Nature Recovery to be the focus of November’s Partnership Meeting

Nature is in crisis across the country, even in our so-called ‘protected’ landscapes wildlife is declining. Nature recovery will be the focus at the November Mendip Hills AONB Partnership meeting, Thursday 21st November 10am, Westbury-sub-Mendip Village Hall.

Simon Clarke, the new Head of Conservation, Policy & Biodiversity for Somerset Wildlife Trust will be delivering a talk on what we all need to do to allow nature to recover in this area. Simon has great experience working for Natural England and looking after our National Nature Reserves in the county.

The Partnership meeting will also be discussing the recommendations from the recent government review of AONBs and national parks and what the proposals mean for the Mendip Hills. AONBs came out of the review very well, being praised for their partnership working and ambition, and recommending they should be strengthened with increased funding, governance reform and a greater voice on development. The review recognised that many of the negative impacts on AONBs are well outside of the control of AONB partnerships.

The Mendip Hills National Landscape? One key proposal from the review is that the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) title be dropped and National Landscape adopted instead.

At the Partnership meeting there will be other updates and discussion from all partners regarding projects and work that affects the area. If you would like to attend could you please email: mendip@mendiphillsaonb.org.uk by Monday 18th November.

The agenda and all meeting papers can be found here: https://mendiphills-nl.org.uk/caring-about-the-aonb/the-mendip-hills-aonb-partnership/