AONB Contacts

AONB Manager Paul Jackson [email protected]

AONB Officer Liz Bassindale [email protected] Issue 12 October 2012

AONB Assistant Maggie Cochrane (part-time) [email protected] JUBILEE YEAR IN THE AONB As well as 2012 being the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, it’s also Jubilee year for us! Silver Jubilee to be precise. The Mews, Wath Court York YO62 4NN

Telephone 0845 034 9495 www.howardianhills.org.uk

Inside this Issue

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Jubilee year in the AONB 1 Bulmer Bank

Annual Report 2011/12 2 As one of the areas of landscape recognised in the late 1940s as being Grants available! 3 worthy of national protection, the formal designation of the Howardian Hills as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was confirmed on 19th October AONB Conference 3 1987. The other areas identified by the Government reports have gone on to Rural:Urban Schools Twinning 4 be ’s National Parks and our sister AONBs, encompassing some of the best known and loved landscapes in the country. B-Lines 5 To mark the occasion, we plan to install 25 natural log seats at locations New bike route leaflets 5 throughout the AONB. We hope to place these at some of the most iconic Junior Ranger Club 6 viewpoints in the area, as well as in some of the hidden corners. We already have some ideas for locations, but if YOU think there’s somewhere that Tell us what you think 6 deserves one of these then please Howardian Hills AONB fact file 6 email [email protected] or ring us on 0845 034 9495. Please remember that we’ll need to ask the landowner’s permission, and they also need to be places

Printed on paper from that are accessible by vehicle so sustainably managed forests we can install the seats! Photos: AONB Unit, unless stated otherwise Right: Hall Moor 1 ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2011 – MARCH 2012

In this regular feature, we tell you about some of the work that the AONB Unit funded or facilitated during the last financial year. Landscape • A team of up to 4 volunteers • Volunteers helped us with at least 20 • 2,462m of hedge planting/gapping-up. worked on path maintenance projects or tasks, equating to over • 195m of field wall restoration. at least every other week. 340 person/days of assistance • 42 new in-field/hedgerow trees and • Litter was removed from at least 12 worth £23,000. 2 copses planted. sites in the AONB, on a regular basis. • Overhead electricity lines undergrounded • The CAN DO Lime & Ice Project Sustainable Development in Crayke. continued into its fourth year. • A bee project at Hovingham • 48 planning applications scrutinised. • Volunteers Condition Surveyed – hives and flower planting. Comments submitted on 22 schemes. all Public Rights of Way in 6 parishes. • Restoration of Scackleton phone box, • Inputting to the Government’s and installation of book-exchange boxes. Landscape/Biodiversity Independent Review Panel on Forestry. • Insulation of Barton-le-Willows village hall. • 2 farmers/land managers advised • A wood burning stove and insulation about Entry Level or Higher Level Communities, Schools in Barton-le-Street village hall. Stewardship. & Education • Preparation of a leaflet of cycle • 1 Higher Level Stewardship Farm • Rural:Urban Schools Twinning Project, routes based around Malton. Environment Plan prepared. our new project to twin primary schools • 1 farmer/land manager advised about in the AONB with ones in Hull/York, Publicity English Woodland Grant Scheme. completed its first full year (16 visits) • Maintained the 14 AONB Gateway Signs. • 6 English Woodland Grant Scheme and 3 of the round two visits. • Obtained at least 33 known press application consultations appraised. • 59 children on 4 Junior Ranger Club mentions for projects/AONB. sessions; activities relating to • Hosted BBC Escape to the Country, Biodiversity biodiversity and landscape for filming at Terrington and Kirkham. • Works to promote knapweed 6-10 year olds. • Heard/saw re-runs of the 6 BBC Radio broomrape on 2 SINCs. • Projects funded in 4 villages. York interviews and Countryfile piece. • Conservation grazing of 8 important • 2 Good Life events. • Used the AONB display sites by Exmoor ponies. • Supported the Ryedale Rural boards at 6 events. • Control of Himalayan balsam along Community Awards. • Attended the Ryedale Show. 5.8km of Wath Beck. • Clearance of rhododendron in Park Wood Fishponds SINC. Income and Expenditure • Management of 8 other SINCs or SSSIs. Income £ Expenditure £ • Supported 5 village/school wildlife Staffing 96,685 enhancement projects. Defra 141,694 • Management works on 44 Special North CC 40,290 Office costs 17,313 Interest Road Verges. Ryedale DC 5,684 Partnership running costs 2,119 Historic Environment Hambleton DC 5,800 Publicity/Research 5,139 • Advice on the management Heritage Lottery Fund 22,750 Management Plan 0 of 5 Scheduled Monuments. (Balance in hand) • Excavation of 2 features by the LEADER 10,479 Sustainable Development 10,264 Yearsley Moor Archaeology Fund Project volunteers. Natural Environment projects 30,793 • Ryedale DC LEADER scheme funded restoration of Listed gate pillars at Historic Environment projects 10,512 Whitwell and Welburn, 6 village name Enjoying the AONB 6,453 signs and 2 traditional direction signs. Young People (JRC, etc) 248 • Restoration of 5 more traditional direction signs. Young People (Schools 19,024 Twinning) Enjoying the AONB Brought forward 37,698 Carried forward 50,140 • Fingerpost signs, gates and bridges HLF carried forward 15,705 were installed/maintained at various locations throughout the AONB. £264,395 £264,395 • 6 guided walks/evening talks, (Resources from grant 289,689 attended by 153 people. recipients) Total Value of AONB Unit Activity £554,084 2 GRANTS AVAILABLE!

The AONB Project Fund is a grant scheme to support projects which conserve and enhance the landscape, cultural heritage, communities or biodiversity within the AONB. Grants are usually in the range of £100 to £2,000 and normally provide up to 50% funding. In exceptional circumstances higher value grants and grants of up to 100% can be given.

Previous projects supported by this funding. For match funding purposes fund include hedge planting, stone volunteer time can be included. wall restoration, wood pasture creation, village name sign repair/replacement, SDF has supported a diverse range Stone wall repairs near Newburgh installation of barn owl boxes and of projects including: village and repairs to Listed Buildings at Risk. school wildlife areas, a hydro-power scheme, eco-renovation of community The AONB Sustainable Development buildings, setting up community Fund (SDF) is a grant scheme which allotments, education programmes supports projects that promote focussing on sustainable living and sustainable living in the AONB. the local environment and a mobility It assists projects which benefit vehicle at The Arboretum Trust, the environment, communities Castle Howard. or economy of the area. Grants are normally £100 to £10,000. If you have an idea which you think SDF can provide up to 75% funding, might be eligible for support from or in exceptional circumstances one of these funds please look up to 100%. Local authorities and at the AONB website for further public bodies can apply for 50% information or call the AONB office. SDF – community beehives in Hovingham

NATIONAL CONFERENCE VISITS In the morning the delegates completed the Monumental Landscape Tour with curator Dr. Christopher Ridgway. THE HOWARDIAN HILLS The tour looked The National Association for AONBs held its at how the Earls of Carlisle 14th Annual Conference – ‘Managing Nature on shaped this part a Landscape Scale’ – in York in July, in conjunction of the Howardian with the Howardian Hills, , Hills landscape Nidderdale and AONB Partnerships. with grand structures such The UK’s natural environment underpins economic as the Pyramid, prosperity, health and wellbeing and the conference Mausoleum looked at how AONB partnerships and National Park and Temple Authorities work at both a local and a national level, of the Four Winds. After lunch in the Courtyard Café to conserve and enhance the natural environment. delegates visited some of the Estate’s woodlands with The 150 delegates heard keynote speakers including Forestry Manager Nick Cooke, to see where conifers Richard Benyon MP (Defra Minister), local landowner have been replaced with native broadleaved trees. William Worsley and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust CEO Gamekeeper Wyne Bennett also explained how the Rob Stoneman. Estate’s farmland is managed to produce wild pheasants On the middle day of the Conference Castle Howard and grey partridge, using strips of crops to cater for welcomed delegates. Hannah Jones, Visitor Services the birds’ needs and limiting the use of pesticides. Manager at Castle Howard, writes: After a hectic day the delegates gathered for a Castle Howard works closely with the Howardian Hills well-deserved afternoon tea in the Courtyard Café. AONB team, on a variety of projects covering both the The day proved very informative for the delegates and natural and historic features on the estate. So when they left Castle Howard with a much wider understanding we were approached to develop a field trip for the of its particular environmental issues, and the work conference we were very happy to do so. which continues to maintain such a landscape.

3 RURAL:URBAN SCHOOLS TWINNING

This year has seen the second round of the Rural:Urban Schools Twinning Project run in partnership with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

The project is funded by LEADER and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Last year we introduced 9 primary schools from York and Hull to 9 twin primary schools in the AONB, with the children guiding each other around their school and local area. The twinning partners stay the same for the 4 years of the project and the same cohort of children take part to enable them to develop friendships. This year the children, mainly now 8 or 9 years old, experienced some shared learning in their respective areas. They were excited about meeting each other again and some strong friendships are developing between children, teachers and helpers. With it being London’s Olympic year many schools chose sport as a theme. In the AONB, at The Arboretum Trust, Castle Howard, over 430 children learned how to read a map and enjoyed a taste of the countryside sport, orienteering. They also tested their team work and ingenuity with shelter building sessions. Some Discovering Holy Trinity Square, Hull of the shelters proved invaluable, as the days before The urban trips were more varied. York Football Club Easter enjoyed scorching sunshine and those after welcomed children to their Bootham Crescent football endured torrential downpours. Everyone had big smiles ground for a look behind the scenes, a glimpse of the despite the weather and the Hull children in particular stadium’s history and some top class football coaching enjoyed jumping in muddy puddles! Crayke school – all this just two days after York FC had been promoted organised a cook to teach their children and twin, at Wembley, which added to the feel-good factor! Tang Hall, about the importance of nutrition and fresh produce. During break times the children enjoyed In Hull a city centre history guide, volunteers from strengthening friendships in Crayke school grounds Holy Trinity Church and local market stall holders with the stunning backdrop of the Vale of York. revealed the secrets of Hull’s old town to the children. The children discovered The Land of Green Ginger, learned about William Wilberforce, chatted to enthusiastic local business owners and gasped at the beauty of Holy Trinity Church. Other twinning partners enjoyed days out at Hull KC Stadium with coaching and tours of the site, visits to East Park for some encounters with extraordinary creatures and a trip to the Humber Bridge Country Park to get up close to one of Hull’s most famous transport links. Thanks to: all of the dedicated volunteers for their help; The Arboretum Trust Education team for training and resources; all of the venues and bus companies. The children and staff are looking forward to seeing each other again next year and further developing their friendships. If you feel that your community group could offer any activities to the Schools Twinning Project, or you have a venue where we could put up a public display about the project, we would love to hear from you.

Learning orienteering at The Arboretum 4 B-LINES Wildflower grassland creation for bees, butterflies and beetles in the Howardian Hills

Paul Evans, Buglife Project Officer, writes:This year saw the start of ‘Restoring Ryedale’s Lowland Meadows’, a partnership project between Buglife – The Invertebrate Trust, County Council, the Yorkshire Naturalists Union and The Arboretum at Castle Howard, to restore and create over 30 hectares (approximately 70 acres) of wildflower-rich meadows and pastures across the Ryedale landscape. The overall aim of the project is to plant wildflowers which provide food for pollinating insects such as bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths. Wildflower meadows are in serious decline and this spells danger for pollinating insects. Many pollinating insects that rely on wildflower habitats as a pollen and nectar food Bumblebee, Richard Smith source or for home and shelter are in trouble. Since the 1930s over three million hectares of UK wildflower meadows have been lost botanical and insect surveys of the land, and – only 3% remain. collecting wildflower seed which will be used to help create the new areas of grassland. Buglife is implementing a national plan of action called B-Lines. The Ryedale project is seen as the How you can help first step in creating a wildflower-rich B-Line from Buglife is interested in hearing from anyone Stamford Bridge, via Malton, to . who may wish to participate in the B-Lines work, The ‘Restoring Ryedale’s Lowland Meadows’ and in particular anyone who has land which they Project has received a grant from the SITA Trust, would be interested in restoring to wildflower-rich which will enable the harvesting and purchase grassland. of wildflower seed and plants. It will also fund the Buglife is also interested in working with local physical works required to restore and create the communities along the B-Line to try and utilise new wildflower grasslands. This will include some public spaces, school grounds and gardens. large-scale meadow creation at Castle Howard, where the plan is to create swathes of wildflowers For further information on the Buglife B-Lines along some of the vistas at The Arboretum. Initiative, including a map of the proposed Yorkshire B-Lines, Volunteers from the Ryedale Naturalists and visit: www.buglife.org.uk/B-Lines Yorkshire Naturalists Union will be helping with

The routes might introduce you to parts of the New Howardian Hills AONB you never knew existed, and getting out on your bike means that you can enjoy a guilt-free Bike Rides Leaflet lunch or afternoon tea in a pub or tea room If you’ve been inspired by Britain’s cyclists in the en-route. To make your journey truly sustainable, Tour de France or the Para/Olympics this summer if you live further away, you can take the train then pick up one of the new Sustrans Howardian to the start of the routes in Malton. The leaflet Hills cycling leaflets. The leaflet features 3 circular is free and can be picked up from Malton Tourist routes from Malton, two of which visit the Howardian Information Centre, businesses around the AONB, Hills. The rides undulate on quiet roads through the or downloaded from the Howardian Hills website. picturesque landscape, taking in some magnificent Production of the leaflet was supported by the historic architecture. Howardian Hills Sustainable Development Fund.

5 SEASONAL FUN WITH Tell us what you think THE JUNIOR RANGER CLUB By law the Management Plan for the AONB Have you ever wondered how a bird makes a nest? has to be reviewed every 5 years. The current Or how to bend willow into beautiful shapes? Perhaps Plan runs out on 31st March 2014, so we are now planning the next review. you just questioned how invertebrates survive at the bottom of a pond? In due course we’ll be examining each of the chapters, looking at current evidence Junior Ranger Club is run each season during school and trends to see if or how the Objectives holidays. Taking inspiration from the season the children need to be updated. As the first stage of the are encouraged to get creative and to venture outside project we have been collecting evidence on to learn about the natural world first hand. Sessions are how well-used some of the AONB’s popular usually held at Castle Howard Arboretum in conjunction walking routes and locations are – you may with The Arboretum Trust Education team and are aimed have been stopped by one of our surveyors at children aged 6 to 10. Activities have included making in the last two weeks in August. willow wreaths, yule logs and Christmas cards, We want to extend the survey to all residents, a nest building challenge, Easter egg hunt and spring as you are the ones that have lived with the story trail, pond dipping, adaptations game, mini-beast AONB over the years. It only takes about 5 hunting and butterfly mobiles. Children need to be minutes to complete and includes questions accompanied by an adult, but most adults become on how often you visit places in the AONB, engrossed in being creative themselves! The children what leisure activities you take part in and enjoy the mixture of indoor and outdoor learning and whether you think certain aspects of the the opportunity to get to know each other in an informal AONB are getting better or worse. out-of-school setting. The survey can be accessed at If you are interested in coming along our next session www.surveymonkey.com/s/GJT9CFT and we’ll use the results to revise the is taking place on 1st November. Please contact Objectives in the next Plan, where applicable. Maggie Cochrane or Liz Bassindale at the AONB office on0845 034 9495 or [email protected]

HOWARDIAN HILLS AONB FACT FILE

• The Howardian Hills covers 204 sq. km (79 sq. miles). • The area was confirmed as an AONB in 1987. • About 9,300 people live in or immediately adjacent to the area. • Around 18% of the area is wooded.

This Newsletter has been produced by the Howardian Hills AONB JAC

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