As part of the Hedgehog Friendly Village Project in East Bergholt some local hedgehog champions have identified some places in the countryside next to the village where some hedges and scrub can be planted to help connect habitats. The Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team have arranged some tasks to do this hedge […]
Hedgehog Friendly Village Project
The hedgehog is a priority species in the Dedham Vale AONB Nature Recovery Plan. We have been working on a pilot project with the East Bergholt community to create a Hedgehog Friendly village. As part of the project, on Saturday 5th March a free Walk & Talk event took place in the village. We had a great morning in […]
Sustainable Development Fund grants available
The Sustainable Development Funds in the Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Dedham Vale AONB & Stour Valley Project Area are available to a variety of local community and conservation organisations, or individuals, to support projects for the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty in the areas. Both funds […]
CPRE’s Star Count 2022
To celebrate the wonder of starry skies, we’re excited to support CPRE, the countryside charity’s Star Count, a cosmic census to map our view of the night sky. It’s taking place between 26 February – 6 March. A star-filled sky is one of the most magical sights you can see in our countryside and the […]
More than £110,000 of grant funding now available across two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Essex and Suffolk
An annual grants scheme that sees over £110,000 given to community projects across Essex and Suffolk has opened for applications. Communities are invited to apply for grants that are available across two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) six different grant funds in total – in the Coast & Heaths AONB and the Dedham Vale […]
Suffolk Walking Festival 2022
The 14th Suffolk Walking Festival launches on 14 May 2022 with over 70 guided walks over two weeks over some wild countryside, outstanding landscapes, rolling hills, forests, and coastal beauty spots. With lots of weekend, evening and family walks, the programme has accessible, short, medium, long distance walks, and challenging walks. There is something for […]
Stour Valley Path temporary closure
There is a temporary closure on the Stour Valley Path in Great/Little Thurlow due to an unsafe footbridge. See map for alternative route through Great Thurlow. It is likely this will remain closed until June 2022. Find out more information about visiting the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project Area.
Stars up, lights down!
The Dark Skies Committee is determined to involve local schools in their campaign to preserve the night skies. In November 2021 Mike Barrett, the astronomer, contributed to a practical with telescopes at Stoke by Nayland C of E Primary School. He noted how knowledgeable and enthusiastic the children were and sent them all home with one of […]
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Suffolk and Essex react to Government response to landscape review
The Dedham Vale and Suffolk Coast & Heaths Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) have today commented on the Government’s formal response to the review of protected landscapes. The chairs of the two AONBs, nationally significant landscapes that cover large parts of Suffolk and Essex, welcome the Government’s recent response to the Designated Landscapes Review […]
Ambitious proposals to strengthen our protected landscapes announced
Plans to boost nature recovery and safeguard England’s iconic national parks for future generations have been set out today by Environment Secretary George Eustice. The proposals, which will be subject to consultation, are set out in the Government’s response to Julian Glover’s independent Landscapes Review which looked at whether the protections for National Parks and […]