Mendip hills National Landscape
The Mendip Hills National Landscape Partnership

The Mendip Hills National Landscape Partnership

What Does The Mendip Hills National Landscape Partnership Do?

The Mendip Hills National Landscape Partnership brings together organisations to provides a strategic and co-ordinated lead to the protection and enhancement of the National Landscape.

The National Landscape Partnership provides effective long-term management to keep the Mendip Hills National Landscape special.

The Value of National Landscape Partnerships’ report by Land Use Consultants was commissioned by the National Association for National Landscapes (National Landscape Association). The National Landscape Association is using this document to support discussions with Government regarding future funding for National Landscapes. Value of National Landscape Partnerships’ Report (PDF Download 470KB).

In June 2015 the National Landscape Association and National Parks England published ‘So much more than the view’ (PDF Download 6MB) highlighting the wide range of benefits National Landscapes and NPs provide to society.

National Landscape Team

The work of the National Landscape Partnership is supported by the employment of a small National Landscape Service, which is based at Charterhouse Centre. The work of the team is guided by National Landscape Core Functions. The primary purpose of the National Landscape Team is:

To provide a strategic, independent service dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

To co-ordinate and drive the implementation of the National Landscape Management Plan.

Who’s in the team?

Manager – Jim Hardcastle
Project Development Officer – Tim Haselden
Ranger Volunteer Coordinator – Andy Chamberlain
Nature Recovery Ranger – Nathan Orr
Landscape Planning Officer – Ian Bowen (Part Time)
Support & Communications Officer – Joanna Cheung (Part Time)
Farming Engagement Officer – Nick Donohue
Farming Engagement Support Officer – Penny White (Part Time)
Sustainable Recreation Officer – Dr Kelly Davies (Part Time)

Core Functions

a) Developing reviewing, preparing and publishing the National Landscape vision and the National Landscape Management Plan

b) Raising awareness of the National Landscape, and promoting the National Landscape vision and the management plan to help distinguish the National Landscape from adjacent countryside

c) Advising upon, facilitating and coordinating implementation by others of the Management Plan

d) Advising Local Authorities on their activities within National Landscapes, to encourage them to go beyond normal levels of service to attain the highest possible standards in countryside management

e) Monitoring and reporting on progress against National Landscape Management Plan targets

f) Monitoring National Landscape landscape condition

g) Accessing resources for management activities

h) Working with and contributing to the National Landscape Association activities. Participating in and promoting joint working between National Landscapes and across protected landscapes family.

i) Providing a management role to co-ordinate National Landscape protection through the actions of the National Landscape service, the National Landscape partnership and other partners at a local and strategic level.

j) Developing an involvement by the community in the management of the National Landscape

k) Providing landscape related planning advice

The specialist staff service aims to:

Make

Things happen, translating vision and national policy into local action.

Engage

With local communities to foster their skills, knowledge, and energy.

Provide

Value for money by securing additional funding, resources and project partners.

Use

Innovative approaches to deliver real results through genuine collaboration.

Promote

Sustainable rural growth, levering in a variety of income to protect and enhance the natural environment for the benefit of society and the economy.