Welcome to Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Designating somewhere an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty means we have to look after, enhance and protect it. Covering 380 square miles of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset, the area is the sixth largest of the UK's 49 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

AONB designation gives strong statutory protection for the future, especially important in the South, where development and economic pressures are intense. The AONB team aims to ensure that the right balance is maintained, so that these fine landscapes remain here for future generations. Conserving and enhancing the area whilst maintaining it as a living and working environment.

Here you can discover more on landscape character, heritage and wildlife as well as local information for visitors and residents. Together we can enhance our knowledge of local history, share best practice, canvass support from associated agencies and jointly make the AONB a more vibrant, sustainable community for us all.

This year we celebrate 60 years of protected countryside. The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act was a law passed in 1949. It established how the countryside could be protected and enjoyed by future generations and paved the way for the creation of today's family of 14 UK National Parks, 49 AONB's, 294 National Nature Reserves and 2,900 miles of National Trails.

The website Diamonds in the Landscape is a celebration of our Diamond Jubilee, please take a look to find out more about local events taking place.


Other interesting websites:
Explore the historic landscape and find out about Historic Environment Action Plans - www.historiclandscape.co.uk
See the Wood for the Trees at the largest regional Woodfair 10/11th October 2009 www.woodfair.org.uk
Discover more on other AONB's in our family of protected landscapes www.aonb.org.uk