Welcome to Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
This nationally designated AONB covers 380 sq miles of countryside overlapping the boundaries of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset.
It is a diverse landscape offering areas of rolling chalk grassland, ancient woodlands, chalk escarpments, downland hillsides and chalk river valleys each with a distinct and recognisable character. The landscapes of the AONB today, as they were in the past, are extraordinarily rich.
Conservation and enhancement of natural beauty
The primary purpose of AONB designation is to 'conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area'. In planning terms, AONB designation is equivalent in status to that of National Parks.
The AONB was designated in 1981 and the AONB Partnership’s primary aim is to ensure that these exceptional landscapes are conserved and enhanced for future generations. National designation of this deeply rural AONB is founded on its being a vibrant, living, working landscape. Agriculture, forestry, related rural industries and all its local communities are central to its conservation and enhancement into the future.
On this website you can discover more about the landscape character, heritage and wildlife of the AONB, as well as local information for visitors and residents.
The Hart is our free newspaper for everyone living and working in the AONB. Download PDF (2Mb) or if you would like to have one mailed to you, please contact the office.
Our Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty contain this country's finest landscapes and countryside and are home to some of our most exquisite and unusual wildlife species.
The family of AONBs supports the aims of the International Year of Biodiversity. Biodiversity is life. More Information..
