“HOLDING the line in a storm of decline.”
That was how Chris Woodley-Stewart described the work of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership in 2022.
Mr Woodley-Stewart, the AONB Partnership’s director, has overseen an expansion of the organisation in the past 12 months as it has taken on more projects and programmes to tackle its priorities of nature recovery and getting people involved with natural and cultural heritage.
In his annual review for 2022, he admitted: “We’re long past a time when ‘conservation’ is enough – it feels like just trying to hold the line in storm of decline. But whatever we call it, the team has done some great work this year.”
He added: “Be it hedgerow creation, river-wiggling, woodland creation or grassland management through our Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme, restoring hay meadows and enhancing wader habitat through our Tees-Swale programme, restoring peatlands expanding tree and scrub cover, or supporting natural flood management – we’ve tried to make a difference on the ground.”
He said particular successes included the AONB’s peatland programme, which continues to grow while the ‘Heart of the Pennines Forest’ project aims to help double the amount of woodland in the area.
Mr Woodley-Stewart said the historic environment remains an important focus of the AONB’s work.
“On a historic environment theme, this year’s Pendlebury Award went to Barnard Castle-based Altogether Archaeology.”
The award, established in memory of the AONB Partnership’s first chairman, Cllr Bob Pendlebury, is given for outstanding contributions to conserving or helping people to enjoy the area’s natural and cultural heritage.
“The current Altogether Archaeology group began in 2015, springing from an earlier, AONB-led, community archaeology project,” said Mr Woodley-Stewart.
“Rooted in the North Pennines community, it exists to further understanding of the region’s archaeological record and it has realised this aim by directly involving members in fieldwork and research.
“It provides multiple opportunities for members to extend their knowledge of archaeological methods and practice through highly structured research, fieldwork and training.”
Elsewhere in Teesdale, he said the AONB team is improving public access while also working with hundreds of primary and secondary school pupils on projects such as seed sowing, exploration of hay meadows and understanding the area’s different habitats.
“A year-long project has started with year 10 pupils from Teesdale School, learning about Teesdale hay meadows and their management.
“Meanwhile new interpretation projects in Teesdale are coming to fruition, including at Low Force. In the new year we’ll be doing lots of new access work, including creating an off-road mobility ‘tramper’ network,” he said.
At Bowlees, the visitor centre, car park and associated local wildlife site was fully open throughout 2022.
“Our gallery space has again been used to showcase the work of local artists and craftspeople and also the work of the partnership staff team which has proven popular with visitors,” added Mr Woodley-Stewart.
“Our Wild Wednesdays, Discovery Club, Explorers and other events have continued.
“Bowlees received a 100 per cent score in a Visit County Durham mystery shopper visit – by definition, we don’t know who you were, but thank you.”
After all eight of last year’s AONB trainees went on to jobs in the sector and nine replacements have been recruited
“All have settled in well and are making a valuable contribution to the team, as well as gathering new skills, knowledge and experience,” he said.
Mr Woodley-Stewart concluded: “Not everything works – we have our share of setbacks like any other organisation, but the team continues to do a huge amount of work, both directly and in partnership with others.”
Looking to 2023, he added: “Government has to make good on the promise of the Landscapes (Glover) Review, with new and enhanced purposes, powers and duties in relation to AONBs, and crucially with increased funding.
“There’s a lot of demand to do more with less, but we’re right out of sows’ ears from which to make silk purses.”
