Delivering a healthy environment

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2 Delivering a healthy environment This year, making strong connections between local people and their OUTSTANDING local landscape has helped us develop healthy landscapes for all to enjoy. Working with local businesses, landowners and communities has been central to a successful year. Made possible by support from Defra and local authorities, all our work this year helps deliver the statutory Dorset AONB Management Plan. We know that pictures speak louder than words, so this Annual Review showcases some of the entrants to our recent Site Seeing photo competition a reminder that all our work helps keep the Dorset landscape looking very special too! Jim White MBE, Chairman Find out more: dorsetaonb.org.uk/annualreview Site Seeing Photo Competition entry: Chapman s Pool by Owen Vachell

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4 New health benefits for older people This year our Stepping into Nature project received 328,000 support from the Big Lottery to help it deliver fantastic new outdoor opportunities for older people, including those living with dementia and their carers. Working with POPP, Public Health Dorset and the Dorset Dementia Action Alliance, the project aims to use Dorset s outstanding natural and cultural landscape to create and provide dementia friendly activities and sensory-rich places to visit in Dorset. HIGHLIGHTS Over 400 people involved in pilot project activities. Received the prestigious Bowland Award from the National Association of AONBs. Grant support will enable 422 dementia friendly activities, benefitting an estimated 450 people over 3 years. Site Seeing Photo Competition entry: Came Down by Tony Gill Find out more: dorsetaonb.org.uk/annualreview

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6 Healthy woods, happy people Working with Magna Housing through the British Gas Energy Trust Healthy Homes project, we have been looking at ways to help people at risk of ill health due to cold homes. We ve helped solve the practicalities of extracting, cutting, drying and supplying woodfuel from community woodlands to keep 4 tenants warm, with a model established to help more in the future. Getting community woodlands into good management, with the help of volunteers will also benefit wildlife enormously. Work to support the County Council-led Dorset Low Carbon Economy Programme will generate demand for more woodfuel projects in the future. Site Seeing Photo Competition entry: Garlic wood near Milton Abbas by Sedat Ozkanca HIGHLIGHTS Worked with five community woodlands to secure donations of timber for the Community Woodbank. Working with Bridport Citizens Advice Bureau to help identify future beneficiaries and Dorset County Council on storage options that will make the scheme sustainable. Developing a community-led economic blueprint for Bridport that highlights the potential for using West Dorset timber in new construction techniques. Find out more: dorsetaonb.org.uk/annualreview

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8 Support for a healthy local economy With such a varied landscape in Dorset, it s no surprise that we can boast an eclectic range of food & drink made here too! Supporting local food & drink businesses is at the heart of our Dorset Food & Drink initiative, providing a strong voice to our 190+ members. Celebrity chef Lesley Waters is our new Ambassador, joining Mark Hix and James Golding to help us shout louder about the great tastes of Dorset. New corporate support from NFU Mutual, Kingston Maurward College and Porter Dodson is helping us strengthen the sector further. Site Seeing Photo Competition: River Brit by Rosie Mathison HIGHLIGHTS The Guide publication reached 20,000 readers. 40+ members made new connections through our networking events. Moving to a not-for-profit Community Interest Company model. New Dorset Pedal routes launched with support from 25,000 Defra grant people attended the Dorset Food & Drink Christmas Fair. Find out more: dorsetaonb.org.uk/annualreview

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10 Investing in skill sharing and young people Getting some of the ancient monuments in the South Dorset Ridgeway into a healthy state has been a big success for our Heritage Lottery Fund supported Landscape Partnership this year. Awareness raising activities have paid off, with public interest translating into over 350 volunteer days clearing scrub from round barrows, laying hedgerows and repairing dry stone walls. Our education programme has reached around 7000 school children, with activities to help them discover this internationally important archaeology on their doorstep. HIGHLIGHTS Field Days exhibition and Rooting Around the Ridgeway used artists to bring the landscape alive to new audiences. New apprenticeships and part-time education programme opportunities. Almost 1000 people took part in guided walks led by local experts. Site Seeing Photo Competition entry: Hellstone by Michael Brown Find out more: dorsetaonb.org.uk/annualreview

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12 Planning for a healthy landscape The Dorset AONB is a living, working landscape and our role is not only to conserve it but to help make sure that changes in the landscape are as positive as can be. Our Planning Protocol has enabled us to support planners and provide technical advice on planning applications that could significantly affect the character of the landscape. Working with the National Grid, we are assessing opportunities for undergrounding power lines in the South Dorset Ridgeway and have also submitted an application to their Landscape Enhancement Initiative for landscape improvement works close to powerlines in the Marshwood Vale. We have also secured in principle approval for the removal of approximately six kilometres of local electricity network, across three projects. Site Seeing Photo Competition entry: St Catherine s Chapel by Rosie Mathison HIGHLIGHTS 128 planning consultations responded to, including: The revised proposal for a solar farm at Rampisham, placing the nearby SSSI into positive management. Input into Local Plan reviews in West Dorset and Purbeck. Input into five neighbourhood plans. Find out more: dorsetaonb.org.uk/annualreview

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14 Turning local ideas into action Our Sustainable Development Fund supports local groups and businesses to make the most of their outstanding landscape. This year woodlands have been a particular focus with communities getting hands-on in Little Giant Wood near Beaminster, new woody family activities in Bridport and schools exploring woodlands with words. We even helped a horselogging business to expand! Food & Drink businesses benefited from a new model of networking event, aimed at the tourism industry. The marketing toolkit developed as a result is to be adopted as a useful tool for other small businesses. HIGHLIGHTS SDF offered 17,835 in grants which translated to 78,154 project activity. Families with disabled children supported with a residential at the Magdalen Care Farm. Guided walks exploring geology, archaeology and wildlife attracted over 400 people. Site Seeing Photo Competition entry: Arne by Rhona Smith Find out more: dorsetaonb.org.uk/annualreview

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16 Partnership organisation and finance The Dorset AONB Partnership is made up of representatives of local government, local community, national Defra agencies, farming, rural business and conservation organisations. This Partnership oversees a core team of 6 officers whose direct work, project development and influence helps conserve and enhance this special place. A further 7 officers are engaged on specific projects. In : Core costs of 210,879 were covered by Defra (75%) and 5 local authorities Each 1 spent on the core team generated an additional 4.15 of value in delivery Total project value was 874,546 We supported 13 projects with 14,975 Sustainable Development Funding Major project income came from Heritage Lottery Fund, local businesses and the Health & Wellbeing Legacy Fund Volunteers contributed an immense 117,460 value in hours Find out more: dorsetaonb.org.uk/annualreview Site Seeing Photo Competition entry: Colmer s Hill Sunset by James Loveridge