Last year was the 50th anniversary of Dedham Vale and Coast & Heaths both being designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). As part of this celebration, we were awarded a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for £129,000, to run a series of initiatives to celebrate this milestone. Throughout last year we […]
New AONB award winner announced
The first winner of the National Landscape Award in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Stour Valley Project area has been announced. The new Robert Erith National Landscape Award celebrates and recognises the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the conservation and enhancement or […]
Wildlife set to flourish after project completion on River Stour
A partnership project which will benefit a range of wildlife has been completed on the River Stour near Bures. The Environment Agency has been working with the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Stour Valley Project and a landowner on a river and floodplain enhancement. The project, which was funded through Defra’s Water […]
Up to £70,000 of grant funding is now open for applications
The Sustainable Development Fund opens to applications for projects that benefit the Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Sustainable Development Fund is available to a variety of community and conservation organisations (or individuals) to support projects for the conservation and enhancement of […]
Agri-environment schemes and the future: How to get the best for your business
Farmers, growers and land managers are custodians of the English landscape, and for generations they have helped shape and look after it as they feed the nation. There is a big positive change ahead: the Environmental Land Management Scheme (E.L.M.), which will be rolled out in 2024, will provide financial support as you continue to […]
Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Management Plan 2021-26 Consultation
The Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Management Plan is a statutory document that will inform decision making in the nationally designated landscape for the next five years. The AONB really needs your comment to ensure that the area is conserved and enhanced for the next five years. The draft Management Plan is available to […]
New award launched to celebrate and recognise outstanding contributions to the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley
A brand new award has been launched in 2021 to celebrate and recognise the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to conserving and enhancing the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Stour Valley. The Robert Erith National Landscape Award will recognise the hard work and amazing contributions […]
New photography project thanks to the National Lottery
It is thanks to all the National Lottery players that Dedham Vale and Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB) can mark their 50th Anniversary with an amazing photography project. With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, who awarded £129,000 across both AONBs, we are launching a photography initiative, Landscape Lens. […]
AONB team response to Planning for the Future White Paper Consultation
On 6th August 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) published its Planning for the Future White Paper consultation. The Planning White Paper is proposing a number of significant reforms to England’s Planning system including: Streamlining the planning system by creating new Growth, Renewal and Protected Areas Simplifying the role of Local […]
Design opportunity for local artists
We are looking for talented local artists to produce two awards that will celebrate the contribution an individual, community group or business has made to one of the National Landscapes in Suffolk and Essex. The award will recognise the impact they have had on the National Landscape of either the Coast and Heaths or Dedham […]