Steve RodrickSteve Rodrick

Chief OfficerChief Officer

Where we’ve come from Where we’ve come from

How we got hereHow we got here

Where we should be goingWhere we should be going

How did we get here?How did we get here?

There is nothing new in valuing There is nothing new in valuing special landscapesspecial landscapes

The British have recognised and The British have recognised and valued special places for centuriesvalued special places for centuries

The British appreciate natural beautyThe British appreciate natural beauty

Wonderful Scenery

Man made landscapes

Beautiful Buildings and Structures

Brunel’s Bridge across the Thames

Communing with nature and enjoying yourself

Special places - Special moments

Spiritually Important

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 and Distinction between National Parks and AONBs has become a curseAONBs has become a curse

The Long March BeginsThe Long March Begins

The Gower - 1956The Gower - 1956

The Family GrowsThe Family Grows

Countryside Commission stirs into Countryside Commission stirs into actionaction

Smart Anderson Report – 1990Smart Anderson Report – 1990

Champions AppearChampions Appear

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?

Getting Organised Locally Getting Organised Locally

JACs establishedJACs established

AONB Officers appointedAONB Officers appointed

AONB Units createdAONB Units created

Local and national enthusiasm growsLocal and national enthusiasm grows

Getting Organised Getting Organised Nationally Nationally

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

How Many Have You Been To?How Many Have You Been To?

19951995SwanseaSwansea 19961996SwanseaSwansea 19981998AccringtonAccrington 19991999CotswoldsCotswolds 20002000ExeterExeter 20012001NorwichNorwich 20022002LancasterLancaster

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

20112011CornwallCornwall 20122012YorkYork 20132013IpswichIpswich 20142014PenrithPenrith 20152015A joint Conference with the A joint Conference with the

National Parks?National Parks?

CROW Act 2000CROW Act 2000

Political InterestPolitical Interest

Section 85 DutySection 85 Duty

AONB Management PlansAONB Management Plans

Conservation BoardsConservation Boards

New Champions New Champions

Here to StayHere to Stay

Average age of AONB Unit - Average age of AONB Unit - 19 years19 years

Average length of service Average length of service - - 11 years11 years of current AONB Officers of current AONB Officers

Total service Total service - - 382 years382 years

Number of Staff Number of Staff - - 256256

We have created We have created something remarkable on something remarkable on

a shoe stringa shoe stringThe AONB designation and Units work at all levels

InternationalInternational NationalNational RegionalRegional CountyCounty LocalLocal SiteSite

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 ……………………………..

It has taken It has taken 60 years60 years

– where next?– where next?

The Good NewsThe Good News

Protecting special landscapes is Protecting special landscapes is culturally and politically embeddedculturally and politically embedded

Getting rid of protected landscapes Getting rid of protected landscapes is unthinkableis unthinkable

We’re cheap and the public likes usWe’re cheap and the public likes us

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

Why does this Why does this country spend so country spend so little in looking little in looking after its special after its special

landscapes?landscapes?

AONBs - National Parks AONBs - National Parks just as goodjust as good

andand just as deservingjust as deserving

For AONBs the biggest problem For AONBs the biggest problem is that they are not National is that they are not National

ParksParksHobhouse 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

Money is available, but Money is available, but it is not distributed it is not distributed

fairly fairly Resource allocation should be based on: Resource allocation should be based on:

NeedNeed ScaleScale SensitivitySensitivity PotentialPotential OpportunitiesOpportunities

Why are AONBs expected Why are AONBs expected to do more or less the to do more or less the

same job as the National same job as the National Park authorities with a Park authorities 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

South Downs National South Downs National ParkPark2013/142013/14Total Expenditure Total Expenditure £12,699,000£12,699,000National Park GrantNational Park Grant £10,589,000£10,589,000Net Cost of PlanningNet Cost of Planning £ 2,419,000£ 2,419,000Government Grant Government Grant £ 8,170,000£ 8,170,000 not needed for Planningnot needed for Planning

TOTAL NATIONAL AONB GRANT = £6,700,000

Five National Parks have today Five National Parks have today (22(22ndnd April 2014) April 2014)

received a share of £394,075 in funding received a share of £394,075 in funding from DEFRA for urgent repairs following from DEFRA for urgent repairs following the winter storms and floodingthe winter storms and flooding

““Our National Parks are the jewels in the Our National Parks are the jewels in the crown of our precious natural environment crown of our precious natural environment - this investment will ensure they remain - this investment will ensure they remain so”so” Lord de MauleyLord de Mauley

Where is the AONB Share?Where is the AONB Share?

The Government The Government criteria for distributing criteria for distributing

funds to nationally funds to nationally important landscapes important landscapes needs to be reviewedneeds to be reviewed

Resources should be allocated Resources should be allocated according to need.according to need.

Statutory purposes for all protected Statutory purposes for all protected landscapes should be the same.landscapes should be the same.

The distinction between National The distinction between National Parks and AONBs should beParks and AONBs should be re-thought or even lost.re-thought or even lost.

Don’t Lose Sight of the Don’t Lose Sight of the Bigger PictureBigger Picture

Think Big and Joined Up and beyond our Think Big and Joined Up and beyond our boundaries.boundaries.

Act local - Local People need to know we Act local - Local People need to know we existexist

Involve EverybodyInvolve Everybody

Sell ourselves betterSell ourselves better

Make sure we deliverMake sure we deliver

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 desirable But some change is good and desirable - people need - people need places to live and work places to live and work

Good design need not cost moreGood design need not cost more

Don't allow the Philistines to ruin these special places Don't allow the Philistines to ruin these special places

Large scale re-wilding and offsetting have a placeLarge scale re-wilding and offsetting have a place

TacticsTactics Take the Long ViewTake the Long View

Stick to your principlesStick to your principles

Be wary of straying in pursuit of the moneyBe wary of straying in pursuit of the money

Be as self-reliant as you can beBe as self-reliant as you can be

Keep close to the public - it is their views Keep close to the public - it is their views which really matterwhich really matter

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 TO CARE WE NEED PEOPLE TO CARE AND DO SOMETHING AND DO SOMETHING

ABOUT ITABOUT IT

These are tough times, These are tough times, but there are reasons but there are reasons

to be cheerfulto be cheerful

““I went to see Major General Harrison I went to see Major General Harrison being hung, drawn and quartered. He being hung, drawn and quartered. He was looking as cheerful as any man was looking as cheerful as any man

could in that condition”could in that condition”

Samuel Pepys, 13th October 1660

‘‘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