ABOUT UShe North Wessex Downs National Landscape is a designated protected landscape. It straddles the boundaries of Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire and covers 173 parishes and it is the third largest National Landscape in the country covering an area of 668 square miles (1,730 square kilometres). It received its designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1972.
Conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the North Wessex Downs is the responsibility of nine local authorities within the four counties. They come together with community, farming, conservation, tourism and heritage representatives to make up a governing Council of Partners, which is supported by a small professional team.
Our work involves collaborating with a network of organisations, businesses, farmers, landowners and local communities. Together, we run and are involved with, a range of projects and initiatives to conserve and enhance the landscape – its natural environment, its heritage, and its culture – while keeping in mind the needs of local communities and businesses.
What is an AONB?
The North Wessex Downs National Landscape is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
An AONB is a nationally important landscape protected by law. Each AONB has its own natural beauty and distinct characteristics that are recognised as so outstanding that they should be protected for the nation and future generations. On 22 November 2023 AONBs across England and Wales became known as National Landscapes but the formal designation, and the legal protections, remain the same.
Who looks after the North Wessex Downs National Landscape?
National Landscapes are living landscapes inhabited by lively communities of people. So, the care of the landscape is entrusted to local authorities, organisations, community groups and the people who live and work within it. National Landscape teams bring these people together, working collectively to conserve and enhance these special landscapes. Relevant local authorities have a statutory responsibility to ensure that development and planning proposals take into account the protected status of the area.
Council of Partners
The North Wessex Downs National Landscape is managed by a Partnership, known as the Council of Partners. The Council of Partners consists of 35 members including representatives of the nine local authorities, whose areas make up the North Wessex Downs, and other representatives from the community.
The Council of Partners sets strategic objectives for the landscape within a Management Plan which is reviewed every five years. The Partnership also oversees the work of the National Landscape team.
