Agenda item

(a)    AONB Unit Activity Report

Including presentation on headline achievements over the last six months.

 (b)   AONB Unit Business Plan 2016/17

Elliott presented a report on key AONB projects and activity which had been produced from the online AONB Management Plan.

Hetty Bryne gave a presentation on various projects and activities undertaken by the AONB Unit between October 2015 and April 2016, including the following.

Hedge Laying - Volunteers had worked through Winter/Spring to lay hedges in areas such as Grindleton and Bolton by Bowland, supervised by expert trainers from Lancashire and Westmorland Hedgelaying Association.

Hay time – The Wildflowers into the Meadows Project was supported by the AONB Sustainable Development Fund and Networks of Nectar Project. A meadow at Stephen Park in Gisburn Forest has been managed in order to restore it as a hay meadow which included cutting using a scythe to encourage the growth of wildflowers. The meadow had been visited by children from five schools in Ribble Valley who were being encouraged to grow specific species and then plant them in the meadow.

Networks 4 Nectar – As part of the project the AONB unit were working with community groups like the Lancaster Bee Keepers in Caton to provide small pollinator patches and wildflower meadows to support local bee and pollinator populations. It was noted that the intention was to compare restored wildflower meadows with untouched meadows to see if the activity has resulted in an increased bee population. In addition seeds would be gathered from the restored wildflower meadows to be added to the Kew Gardens seed bank.

Peat Restoration – Environment Agency funding has supported peatland restoration work at Brown Syke on the Abbeystead estate and the AONB Unit has managed the project implementation on behalf of the Agency. A second bid for funding from Pennine Peat Life has been unsuccessful, despite having addressed feedback from the previous failed bid, and it is intended to lodge an appeal against the decision.

Champion Bowland – Recent grants had been used to provide a new shelter at Dunsop bridge, a moth trap for St Johns Church 'Church goes Wild' group and scythe training for the Friends of Beacon Fell to help produce a wildflower meadow. 

The Sustainable Tourism Forum and Bowland Experience Ltd AGM had been held in November 2015 and provided an opportunity for representatives from local businesses to meet and share ideas/experiences.

A logo had also been produced for use by Bolton-by Bowland, Gisburn Forest and Sawley Parish Council to emphasise that they are parishes within the AONB.

Rail Interpretation – The AONB Unit was working with partners to produce information for display at 4 railway stations on the 'Bentham Line' to inform rail users of the variety of places to visit, eat and stay within the Forest of Bowland. 

Bowland Revealed – The Arts Council funded project aimed at engaging populations in and around the AONB had been successful with over 1,800 participants, many of whom would hopefully visit the AONB in the future. 

Bowland Land Managers Forum – Was currently considering areas within the AONB which potentially would be able to support populations of Black Grouse in the future. This work will be dependent on securing funding/resources and also the success of the current breeding season to allow translocation of birds from core populations within Northern England to take place in 2016/17.

Northern Upland Chain Farmer Panel – Work was underway to establish a panel to give Pennine upland farmers a voice at strategic levels within Government and government agencies such as Natural England (similar to the South West Uplands Federation in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset).The Forest of Bowland will be offered two places on the panel and it is anticipated that local farmer groups will be able to nominate representatives to take up these places.

A prospectus was also being developed to encourage natural capital investment from corporate interests into peatland restoration and woodland planting to help improve their carbon footprint while benefitting the AONB.

Undergrounding – The AONB continued to work with Parish Councils to identify locations where overhead power lines can be moved underground in order to improve visual amenity. The AONB will continue to work with Electricity NW Ltd to bring forward new schemes

National Association of AONB – the next scheduled Conference will be held in Shropshire in June, 2016 and will have a health and wellbeing theme.

Elliott also presented the draft AONB Unit Business Plan for 2016/17 which represented an ambitious programme of activity whilst recognising the current economic climate.

Resolved:

1.  That the AONB Unit activity report for October 2015 to April 2016 as
presented and the updates given at the meeting are noted.

2.  That the AONB Unit Business Plan for 2016/17 as presented, is approved.