Senior councillors at North Yorkshire Council have formally supported plans to designate the Yorkshire Wolds as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Senior North Yorkshire councillors have given their support to plans to designate the Yorkshire Wolds as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
North Yorkshire Council has formally written to Natural England to express its strong support for the designation, which would cover about 180 square miles if the idea goes ahead.
The inland area includes the north and west slopes of the Wolds, the foothills south of Malton, and the High Wolds and their valleys. The coastal area runs around Flamborough Head, from Reighton and Sewerby Rocks.
At a full council meeting, the chairman of the authority, Councillor George Jabbour, pledged to walk the Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail next month to back proposals for the designation.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Jabbour described the Wolds as a breathtaking landscape with rich cultural heritage, adding that the status would help safeguard its unique character for future generations. He said that walking the trail would not only demonstrate his backing for the bid but also provide an opportunity to celebrate the area and engage with communities along the route.
Councillor George Jabbour said:
"This project has been going on for a long time with a campaign that spanned a number of years. However, Natural England has recently taken a step forward to consult on an area within the Yorkshire Wolds which spans part of North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire to become a national landscape or an area of outstanding natural beauty.
And the purpose of this designation is to increase the legal protections to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of this unique part of our county."
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, also known as National Landscapes, are protected by law to conserve and enhance natural beauty, placing them among the most valued countryside designations in the country.
Councillor George Jabbour added:
"At the moment, the Yorkshire Wolds contributes very positively to the economy, to recreation, agriculture, etc. But with the new designation, assuming it all goes as planned, then there will be further opportunities for responsible economic growth, improved access to green spaces, and enhanced wellbeing for local residents and also for people who come and visit our beautiful landscape."
The council leader, Councillor Carl Les, said the chalk landscapes, rolling hills, and archaeological significance of the Yorkshire Wolds make it an irreplaceable asset.
Councillor Carl Les said:
"Formal designation would ensure the appropriate long-term stewardship of these features, with clear benefits to nature recovery, climate resilience, and landscape-scale conservation.
This aligns closely with North Yorkshire Council’s ambitions for a greener, fairer, and stronger region, and our commitments under national and local environmental strategies."
The executive member for managing the environment, Councillor Richard Foster, noted that the designation could also bring economic benefits.
Councillor Richard Foster said:
"An AONB designation would help unlock further opportunities for responsible economic growth, improved access to green spaces, and enhanced well-being for our residents and visitors alike.
It would also support local communities and land managers through strengthened partnerships, broader funding opportunities, and coordinated landscape management."
A decision on the proposed designation will ultimately rest with Natural England following further assessment and consultation.
Councillor George Jabbour concluded:
"The addition of the Yorkshire Wolds as a new national landscape will only mean that Yorkshire will cement its position as an attractive location that appeals to people who come from all over the country and actually all over the world to enjoy our protected landscapes.
We've got the North York Moors, we've got the Yorkshire Dales, the Howardian Hills. So we are very blessed with this and we want to shout more about it because it is about the economy, it's about local communities, it's about wellbeing and health and recreation. And there is so much to be proud of in our fascinating rural part of the country."
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