www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have been described as jewels of the English landscape and in terms of their landscape value are considered equal to that of National Parks. There are 37 AONBs in England, covering about 15% of the English landscape. The Countryside Agency is responsible for designating AONBs and advising Government and others on how they should be protected and managed. Areas are designated for their landscape qualities for the purpose of conserving and enhancing their natural beauty (which includes landform and geology, plants and animals, landscape features and the rich history of human settlement over the centuries).
Originally designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, AONBs were given further protection under the Countryside & Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000. One of the duties of the CRoW Act is for relevant local authorities to produce Management Plans for each AONB and these have been published for all three Wiltshire AONBs.
Approximately 44% of Wiltshire County Council’s administrative area is designated as AONB and is testament to the County’s beauty and value. This large area comprises parts of three AONBs:
Contact Details
By Post
Countyside Section
Environmental Services
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JD
By Email
By Telephone
01225 713489
By Fax
01225 713269
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
