Landscapes for Life - Conference 2014. Sharing, Learning, Inspiring. 8th - 10th July 2014 - Penrith, Cumbria http://www.landscapesforlifeconference.org.uk

1. Steve RodrickSteve Rodrick
Chief OfficerChief Officer

2. Where we’ve come fromWhere we’ve come from
How we got hereHow we got here
Where we should beWhere we should be
goinggoing

3. How did we get here?How did we get here?
There is nothing new in valuingThere is nothing new in valuing
special landscapesspecial landscapes
The British have recognised andThe British have recognised and
valued special places forvalued special places for
centuriescenturies
The British appreciate naturalThe British appreciate natural
beautybeauty

4. Wonderful Scenery

5. Man made landscapes

6. Beautiful Buildings and Structures
Brunel’s Bridge across the Thames

7. Communing with nature and enjoying yourself

8. Special places - Special moments
Spiritually Important

9. The post war journeyThe post war journey
Hobhouse and DowerHobhouse and Dower
Important post war turning pointsImportant post war turning points
Lasting legacyLasting legacy
Distinction between National Parks andDistinction between National Parks and
AONBs has become a curseAONBs has become a curse

10. The Long March BeginsThe Long March Begins
 The Gower - 1956The Gower - 1956
 The Family GrowsThe Family Grows
 Countryside Commission stirs intoCountryside Commission stirs into
actionaction
 Smart Anderson Report – 1990Smart Anderson Report – 1990

11. ChampionsChampions
AppearAppear
 Prof Gerald SmartProf Gerald Smart
 Sir John JohnsonSir John Johnson
 Prof Adrian PhillipsProf Adrian Phillips
 Prof Michael DowerProf Michael Dower
 Prof Aitken ClarkeProf Aitken Clarke
 Lord RentonLord Renton
Where are their successors?Where are their successors?

12. Getting OrganisedGetting Organised
LocallyLocally
 JACs establishedJACs established
 AONB Officers appointedAONB Officers appointed
 AONB Units createdAONB Units created
 Local and national enthusiasm growsLocal and national enthusiasm grows

13. Getting OrganisedGetting Organised
NationallyNationally
 AONB Staff ForumAONB Staff Forum
 National Association for AONBsNational Association for AONBs
 Howard, Jill, Mike Taylor,Howard, Jill, Mike Taylor,
Richard, Dave and AmberRichard, Dave and Amber
 National ConferencesNational Conferences

14. How Many Have You BeenHow Many Have You Been
To?To?
 19951995 SwanseaSwansea
 19961996 SwanseaSwansea
 19981998 AccringtonAccrington
 19991999 CotswoldsCotswolds
 20002000 ExeterExeter
 20012001 NorwichNorwich
 20022002 LancasterLancaster

15.  20032003 SurreySurrey
 20042004 LlandudnoLlandudno
 20052005 WinchesterWinchester
 20062006 SwanseaSwansea
 20072007 DurhamDurham
 20082008 ShropshireShropshire
 20092009 ColeraineColeraine
 20102010 HytheHythe
 20142014 PenrithPenrith

16.  20112011 CornwallCornwall
 20122012 YorkYork
 20132013 IpswichIpswich
 20142014 PenrithPenrith
 20152015 A joint Conference with theA joint Conference with the
National Parks?National Parks?

17. CROW Act 2000CROW Act 2000
 Political InterestPolitical Interest
 Section 85 DutySection 85 Duty
 AONB Management PlansAONB Management Plans
 Conservation BoardsConservation Boards
 New ChampionsNew Champions

18. Here to StayHere to Stay
 Average age of AONB Unit -Average age of AONB Unit - 19 years19 years
 Average length of serviceAverage length of service -- 11 years11 years
of current AONB Officersof current AONB Officers
 Total serviceTotal service -- 382 years382 years
 Number of StaffNumber of Staff -- 256256

19. We have createdWe have created
something remarkablesomething remarkable
on a shoe stringon a shoe string
The AONB designation and Units work
at all levels
 InternationalInternational
 NationalNational
 RegionalRegional
 CountyCounty
 LocalLocal
 SiteSite

20. Who do you work with?Who do you work with?
 International organisationsInternational organisations
 National organisationsNational organisations
 National GovernmentNational Government
 Local GovernmentLocal Government
 Local peopleLocal people
 Local landownersLocal landowners
 BusinessesBusinesses
 SchoolsSchools
 Volunteers ……………………………..Volunteers ……………………………..

21. It has takenIt has taken
60 years60 years
– where next?– where next?

22. The Good NewsThe Good News
 Protecting special landscapes isProtecting special landscapes is
culturally and politically embeddedculturally and politically embedded
 Getting rid of protected landscapesGetting rid of protected landscapes
is unthinkableis unthinkable
 We’re cheap and the public likes usWe’re cheap and the public likes us

23. The ContextThe Context
 Diminished political interestDiminished political interest
 Shortage of public fundsShortage of public funds
 Changing environmental prioritiesChanging environmental priorities
 Less effective local governmentLess effective local government
 Smaller Government agenciesSmaller Government agencies
 Economic challengesEconomic challenges
 Greater Development PressureGreater Development Pressure

24. Why does thisWhy does this
country spend socountry spend so
little in lookinglittle in looking
after its specialafter its special
landscapes?landscapes?

25. AONBs - National ParksAONBs - National Parks
just as goodjust as good
andand
just as deservingjust as deserving

33. For AONBs the biggestFor AONBs the biggest
problem is that they areproblem is that they are
not National Parksnot National Parks
Hobhouse and Dower distinctions outdatedHobhouse and Dower distinctions outdated
We are less well understood –We are less well understood – not Cinderellasnot Cinderellas
We are starved of our share of resourcesWe are starved of our share of resources
We need to be inventive and resourcefulWe need to be inventive and resourceful

34. Money is available,Money is available,
but it is notbut it is not
distributed fairlydistributed fairly
 Resource allocation should be based on:Resource allocation should be based on:
 NeedNeed
 ScaleScale
 SensitivitySensitivity
 PotentialPotential
 OpportunitiesOpportunities

35. Why are AONBsWhy are AONBs
expected to do more orexpected to do more or
less the same job asless the same job as
the National Parkthe National Park
authorities with aauthorities with a
fraction of the funding?fraction of the funding?
National AONB Grant = £6National AONB Grant = £6 ..7m7m
National Park Grant = £54.9mNational Park Grant = £54.9m

37. South Downs NationalSouth Downs National
ParkPark
2013/142013/14
Total ExpenditureTotal Expenditure £12,699,000£12,699,000
National Park GrantNational Park Grant £10,589,000£10,589,000
Net Cost of PlanningNet Cost of Planning £ 2,419,000£ 2,419,000
Government GrantGovernment Grant £ 8,170,000£ 8,170,000
not needed for Planningnot needed for Planning
TOTAL NATIONAL AONB GRANT = £6,700,000

38. Five National Parks have todayFive National Parks have today (22(22ndnd
AprilApril
2014)2014) received a share of £394,075 inreceived a share of £394,075 in
funding from DEFRA for urgent repairsfunding from DEFRA for urgent repairs
following the winter storms and floodingfollowing the winter storms and flooding
““Our National Parks are the jewels in theOur National Parks are the jewels in the
crown of our precious naturalcrown of our precious natural
environment - this investment willenvironment - this investment will
ensure they remain so”ensure they remain so” Lord de MauleyLord de Mauley
Where is the AONB Share?Where is the AONB Share?

39. The GovernmentThe Government
criteria for distributingcriteria for distributing
funds to nationallyfunds to nationally
important landscapesimportant landscapes
needs to be reviewedneeds to be reviewed

40. Resources should be allocatedResources should be allocated
according to need.according to need.
Statutory purposes for allStatutory purposes for all
protected landscapes should beprotected landscapes should be
the same.the same.
The distinction between NationalThe distinction between National
Parks and AONBs should beParks and AONBs should be
re-thought or even lost.re-thought or even lost.

41. Don’t Lose Sight of theDon’t Lose Sight of the
Bigger PictureBigger Picture
 Think Big and Joined Up and beyondThink Big and Joined Up and beyond
our boundaries.our boundaries.
 Act local - Local People need to knowAct local - Local People need to know
we existwe exist
 Involve EverybodyInvolve Everybody
 Sell ourselves betterSell ourselves better
 Make sure we deliverMake sure we deliver

42.  Special places need to be kept specialSpecial places need to be kept special
- Landscape is the sum of its parts- Landscape is the sum of its parts
 But some change is good and desirableBut some change is good and desirable
- people need places to live and work- people need places to live and work
 Good design need not cost moreGood design need not cost more
 Don't allow the Philistines to ruin theseDon't allow the Philistines to ruin these
special placesspecial places
 Large scale re-wilding and offsettingLarge scale re-wilding and offsetting
have a placehave a place

43. TacticsTactics
 Take the Long ViewTake the Long View
 Stick to your principlesStick to your principles
 Be wary of straying in pursuit of theBe wary of straying in pursuit of the
moneymoney
 Be as self-reliant as you can beBe as self-reliant as you can be
 Keep close to the public - it is theirKeep close to the public - it is their
views which really matterviews which really matter

44. Enjoy ItEnjoy It
We value things we appreciateWe value things we appreciate
If we don’t value them, we won't careIf we don’t value them, we won't care
If we don’t care, we won’t do anythingIf we don’t care, we won’t do anything
WE NEED PEOPLE TOWE NEED PEOPLE TO
CARE AND DOCARE AND DO
SOMETHING ABOUT ITSOMETHING ABOUT IT

45. These are tough times,These are tough times,
but there are reasonsbut there are reasons
to be cheerfulto be cheerful
““I went to see Major General HarrisonI went to see Major General Harrison
being hung, drawn and quartered. Hebeing hung, drawn and quartered. He
was looking as cheerful as any manwas looking as cheerful as any man
could in that condition”could in that condition”
Samuel Pepys, 13th
October 1660

46. ‘‘A poor life this if, full of care,A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare’We have no time to stand and stare’
William Henry DaviesWilliam Henry Davies