Sharing, Learning, Inspiring: Landscapes for Life

In early July, Our Project Development Officer, David Blake, and the AONB Partnership Vice-Chairman Michael Mounde attended the annual conference of the National Association for AONB. The theme for this year's gathering was "Learning, Sharing, Inspiring". The title is recognition that the 46 AONB throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland are working together much more than ever before to achieve our common objectives: sharing our resources, learning and from each other; inspiring our partners and the people whom we serve. The collaborative work is coordinated by our National Association, ensuring that the collective AONB voice is heard in the corridors of power and that we can offer the best possible value for the taxpayer's pound. The conference took place at Newton Rigg Agricultural College near Penrith in Cumbria. This was a 'no frills' conference: basic accommodation, dining in the cafeteria and a schedule that kept them busy for three very full days.

Sharing

(L-R) - Philip Hygate, NAAONB Chairman
Chris Baines, National Grid Stakeholders Group
Howard Davies, CEO NAAONB

On the first day, representatives from the various AONBs conducted briefings, each one lasting about 45 minutes, to small audiences in break-out rooms. David supported Phil Holden (Shopshire Hills AONB) in presenting one briefing on "Making the most of AONB partnerships". This was the result of work over the last year to provide a source of information that will assist AONB teams in reviews and modifications in their formal and informal partnerships; especially in the increasingly challenging financial climate. David and Phil were able to describe for delegates the various AONB partnership structures and what makes them work well, and provide an opportunity for discussion on this topic, including new directions which AONB Partnerships may now be taking. David also attended a work shop/briefing with Jill Smith, National Association Communications Manager, providing her with advice, ideas and guidance as to where AONBs can work together better in communicating the core messages common to all. David and Michael attended a fascinating session run by Professor David Hill, Chairman of The Environment Bank, on Biodiversity Off-setting and the opportunities for AONBs. Biodiversity offsetting is a mechanism that government has introduced to facilitate the proper accountability for impacts on the natural environment from development. Offset provider sites can also provide investment opportunities for corporate non-development activity where a company wishes to reduce and compensate for impacts on natural capital through their supply chains. The Environment Bank is leading the way in providing the legal, fiscal and delivery mechanisms to maximise this new revenue stream to protect the natural environment.

Learning

Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science, is the minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (from where we get 75% of our core funding) with responsibility for AONBs and National Parks. On the last day, he gave Conference some good news about the continuity of the funding and some news that could have been better about how it will continue to be reduced in the long term. He reiterated the importance of keeping on working ever more efficiently, assuring us that he wants to support us and is prepared to listen. The general feeling in the room was that he is a man with whom we can do business. We also heard from Mat Roberts, Head of Sustainability at Landmark Support Services Ltd. Mat is a resident of Cranborne Chase AONB (so he has seen the best!). He addressed Conference on how we can build better relationships with business. This is in line with the work that David and Michael are involved in around the unique AONB offer to the private sector, how AONBs are perceived by private businesses and what we, as the AONB Family, need to do to engage more closely and gain resources from private sector partners. The learning part of the conference was serviced by 24 'market place stalls' set up in one of the main conference rooms. Coming from from all over the AONB Family, each stall presented an issues, projects or solution that had been dealt with effectively by an AONB Partnership. This was a great place to network with colleagues and discuss areas of common interest.

Inspiring

Chris Baines, chairman of the Stakeholder Advisory Group at National Grid (but perhaps better known for his appearances on television) addressed Conference about National Grid's programme to reduce the visual impact of main power supply routes (the lines of pylons that march across the landscape) putting main lines underground. National Grid is moving towards a new way of doing business: investing in good community relations and part of that involves a recognition that their activities have real costs in the nation’s finest landscapes.

Michael and David took the opportuntiy to visit Arneside & Silverdale AONB. One of the smallest Areas, it surrounds Morecombe Bay. It is a small-scale, intimate landscape with livestock farming, small woodlands, hamlets and tiny villages: almost the opposite of Cranborne Chase in many ways. However, they have many similar objectives such as sustainable tourism, clear interpretation and communication and landscape scale wildlife conservation.

For more inmfomation about this year's conference, or to download the speeches and see videos of our work during the three days, go to http://www.landscapesforlifeconference.org.uk.
Would you like to come to the next Conference? It is open to all, so please contact us if you want to be alerted when the invitations go out next year.