near Tring. These reserves contain valuable chalk grassland, which is home to many wildflowers and butterflies in the summer. Chalk grassland needs to be grazed regularly to keep scrub down and maintain the mix of grasses and flowers. The grant has enabled the Wildlife Trust to selectively remove scrub where it is encroaching and to install fencing and stock facilities so that sheep can be used to graze the reserves.

The Faith Works Trust near Berkhamsted received a £1,200 grant for the Cactus Project, which teaches schoolchildren about water resources, both locally and globally. Children learn how water has shaped the Chilterns landscape and how important it is to conserve water.

The Hertfordshire Chilterns contain well-known beauty spots such as the Ashridge Estate and the Gade Valley.

Defra asked Natural England to set up a Sustainable Development Fund to help protect AONBs, while ensuring local communities prosper. Natural England is working with local AONB partnerships on issuing funds and finding the best ways of making the money work for individual sites.

Shaun Thomas, East of England Regional Director for Natural England, said: “This funding helps create a sustainable way of life for people living in areas of finest countryside. AONBs prosper when communities work together to support the local economy and care for the sensitive and unique environment.

“It’s great to see so many people powered projects working for a healthy and sustainable natural environment.”

Barry Gardiner, Minister for Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs said: "I am pleased with the success of the Sustainable Development Fund for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the many varied and interesting projects which have benefited from it.

“Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are good for our health and wellbeing, and with our support the people living in and around them can help to combat climate change and take us a step closer to what we call One Planet Living."