Press Releases

Registration Now Open!! Closing dates: Early Bird 27th May 2013 – Final Closing date 6th June 2013 For further details and registration papers please click www.landscapesforlife.org.uk/2013-conference.html The National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NAAONB) is pleased to announce … Continue reading →

Agricultural Building Design Guidelines for the Mendip Hills AONB The Mendip Hills AONB Partnership has revised the Guidelines to bring them up to date with changes to the planning system. As well as advice on siting of buildings and building … Continue reading →

Green holidays website Greentraveller.co.uk and the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have published an online guide to show visitors how to make the most of the areain a way that has a low impact on the environment … Continue reading →

The Mendip Hills AONB Partnership has received a grant of £205,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its Discovering Black Down project, it was announced today. The project will safeguard the future of the Black Down and Burrington Commons … Continue reading →

The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has awarded its final 2012/13 SDF grants to 4 local projects. Wells and Mendip Museum has been offered a grant of £4000 towards costs of a permanent exhibition on cave exploration … Continue reading →

Celebrating 40 Years as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is launching a Photography Project this week to celebrate 40 years as an AONB and would like your help. Between October … Continue reading →

A new series of downloadable circular trail guides has been launched to help people enjoy and explore the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The series of 5 circular walking trails and 1 trail also suitable for cyclists and … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund - Grants Awarded The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has awarded SDF grants to Quarry Faces and Greentraveller - Guide to the Mendip Hills AONB. The Quarry Faces project is documenting the history … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills Traditional Highway Fingerpost Signage Restoration The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is nationally recognised for its landscape quality. The designation recognises the importance of heritage and reinforces the need to protect and manage historic features. … Continue reading →

Earlier this year the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded the AONB Unit a development grant of £9,400 to progress with production of detailed project plans (see below) and an application for a full grant was submitted in August.  If successful … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills AONB Partnership Committee concerns regarding Longleat Estates visitor attraction proposals for Cheddar Gorge. The AONB Partnership meeting held on Thursday 28th June raised major concerns about Longleat Estate’s current ideas for new visitor attractions at Cheddar Gorge that … Continue reading →

Funding is available to support projects that bring environmental, social, economic benefits to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Sustainable Development Fund grant scheme has this year awarded grants to Compton Martin Parish Council to enhance an amenity … Continue reading →

Guidelines for Horse Related Development in the Mendip Hills AONB – Supplementary Planning Guidance    

Practical Volunteering in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) The new Mendip Hills AONB volunteer programme is now available with a variety of practical tasks to help care for sites in the AONB.  The work programme is … Continue reading →

The Mendip Hills AONB Partnership is celebrating after being given the green light by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to fully develop its plans to safeguard the future of the Black Down and Burrington commons. Discovering Black Down is a … Continue reading →

Following a recent public appeal for new Panel members for the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) SDF Panel, 3 new people have been recruited from Cheddar, Westbury Sub Mendip and National Trust, with experience of community arts … Continue reading →

Volunteer practical tasks in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) If you are looking for ways to get fit and get some fresh air after the indulgences of Christmas and New Year you could join in with … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund grants available Funding is available to support projects that bring environmental, social, economic benefits to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Sustainable Development Fund grant scheme has this year awarded grants to … Continue reading →

BBC Countryfile is to include a feature on ‘fracking’ on Sunday 4th December and will be filming in the Mendip Hills next week for the programme. ‘Fracking’ is the term used for a process for extracting shale gas and coal … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – Annual Forum 2011 Greater business networking, promotion of trails and local produce were amongst ideas highlighted at the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership annual forum. The event … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) – seeks new panel members The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is seeking two new people for their SDF Panel. The SDF is funded by Defra to provide grants for … Continue reading →

The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership is holding its annual forum on Thursday 10th November 2011 at Folly Farm (Avon Wildlife Trust), Near Bishop Sutton. The event is open to anyone with an interest in the … Continue reading →

National Grid’s proposed overhead power lines Following the announcement by National Grid of its preferred route for a power line from Hinkley Point through the Mendip Hills AONB the Mendip Hills AONB Unit have met with the company to discuss … Continue reading →

Mendip Rocks! is taking place between August 25th 2011 and October 12th 2011 supported by the Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund in collaboration with Wells & Mendip Museum and the Somerset Wildlife Trust. The Mendip Rocks! Events Listing is ready to download now … Continue reading →

Gateways - A Project to raise awareness Every visitor should know they are in an AONB and be able to find out more. Recent closures of Tourist Information Centres and restricted public access to the AONB Unit at Charterhouse has led … Continue reading →

The Mendip Hills AONB Partnership and The Natural Environment White Paper  The Governments vision for the natural environment over the next 50 years is set out in the Natural Environment White Paper published last week. The Natural Environment White Paper … Continue reading →

Severe Fire Risk for Somerset’s Wildlife After Hottest April on Record Somerset Wildlife Trust is warning of a severe fire risk to wildlife following the hottest April on record. The county’s leading environmental charity is urging all visitors to its … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund grants available Funding is available to support projects that bring environmental, social, economic benefits to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Sustainable Development Fund grant scheme, now in its 7th year, has … Continue reading →