AONB: We All Have To Work Together
The Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership held its fifth Annual Forum in November at RAF Boulmer. Over 70 participants came along to hear about the work of the AONB Partnership.
Cllr Scott highlighted the magnificent job the Young Rangers on the Coast did and how proud she was to hand three of them their John Muir Conserver awards.
AONB Officer, Mel Nicholls, talked about how the Intergrated Management Plan for the AONB and the European Marine Site. Mel warned that the Partnership’s funding is facing severe cuts making it increasingly difficult to fund much of their work saying “Now, more than ever, we will all have to work together in Partnership, if we are to conserve and enhance the landscape of the AONB”.
The audiences heard about the work of the MoD in Protected Landscapes, the historical environment of RAF Boulmer and the improvements that have been made to the natural environment of the base and the sustainability measures that have been put in place.
Delegates also heard about the success of the AONBs Sustainable Development Fund and how it had funded 58 projects, handing out £342,000, which in turn delivered projects to the value of £1.5 million.
Margaret and Andy Watchorn played traditional Northumbrian Music to entertain the participants. The Watchorns were recipients of SDF funding, enabling them to deliver a series of traditional music workshops.
Cllr Pat Scott, Chair of the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership said afterwards “I was delighted to see so many people coming along to our annual forum, it just shows how committed people are to making sure this wonderful landscape is protected now and for future generations. I must also sincerely thank RAF Boulmer for hosting the event, and I must especially thank them for the fascinating tours, which gave people the opportunity to see the work of the base at close hand.”
