What next?

Tuesday 6th July 2021

In 2019 DEFRA published the Landscape Review (the Glover report) DEFRA - Landscapes Review - Final Report 2019 (publishing.service.gov.uk). It is a government review looking at the role of the National Parks and AONBs. Among many things it proposes that AONBs take a leading role in our response to climate change and that they lead on nature recovery. It is wide ranging and well worth a read. This is the government response which came out a few weeks ago Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament. A slow response because of Covid maybe but also pretty light on content and action.

Today the Cotswolds National Landscape team held a strategy day (on Zoom) to kick off work on the 2023 - 2028 management plan. I bet your heart sank when you read those words? It was a really interesting and inspiring day - with Julian Glover, Helena Craig (Black2Nature), William Pryer (DEFRA - Farming In Protected Landscapes) and Robert Weaver (Cotswold District Council) all speaking and answering questions in the morning and then an extremely well run themes and priorities session in the afternoon. A real credit to the organisers and also the participants for being so engaging. Lots of work to do but partnerships, people, inclusion, climate change, biodiversity and business all featured highly.

Really good to see an organisation that just wants to get on with change and is doing something about it.