Agenda item

The Committee had received the AONB Activity report which provided details of some of the key AONB projects and activities delivered by the AONB Unit since the last meeting in April 2017.  These included:

·  Haytime – this had been the most challenging year to date because of the wet weather.  25 hectors to work with and only two dry days together between mid-July and October.

·  Wildflowers for the Meadows Open Day was held at the beginning of July and around 150 people attended.  A series of instructional videos have been produced by Pendle Film Makers Association and these can be found on the AONB website.

·  Due to remaining funds in the AONB Sustainable Development Fund the AONB made a grant to support the development of new community-based web platform "Pendlefolk" as part of the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership development phase.

·  Champion Bowland – started the process of renewing their governance arrangements jointly with Bowland Experience Directors to explore the benefits of becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.  The application was submitted over the Summer and should expect to hear something shortly and will announce its' launch as soon as possible.

·  Bowland Experience – going forward it will not have a formal organisational structure but will continue as an informal tourism network.  "Start Tips for Profit" free business workshop was held on 26 September 2017.

·  Bowland Explorer has been providing a service between Lancaster and Bentham on Sundays and Bank Holidays and links with transport through Bowland.  Farm Visit Transport Fund is a small grant which schools can apply for.  Six schools have made 10 visits and the fund will be promoted again next year.

·  Discovery guides have been produced again and the collation of next year's guide is currently underway.

·  AONB Calendar profits go to Champion Bowland and the photos for it are submitted online and then the select few appear in the calendar.  Last year's profit was approximately £750.

·  Events – the Festival Bowland annual events programme offered a host of opportunities for people including Bluebell strolls, moorland bird safaris, bat walks, heritage discovery, a brown hare walk and a trek to the summit of Pendle Hill.  There was also the Garstang and Pendle Walking Festivals and the Ribble Valley Rambles.  Family-friendly events ranged from crafts and kite flying to pond dipping and shelter craft, plus the Gruffalo walks at Beacon Fell and the Countryfile Show.

·  Route monitoring – a group of volunteers monitor and maintain promoted routes on the Forest of Bowland website and keep them up-to-date.  There is also an App version called View Ranger available now, so it can be accessed on mobiles and tablets more efficiently.  A refresher training session and recruitment drive was organised during the Summer of 2016, which saw a number of new volunteers joining existing members.

·  Upskilling Lancashire – a European funding bid application for skills for growth was submitted on 10 March 2017 and notification was received in July 2017 that the outline application was successful with the partnership invited to submit a full application by 21 September 2017.  If successful the project is likely to start in January 2018 and end in September 2020.  The project aspires to increase the competitive and productive capability of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and microbusinesses across the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership area.

·  Undergrounding for Visual Amenity – 3km of overhead lines between Cow Ark and Newton have been removed which has made a big difference to the landscape.  This is part of the Undergrounding for Visual Amenity Programme run jointly between AONB and Electricity North West Limited (ENWL).

·  Landscape Planning – the Principal Officer has commented and attended a number of meetings relating to various local plans and policies affecting the AONB.  In addition, the Principal Officer has reviewed 81 planning applications between April and October and provided comments for 15 of these.

Councillor Starkie commented that the Wildflowers Scheme was coming to an end and would it be possible for the villages to plant their own.  It was reported that the expertise is still available in Sarah Robinson and that it could also be funded through the Pendle Hill project.

Resolved:  Councillor Starkie will speak to Cathy Hopley regarding funding for wildflowers.

It was also noted that with regards wooden footpath signs, Lancashire County Council has begun a process of replacement and renewal in Lancaster District.  Colin Price asked for it to be recorded that the metal AONB signage is looking good.

James Bray from RSPB was asked to provide an update on hen harriers in Bowland.  James reported that it had been another blank year for hen harriers with no nesting taking place.  One male held territory for a month, however there was no mating.  Two peregrines did fledge chicks.  Merlin population is stable and it was recorded that it was the best year on the United Utilities estate for this raptor.