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Month: June 2016

The Cotswolds AONB celebrates 50th Anniversary at the Palace of Westminster

The Cotswolds Conservation Board was delighted to hold a reception at the Palace of Westminster, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Hosted by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, who sent apologies from Lord Plumb, as he was unable to be present due to illness.  The reception featured a range of speakers including Rory Stewart, Minister for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Designated in 1966, the Cotswolds AONB extends from Bath to Stratford upon Avon and from Gloucester to Witney, covering the best part of 800 sq miles or 2040 sq kilometres. It is the largest of the AONBs and currently the second largest protected landscape in England, after the Lake District.

Speaking at the reception, Rory Stewart MP spoke about the purpose and importance of designating the Cotswolds as an AONB in the swinging 1960 to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area. He went on to say: “The Cotswolds AONB is a memorable landscape and one that will long continue”.

Attending the reception were; Alex Chalk MP for Cheltenham, Chris Skidmore MP for Kingswood, Harriett Baidwin MP for West Worcestershire, Ben Howlett MP for Bath, and Nigel Huddleston MP for Mid Worcestershire. Representatives from the House of Lords also attended along with local authority leaders and directors of local businesses. 

 Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP for The Cotswolds, who hosted the Westminster reception said: “I was delighted to host the event to help mark the 50th Anniversary of the Cotswolds being designated an AONB. It is a landscape in which we all have a stake; a local and national jewel.

I encourage all to help us ensure that it is a landscape conserved and enhanced for the next 50+ years and I invite everyone to help mark and celebrate the 50th Anniversary within your own organisation in the months ahead”.

The Cotswolds Conservation Board’s Chairman Liz Eyre went somewhat further and invited those attending to pledge their support for nine opportunities going forward:

  • Recognise the quality of the AONB landscape and secure the Cotswolds as a dark sky reserve.
  • Make the Cotswolds the best landscape for the visitor to explore by public transport.
  • Make the Cotswolds the walking and exploring capital of England.
  • Build the Visitor Giving scheme and grow the level of support and range of activity that it can invest in.
  • Make the very best use of the Cotswolds as a Natural Health Service.
  • Develop the rural skills programme and support young people to advance their skills by offering a range of traineeships and apprenticeships, to help keep the Cotswolds special.
  • Develop the Cotswolds Choice brand to support local producers and businesses that in turn support high quality landscape management.
  • Help farmers and landowners retain and create wildflower rich grasslands and at the same time use their flood management potential.
  • Develop our understanding of the full range of benefits that the Cotswolds AONB provides to society and business.

Liz Eyre said: “I ask for your support in advancing these programmes and ideas as we embark on the next 50 years. I similarly invite you to join the Conservation Board in helping to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this wonderful landscape in the months ahead.”

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP invited all attending the reception to join Liz Eyre on the 50th Anniversary fundraising walk, walking the Cotswold Way in 10 stages over the course of the year.

At the reception Hook Norton Brewery launched their Cotswold Lion beer, brewed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. The Cotswolds Distillery presented tastings of their gin, which has a 50th Anniversary collar/box design. Both companies are making a financial donation to the Cotswolds AONB.

Celebration events continue to take place across the Cotswolds throughout the year including: pop-up roadshows, creative workshops, an art exhibition and the Cotswolds Living Landscape Festival at National Trust’s Lodge Park on Sunday 18 September.

For further details visit www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/50

 


Parts of the Cotswolds AONB ranked as one of the darkest areas in southern England

The most detailed ever satellite maps of England’s light pollution and dark skies, released by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), have shown that parts of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are ranked 13th in terms of the darkest skies in England. 

The maps were produced using satellite images captured at 1.30 am throughout September 2015. This research comes at a time of increasing awareness of the harmful effects light pollution can have on the health of people and wildlife. That these skies were monitored at 1.30am illustrates just how long into the night England’s lighting spills outside of the Cotswolds AONB.

The Cotswolds Conservation Board has been considering whether parts of the Cotswolds AONB could be awarded Dark Sky status by the International Dark-Sky Association.  The Rollright Stones near Chipping Norton already has Dark Sky Discovery Status. 

Martin Lane, Director of the Cotswolds Conservation Board said: “Dark skies of the Cotswolds AONB have been fully recognised and included in the Tranquillity and Dark Skies Position Statement and revised Landscape Strategy and Guidelines for the Cotswolds, which include guidelines to conserve areas of dark skies and landscape and adopt measures to minimise existing light pollution.

The Board is exploring a bid to the International Dark Sky Association for parts of the Cotswolds to be recognised as a Dark Sky Reserve.

Keeping the lights out in the AONB is important to us. We were pleased to host a stargazing event at the Cotswolds Discovery Centre in Northleach in April in partnership with the Chipping Norton Amateur Astronomy Group. This event enabled the public to look through a wide range of powerful telescopes to observe the moon, planets and stars from the heart of the Cotswolds AONB. Looking up at night and seeing a star lit sky without disturbance from the lighting of neighbouring towns or cities really is a sight to enjoy.”

Richard Lloyd, Gloucestershire CPRE Vice Chairman said: “We would warmly support work towards achieving dark sky status for the Cotswolds AONB.  Being able to enjoy and appreciate the magic of the night sky is one of the special qualities of the Cotswolds”.

CPRE is calling on local authorities to use these maps to identify areas with severe light pollution and target action to reduce it, as well as identifying existing dark skies that need protecting. 

The new maps were produced by Land Use Consultants from data gathered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in America. The NOAA satellite captured visible and infrared imagery to determine the levels of light spilling up into British skies. CPRE is sending lesson plans to primary schools in order to promote the enjoyment of dark skies.

The interactive maps can be viewed by visiting http://nightblight.cpre.org.uk

 


Cotswold Grassland Week returns

Cotswold Grassland Week (11 – 19 June) returns this weekend and the week is packed full of events, talks and discovery days from Leckhampton Hill to Chipping Norton. The week of events have been organised to highlight and enhance the wildflower grasslands of the Cotswolds.

Events will take place across the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and have been organised by the Save Our Magnificent Meadows team at the Cotswolds Conservation Board, providing the chance to hunt out rare plants and butterflies.

Events and guided walks include:

Guided Walk: Up, Down & Around two Nature Reserves
Saturday 11 June, 10am

Starting Point: Slip road for Swainswick, East of A46, 3.3 Miles from Cold Ashton roundabout at the A46/A420 junction

The Meadows and hedgerows will be in early flower and there are splendid views and history to interest all. Along the way you will see more of the work of the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens. It may be hot so bring plenty of drinks.

 

A Talk on the Folklore & Medicinal Properties of Plants

Saturday 11 June, 2pm – 3:30pm

Cotswolds Discovery Centre, Northleach
An hour’s talk, with time for questions, looking at a variety of plants and discussing their medicinal virtues and folklore.

 

Guided Walk: Glyme Valley

Wednesday 15 June, 10am – 1pm
Meet outside Chipping Norton Town Hall

Explore the wonderful species-rich limestone grasslands of Glyme Farm.

 

A Talk on Managing Grasslands for Wildlife

Thursday 16 June, 2pm – 4pm

Cotswolds Discovery Centre, Northleach
An illustrated free talk exploring our amazing wildflower grasslands and their ecology and management.

 

Guided Walk: Living on the Edge
Friday 17 June, 10am

Starting Point: Stanton Village Car Park

Limestone grassland and woods on the Cotswold scarp are tough places for plants but the perfect home for some specialised and spectacular plant species. As part of the Save Our Magnificent Meadows project we will be looking at the very important habitat.

 

Guided Walk: Coppicing and Wild Flowers

Saturday 18 June, 10am

Starting Point: Biddestone village pond

Colerne Park woodland is managed by the Woodland Trust and Coppice work has been undertaken each year by the Wardens. As well as coppicing the Hazel, deer fencing has to be erected to protect new growth from the deer and this has to be removed after a couple of years to prevent brambles taking over. Orchids and Bath asparagus, as well as many more wild flowers thrive in the meadows within the Park. Suitable for families.

 

Family Fun Event: Fun & Flowers on the Hill!

Saturday 18 June, 11am – 2pm

Leckhampton Hill (parking at Salterley Quarry car park), nearest postcode GL53 9QW

Free event! Storytelling, face painting, guided walks and bug hunts amongst the flowers.  Bring your own rug and picnic! A great day out for all the family!

Guided Walk: The Magnificent Meadows of Leckhampton Hill

Saturday 18 June, 11:30am

Starting Point: Brown Stones Quarry – on top of Hartley Hill

A walk along the Cotswold scarp with views over Cheltenham, down to the lime kilns and return via cowslip meadow. Bring a packed lunch or a picnic! This walk complements the Save Our Magnificent Meadows event on the hill at the same time and explores some of the nature.

Grassland Week has been organised as part of the national conservation project – Save our Magnificent Meadows. Save our Magnificent Meadows (SoMM) is a partnership project led by Plantlife, which comprises 11 organisations including the Cotswolds Conservation Board and is primarily funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The project is working with landowners and communities to protect, conserve and restore their local meadows.

The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty contains a nationally significant proportion (over 50%) of the UK’s total Jurassic unimproved limestone grassland. This type of grassland is home to a large number of rare and declining plants including many species of orchid and other flowers including Pasque Flower and Cotswold Pennycress.

Eleanor Reast the Magnificent Meadows Conservation Officer said: “Grassland Week is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to see and learn about many of the rare and declining plants and wildflowers. For children especially it will ignite a lifelong interest in wildlife too!”

Full details about all of the events taking place during the week can be found online at www.escapetothecotswolds.org.uk