North and East Yorkshire Councillors Back Wolds Protected Landscape Proposal

Councillors from the local authorities in the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire have joined forces to advocate the creation of a new protected landscape at the heart of God’s Own County.

Councillors Leo Hammond and George Jabbour highlighted the campaign to establish a National Landscape in the Yorkshire Wolds during an event at Number 10 Downing Street.

National Landscapes enjoy certain protections to conserve and enhance their natural beauty.  Until recently, they had been known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or AONBs.  However, from November of last year, AONBs became National Landscapes, a new name that reflects the significance that these places assume.

In June 2021, a written ministerial statement by Secretary of State, George Eustice (Defra) announced that Natural England ‘will be taking forward the government’s commitment to designate additional protected landscapes and is currently considering the designation of four new areas’.  This includes the possible designation of a new Yorkshire Wolds AONB.

North Yorkshire representative Cllr George Jabbour, who is also the Vice Chair of the Joint Advisory Committee of the Howardian Hills National Landscape, said:

“As I mentioned to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he recently visited our stunning National Landscape in the Howardian Hills, I believe that the possible designation of a new Yorkshire Wolds National Landscape would bring innumerable potential benefits to our local communities.

“Therefore, I felt that it was important to spread the word about the Yorkshire Wolds designation project that crosses the boundaries of two local authorities during my visit to Downing Street.  It has been a pleasure to work with my colleague Leo Hammond on promoting this campaign.”

East Riding’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Communities and Public Protection Cllr Leo Hammond commented:

“This status is vital to protecting our rural way of life and growing our local economy.  This is why I fully support the designation of a new National Landscape in the Yorkshire Wolds.

“This ensures that all of us have a bigger role to play in conserving and enhancing this breathtaking and captivating natural area.  I was delighted to work with my colleague in North Yorkshire George Jabbour on this project.”

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are designated for the purpose of conserving and enhancing their natural beauty. There are 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England including the nearby Nidderdale and Howardian Hills AONBs.  Designation as AONB means giving an area special legal protection.

Once an area has been designated by Natural England, activities relating to the purpose of AONB designation are coordinated and led by local authorities, who also have a legal responsibility to produce a Management Plan for the area. In carrying out their duties they often form wider partnerships with other organisations.  In addition, any public body (national or local) taking a decision or undertaking activity that affects land in an AONB has a duty to have regard to the conservation and enhancement of its natural beauty when carrying out their work.  AONBs are largely funded by a contribution from the local authorities in the area and a grant from Defra and may also seek additional funding from other sources.

The area which would be covered by the proposed AONB designation is described as :

"an arc of high, gently rolling ground extending from the Humber Estuary west of Hull, to the North Sea coast at Flamborough Head, north of Bridlington. It comprises a prominent chalk escarpment and foothills rising from the Vale of York to the west and the Vale of Pickering to the north, and falling to the plain of Holderness to the east. A very low proportion of the area is urban and woodland, and the vast majority of the land is agricultural. Woodland planting is restricted to small, scattered woodland blocks on higher land and steeper slopes."

The proposal to create new Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty cam following an independent review of the natural landscape commissioned by the Government in 2019.