Annual Report 2014/15

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CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORDI have great pleasure in welcoming you

to the 2014/15 Review of the work of the

AONB Joint Advisory Committee.

In many ways it has been a year of endings

and beginnings. The 2014-19 Management

Plan was published and circulated to our

partner organisations. It’s the backbone for our

work on conserving and enhancing the AONB,

as well as an important reference document

for developers. The 4-year Rural:Urban

Schools Twinning Project completed its

final round of visits and was universally well-

received by the participants.

We started developing a new 4-year project

to survey and manage Scheduled Monuments

in the AONB. A bid was submitted to

Historic England for funding and we have

subsequently learnt that this was successful.

The programme involves two full surveys,

scrub management work and re-seeding to

create less damaging vegetation cover. Much

of the work will be carried out by volunteers,

demonstrating how vital they are in helping us

achieve our objectives.

A major decision has been taken to re-locate

the AONB Unit from Hovingham to the North

York Moors National Park offices in Helmsley

in December 2015. With declining levels of

funding from both central Government and

our constituent Local Authorities, the Joint

Advisory Committee felt that radical steps

were needed. The move will reduce our office

costs by 65% and bring significant benefits

from joint-working, enabling us to continue

giving grants and practical assistance for

works on the ground.

As well as these two significant new initiatives

we’ve also completed a variety of works that

conserve and enhance the biodiversity and

cultural heritage of the AONB, and I hope you

enjoy reading about them.

Cllr Christine Cookman

Chairman, Joint Advisory Committee

ADMINISTRATIONLocal Authorities are responsible for the management

arrangements in the AONB, which falls within the County of

North Yorkshire and the Districts of Ryedale and Hambleton.

AONB policy and programmes of work are overseen by a Joint

Advisory Committee (JAC), supported by Officer groups. The

Core Partners Group consists of representatives of the 4 main

organisations (see list below). The AONB Partnership Group

takes in a wider range of organisations and interests and helps

with developing ideas/projects.

The Joint Advisory Committee (JAC)

During 2014/15, the members of the JAC were as follows:

North Yorkshire County Council

Cllrs Caroline Patmore & Clare Wood

Ryedale District Council

Cllrs Robert Wainwright & John Hicks

Hambleton District Council

Cllr Christine Cookman

Natural England

Rosy Eaton & Justine Clark

Parish Councils (Ryedale) - Sally Brown

Parish Councils (Hambleton) - Vacant

Country Land and Business Association - William Worsley

National Farmers Union - Rob Hicks

Ramblers - Steven Harness

Forestry Commission - Kate Hawley

The JAC met twice in 2014/15:

14th November 2014: Hovingham Village Hall. Christine

Cookman continued as the JAC Chairman and Robert

Wainwright as the Vice-Chairman. Members discussed the

proposed 2015/16 JAC budget, including resolving to explore

options for relocating the AONB Unit office in the face of

likely future significant reductions in funding. There was also

a presentation by the LEADER Programme Manager on the

2015-2020 Local Development Strategy.

26th March 2015: Hovingham Village Hall. Members discussed

the work achieved in 2014/15 and approved the Business

Plan and Action Programme for 2015/16. They also authorised

the AONB Manager to progress relocation of the AONB Unit

from the Wath Court offices to rooms at the North York Moors

National Park Authority in Helmsley.

Officer Steering Groups

The Core Partners Group convened on its regular quarterly

cycle. The AONB Partnership Group met in May 2015 to

review progress made with implementing the Objectives of the

AONB Management Plan over the previous year. The meeting

was held in the early evening and included presentations

on tourism development initiatives, to which local tourism

businesses were also invited.

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2014/15

INCOME £ EXPENDITURE £

Defra 116,109 Staffing 91,585

North Yorkshire CC 43,566 Office costs 20,308

Ryedale DC 5,066 Partnership running costs 3,557

Hambleton DC 5,800 Publicity/Research 4,188

Heritage Lottery Fund 6,600 Management Plan 3,008

Environment Agency 1,500 Sustainable Development Fund 14,455

National Centre for the Uplands 1,250 Natural Environment projects 12,434

Donations 25 Historic Environment projects 11,601

Enjoying the AONB 6,165

Young People (JRC, etc) 157

Young People (Schools Twinning) 4,637

£179,916 £172,095

Brought forward (45,689) Carried forward (53,510)

£225,605 £225,605

(Resources from grant recipients, volunteers, etc) 77,696

Total Value of AONB Unit Activity in 2014/15 £249,791

The AONB Unit

In 2014/15 the Unit comprised:

AONB Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Jackson

(1 FTE)

AONB Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liz Bassindale (4 days/wk)

(1 FTE/0.8FTE) Rebecca Thompson (1 day/wk,

April - November 2014)

AONB Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Maggie Cochrane

(0.5 FTE)

AONB MANAGEMENT PLANThe Management Plan is the key document setting out specific

objectives for the sustainable management of the Howardian

Hills AONB. Engaging in the strategic plans and actions of

other organisations, to promote the Objectives contained in the

Management Plan, is an important role for the AONB Unit. The

Plan must be reviewed every 5 years, by law.

In 2014/15 we finished the latest review of the AONB

Management Plan:

• 2014-2019 Plan published and distributed

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CONSERVING AND ENHANCING NATURAL BEAUTYThis is the primary objective of AONB designation and the

JAC attaches great importance to carrying out work on the

ground in the AONB, working in partnership with local farmers,

landowners and communities.

Work funded or facilitated by the JAC in 2014/15

included:

• 449m of hedge planting/gapping-up

• 265m of wall restoration

• 37 new in-field/hedgerow trees planted, with financial

assistance from the Environment Agency

• Continued control of Himalayan balsam along 5.8km of

Wath Beck, and started control work at Fairy Dell and

Jeffry Bog SINCs

• Continued control of rhododendron in and adjacent

to Yearsley Moor Woodlands SINC, completing the

clearance of an area of wood pasture

• Conservation grazing of 7 SINC or other important sites

by Exmoor ponies

• Management of species/vegetation on or affecting 5

other SINCs or SSSIs (by volunteers or contractors)

• Support for 2 village wildlife projects

• Involvement in the North Yorkshire Local Geological

Sites Partnership, to progress survey and management

work on the AONB’s most important geodiversity sites

• Improved management of 6 SINCs via Higher Level

Stewardship or English Woodland Grant Scheme

agreements

• Management works on 45 Special Interest Road Verges

• Participating in the new agri-environment scheme local

verification process, to ensure that all information on

species, habitats, heritage assets, etc was correctly

identified

• Developing a targeted programme of survey and

management work for Scheduled Monuments,

particularly those on the At Risk Register. Submitted a

4-year programme brief to English Heritage for funding

• Carrying out bracken and rhododendron control

works on Scheduled Monuments at Hovingham and

Newburgh

• Restoration of 4 traditional direction signs

• Work on 6 other Local Priority Sites or other historic

features, including repairs to a Listed field barn

• Supporting the restoration of the Castle Howard

Avenue, with a mixture of selective felling, replanting,

woodland clearance and parkland re-creation

• Advice given to 1 land owner on the management of

historic features

• Completion of undergrounding of electricity wires in

Bulmer, and continuing liaison with Northern Powergrid

on developing a framework for implementation of the

next 8-year programme

• Surveying National Grid overhead power lines close to

the AONB and submitting these for potential inclusion in

their Visual Impact Provision project

In addition to initiating and grant aiding work itself, the AONB

Unit also gives advice to applicants and/or comments on

applications submitted to the two main national grant schemes:

• Comments submitted on 3 Higher Level Stewardship

applications

• 13 English Woodland Grant Scheme applications

appraised for impact on the AONB

Tree planting, Sproxton

Wall restoration, East Newton

New hedge planting, Westow

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Planning Issues

The Joint Advisory Committee is consulted by the Local

Planning Authorities on certain developments in the AONB,

in line with an agreed protocol. The AONB Manager also

monitors the Weekly Lists of planning applications and calls-up

details of any smaller schemes which might potentially have

an impact on the AONB. Consultation responses are dealt

with by the AONB Manager, in consultation with the JAC and

Chairman in certain circumstances.

Larger/more significant applications examined in 2014/15

included the erection of 3 houses in Welburn, construction of

a replacement dwelling close to Kirkham Priory, substantial

extensions to a house at Welburn, construction of 500

dwellings on the western edge of Malton, erection of a new

farmstead at Gilling, erection of an agricultural workers dwelling

at Husthwaite and erection of 3 polytunnels at Gilling.

During 2014/15:

• 91 applications were determined by the Local Planning

Authorities. 88% of these were approved

• 87 of the applications were scrutinised in detail by the

AONB Manager

• Comments were submitted on 38 schemes, where

a conflict with AONB Objectives was identified,

improvements could be made or support was given

• Objections or Strong Reservations were lodged in 14 of

those responses; the District or County Council followed

the JAC’s recommendation of refusal, or the applicants

amended or Withdrew the proposals, in 6 of the cases

where a decision was required

• 11 consultations on other development (primarily within

roads or verges) were also scrutinised – comments

submitted on 5 schemes

In other planning-related issues we:

• Commented on national policy consultation documents

by submitting local evidence/perspective to the National

Association for AONBs (NAAONB) as necessary

• Carried out site visits with the contractors during the

seismic survey in autumn 2014, to understand the

process

• Attended meetings and debates to learn more about

fracking

• Supported new mobile phone masts proposed as part

of the Government’s Mobile Infrastructure Programme

to tackle ‘not-spots’

• Participated in the NYCC/RDC study to identify

improvements to the A64, particularly relating to

possible full dualling of the remaining single carriageway

section within the AONB

ENJOYING THE AONBThe Public Rights of Way network continues to be managed

to a generally high standard, with minor maintenance/

improvement works continuing over the whole network. More

complex path routing issues are being resolved gradually,

depending on their complexity, whilst volunteers are still

making a significant contribution to path management.

In 2014/15 work included:

• Publishing a hub leaflet promoting routes in the wider

Castle Howard area

• Re-printing the Great Outdoors leaflet with the North

York Moors National Park and Welcome to Yorkshire,

featuring some more of our walking and cycling routes

• Developing and implementing an initiative with Visit

York, via Ryedale DC and Welcome to Yorkshire, to

encourage visitors to York to stay an extra night and visit

the Howardian Hills area

• Continuing input into the ‘Moors and More’ local

distinctiveness project and other similar tourism

business initiatives

• Continuing to negotiate a package of improvements in

PRoW routing on the Castle Howard Estate

• Supporting an AONB Photography Competition and

prize-giving event, principally organised by RAY

• A team of at least 2 volunteers working on path

maintenance in the AONB during the first half of the year

• Removing litter from at least 10 sites in the AONB, on a

regular basis throughout the summer

New Rides and

Rambles leaflet

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COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS & EDUCATIONOur 5-stage project to twin primary schools in the AONB with

ones in Hull and York came to an end. The Junior Ranger Club

continued, with 4 activity sessions held during the school half-

terms and holidays.

In 2014/15 the programme consisted of:

Rural:Urban Schools Twinning Project

• 6 Round Four visits completed

Junior Ranger Club (April)

• Springtime Fun - 21 children

Junior Ranger Club (May)

• Island Explorers, Howsham Mill - 15 children

Junior Ranger Club (October)

• Amazing Autumn - 18 children

Junior Ranger Club (February)

• Winter Discovery -12 children

Communities:

• Projects funded in 2 villages, including 1 Village Hall

project

• Continued liaison with the principal organisations

involved in community work in the AONB, via the regular

Community Development Officers’ meetings

PUBLICITYPromotion of the AONB has continued via our Newsletter,

Annual Report and attendance at the local agricultural

show. Increasingly our profile is being raised via the leaflets

and publicity being produced in partnership with other

organisations, as detailed in the ‘Enjoying the AONB’ section.

In 2014/15 we:

• Maintained the 14 AONB Gateway Signs

• Approached the Highways Agency to enquire about

installing brown tourism gateway signs on the A64

• Obtained at least 6 known press mentions for projects/

AONB, equivalent to at least £7,000 of advertising

space. This was for April & May 2014 only, after which

time the monitoring scheme ceased

• Mounted a display about the AONB at 2 events

• Gave evening talks to 2 groups

• Published and distributed our annual Newsletter (AONB

News) in October 2014

• Published our 2013/14 Annual Report in December

2014

• Continued to manage the AONB website – 88,200 Page

Views by 13,700 Users. Also scoped options for a low

cost re-fresh

• Attended the Ryedale Show

• Completed installation of the final three 25th Anniversary

log seats

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTThe Sustainable Development Fund distributed £14,500

to projects, assisting a variety of schemes addressing

environmental, social and economic objectives.

In 2014/15 the Sustainable Development Fund assisted:

• Year 2 of a Sustainable Rural Communities project run by

Rural Action Yorkshire, assisting with community planning

• Refurbishment of Coneysthorpe Village Hall

• Enhancement of the outdoor areas at Terrington Village

Hall, to create vegetable growing plots, artwork and play

space

Making model waterwheels on a Schools Twinning Project day

at Howsham Mill

Outdoor pre-school classroom area, Terrington Village Hall

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PARTNERSHIP WORKINGThe AONB Management Plan is delivered via the policies and

actions of many partner organisations, but we also make use

of a number of sources of specialist help and assistance.

In 2014/15:

• We continued work with Ryedale and Scarborough

Councils, to prepare a new Biodiversity Action Plan for

the joint area

• We participated in the North York Moors, Coast and

Hills LEADER Transition phase, helping to prepare a new

Local Development Strategy. Approval received from

Defra, with funding of £2.34m

• We continued to explore options to support jobs, skills

and sustainable economic growth locally, as part of the

joint Protected Landscapes Growth Plan submitted to

the Local Enterprise Partnership

• We participated in the Dales & Moors Farm Innovation

Project, with 1 farmer from the AONB taking part

• We continued to work with a partnership focused on

the River Rye, to develop a project to tackle invasive

species, river quality and sedimentation on a catchment

scale. This is now part of the Yorkshire Derwent

Catchment Partnership, principally lead by the East

Yorkshire Rivers Trust and North York Moors National

Park, and a comprehensive Strategy is being prepared

Volunteers clearing rhododendron, Gilling

NATIONAL ACTIVITYThe Howardian Hills AONB is part of the national ‘family’ of 46

AONBs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The National

Association for AONBs (NAAONB) is an important umbrella

body that co-ordinates lobbying on behalf of all AONBs,

responds to national consultations and organises training

events. Support and participation in NAAONB activities brings

many benefits for the Howardian Hills and is important for

staff development.

In 2014/15:

• We attended the national AONB Forum in July

• We attended the national Chairmen’s meeting/NAAONB

AGM in November

• AONB Unit staff attended 1 Northern AONB Group

meeting, as well as participating in many national

internet forum discussions on AONB projects/

management

• A secondee from the North York Moors National Park

Authority continued to assist in the AONB Officer role for

1 day/week until November 2014

• Volunteers helped us with 25 projects or tasks, equating

to over 193 person/days of assistance worth £13,400

HOWARDIAN HILLS AONB FACT FILE• The Howardian Hills covers 204 sq. km (79 sq. miles)

• The area was confirmed as an AONB in 1987

• About 9,300 people live in or immediately adjacent to the area

• Around 18% of the area is wooded

AONB CONTACTSAONB Manager

Paul Jackson

paul.jackson@northyorks.gov.uk

AONB Officer

Liz Bassindale

liz.bassindale@northyorks.gov.uk

AONB Assistant

Maggie Cochrane

maggie.cochrane@northyorks.gov.uk

The Mews, Wath Court

Hovingham

York

YO62 4NN

Telephone 0845 034 9495

info@howardianhills.org.uk

www.howardianhills.org.uk

Photos: AONB Unit, unless stated otherwise

Front cover – Harry Kingman