Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Renamed National Landscapes

New name and brand underpin ambitious nature targets

From Wednesday 22 November, all designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in England and Wales are becoming National Landscapes, which in Dorset includes both the Dorset National Landscape and the Cranborne Chase National Landscape. The new name reflects their national importance; the they make to protect the nation from the threats of climate change, nature depletion and the wellbeing crisis, whilst also creating greater understanding and awareness for the work that they do.

This is a significant milestone for the UK and the next step in fully realising the National Landscapes’ vision to be the leading exemplars of how thriving, diverse communities can work with and for nature in the UK: restoring ecosystems, providing food, storing carbon to mitigate the effects of climate change, safeguarding against drought and flooding, whilst also nurturing people’s health and wellbeing.

National Landscapes teams have been at the forefront of delivering natural solutions to the main challenges facing the nation for many years. The new brand underscores their commitment to redoubling their efforts and engaging with a wider audience. In 2019, teams set themselves the most ambitious targets for nature in the sector and continue to work to meet them.

By 2030, National Landscapes aim that, within their boundaries: at least 200,000 hectares of the most valuable natural areas (Sites of Special Scientific Interest or SSSIs), which equates to 1 ¼  times the size of London, will be in favourable condition; 100,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat outside of SSSIs will be created or restored, which is roughly nine times the size of Manchester; and 36,000 hectares of woodland, which is a little smaller than the Isle of Wight, will have been planted or allowed to regenerate. National Landscapes Partnerships will also focus on habitat restoration to ensure the protection of some of our most endangered species and increase their work to help more people to enjoy time spent in beautiful places.

Because of their size and scope, National Landscapes are ideally positioned to address the environmental issues the UK is facing. There are 46 National Landscapes in the UK, covering 14% of England, Wales and Northern Ireland including moorland, farmland, coast, forests, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, a Geopark and International Dark Sky Reserves. They are the UK’s nearby countryside – 66% of people in England (44 million) live within 30 minutes of a National Landscape and at least 170 million people visit them every year.

John Watkins, Chief Executive of the National Landscapes Association says:

“For decades, AONB teams have convened powerful partnerships which have placed them at the forefront of the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, but since their initial designation, our country has changed immensely, as have the needs and pressures on the environment and communities. However, we have great ambition as well as the commitment and readiness to care for and protect these important places, whilst also extending a welcome to more people. Our ambitious aims build on AONB teams’ long track record of successful delivery for nature and people and we are confident that we will achieve them. National Landscapes are the landscape designation for the 21 Century and beyond.”

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England says: 

“For decades the AONBs have helped protect the beauty of our finest landscapes. Today though we need so much more from these wonderful places, helping us adapt to climate change, catching carbon, restoring depleted wildlife and encouraging more people outside, at the same time as producing food, sustaining local communities and enhancing historic environments.

“Modern challenges require new approaches and today marks the beginning of a new phase for our National Landscapes, as they strengthen their existing partnerships, and forge new ones that will secure in perpetuity the huge range of benefits that come from these special places. Big change has taken place during the past 75 years and bigger changes still can be expected during the decades ahead. Uniting the National Landscapes in this way is very welcome and spells immense opportunity and great hope for the future.”

Tom Munro, Lead Officer for Dorset National Landscape says:

“Our work in leading the Wild Purbeck partnership is a great example of how we can bring people together to do bigger and better things for wildlife. Wild Purbeck enabled the creation of the 3,300 hectare Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve, allowing natural processes to be reinstated at a landscape scale.  £800k secured by the Dorset National Landscape team for the NNR’s wilder grazing unit brought the focus and investment needed to make this ambitious scheme move from idea to action, supporting habitats for many rare species such as the Purbeck mason wasp, yellow centaury, heath bee-fly and woodlark depend.”

Linda Nunn, Lead Officer for Cranborne Chase National Landscape says:

“The very distinctive, diverse and cherished landscapes of Cranborne Chase continues to be nurtured and enhanced by the many hundreds of farmers and landowners who are stewards of this unique National Landscape. Whilst the team has always worked closely with the farming community, the Defra funded ‘Farming in Protected Landscapes’ (FiPL) programme has enabled us to offer grants of over £1million since 2021 to farmers for 85 innovative projects, proposed by themselves, to greatly enhance their land within the themes of Nature, Climate, People and Place. The Cranborne Chase National Landscape team will continue to engage with farmers, local communities and visitors to ensure this much loved nationally designated area is conserved, enhanced and enjoyed into the future.”

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:

“Dorset is blessed with natural beauty, and it is a vital contribution to the county’s economy. We are custodians of the natural environment and have pledged to maintain specific habitats and increase biodiversity where possible.”

Find out more about Dorset National Landscape and Cranborne Chase National Landscape

Watch the Welcome to National Landscape film, by the National Landscapes Association.