Annual Report 2019/20 CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD ADMINISTRATION Local Authorities are responsible for the management I have great pleasure in welcoming you arrangements in the AONB, which falls within the County to the 2019/20 Review of the work of the of North and the Districts of and AONB Joint Advisory Committee. Hambleton. AONB policy and programmes of work are overseen by a Joint Advisory Committee (JAC), supported I was privileged to take over from Robert Wainwright by Officer groups. The Core Partners Group consists of in April for a second spell as JAC Chairman. Robert representatives of the 4 main organisations (see list below). retired as a Ryedale District Councillor after over 20 years of service and I’d like to thank him for his contribution to the AONB during that time as well. THE JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (JAC) The year 2019/20 has of course ended in a very During 2019/20, the members of the JAC were as follows: unusual fashion, and the impact of the COVID-19 County Council pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures will Cllrs Caroline Patmore & Caroline Goodrick be documented in our 2020/21 Annual Report. Ryedale District Council So it seems strange to be looking back to a time Cllrs Claire Docwra & Sue Graham when the world was ‘normal’, but despite the Council current situation 2019/20 was itself far from normal. Cllr Di Watkins The Designated Landscapes Review Panel, led by Julian Glover, published the most significant Natural Ailsa Kirkup assessment of AONBs and National Parks for over 70 years. The Landscapes Review could lead to Parish Councils (Ryedale) - Chris Pickles some far-reaching changes to how both AONBs and Parish Councils (Hambleton) - Nick Eleanor National Parks are managed, and the Colchester Country Land and Business Association - Sir William Worsley Declaration is the AONB Network’s response National Farmers Union - Poppy Arnett to the challenges laid down by the Report. Ramblers - Harry Whitehouse My aim has always been to see practical works Forestry Commission - James Shallcross delivered on-the-ground in the AONB and in 2019/20 I was pleased to see a number of historic features preserved. The old mill at Coulton is a locally iconic The JAC met once in 2019/20: building, so it was good to be able to support some 7th November 2019: Village Hall. Members discussed emergency repair works, but the remains of the the proposed 2020/21 JAC budget, the Landscapes Review limekilns at Ness and that were cleared report and other national issues. There was also a ‘virtual tour’ of damaging scrub are no less important in our local of the work carried out by the Staff Unit during 2018/19. Debate history. Likewise, after significant effort to submit the was somewhat curtailed due to purdah for the General Election. funding bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the 16th April 2020: Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership started to deliver Papers circulated electronically, for information. projects and I look forward to seeing more of those. The AONB Committee welcomed a significant number of new Members following the local government elections in May 2019, and it’s unfortunate that our meetings have been curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward Officer Steering Groups however to leading the new Committee into The Core Partners Group convened on its regular quarterly cycle. 2020/21, to face not only the challenges of post- COVID recovery but also the opportunities that The AONB Unit new funding and policy initiatives will bring. In 2019/20 the Unit comprised:

AONB Manager (1 FTE) Paul Jackson AONB Officer (1.2 FTE) Liz Bassindale (4 days/wk) Sir William Worsley Francesca Pert (1 day/wk) (Maternity Leave to Sept ’19) Frances Standen (2 days/wk) (Maternity Cover to Sept ’19) 2019/20 Chairman, Joint Advisory Committee

2 FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2019/20

INCOME £ EXPENDITURE £

Defra 124,306 Staffing 98,694

North Yorkshire CC 36,900 Office costs 6,949

Ryedale DC 5,066 Partnership running costs 4,303

Hambleton DC 5,800 Publicity/Research 3,514

Historic England 4,647 Management Plan 2,395

Donations 5 Natural Environment projects 23,523

Historic Environment projects 13,706

Sustainable Development & Rural Economy 22,609

Young People (JRC, etc) 877

In-year £176,724 In-year £176,570 Brought forward – General Fund (55,040) Carried forward – General Fund (55,194)

£231,764 £231,764

(Resources from grant recipients, volunteers, match 165,382 funding, etc.)

Total Value of AONB Unit Activity in 2019/20 £341,952

AONB MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Management Plan is the key document setting out specific objectives for the sustainable management of the Howardian Hills AONB. Engaging in the strategic plans and actions of other organisations, to promote the Objectives contained in the Management Plan, is an important role for the AONB Unit. The Plan must be reviewed every 5 years, by law.

In 2019/20 we:

• Updated the ‘State of the AONB’ report to include work completed during 2018/19

• Published the final ‘designed’ version of the 2019-24 Management Plan

• Used the new Management Plan to inform responses to development proposals and strategies

3 CONSERVING AND • Giving detailed Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship advice to farmers at , Dalby x 2, Ganthorpe, Gilling, ENHANCING NATURAL , Scackleton x 2, Welburn, Wass, Amotherby, BEAUTY Barton-le-Street, Terrington and Whenby. Four applications submitted as a result of advice visits; at least This is the primary objective of AONB designation and the 4 more likely for 2020 JAC attaches great importance to carrying out work on the • Contributing significantly to the launch of the delivery ground in the AONB, working in partnership with local farmers, phase of the NLHF-funded Ryevitalise Landscape landowners and communities. Partnership, including assisting with the main programme as well as individual projects: Education, Citizen Science, Work funded or facilitated by the JAC in 2019/20 included: volunteering, the interpretation strategy and monitoring • 293m of hedge planting/gapping-up • Continuing the targeted programme of survey and • 10m of wall restoration management work on Scheduled Monuments, particularly those on the At Risk Register, using volunteers where • 22 in-field or boundary trees planted/replaced possible. Four-year funding now extended to 6 years. • Continued control of Himalayan balsam at Mugdale/Barker Monument Management Scheme Year 5: Bracken Woods SINCs; also at Crambeck in the River Derwent SSSI crushed on 11 SMs and sprayed on 1 SM; brash cleared and along Wath Beck from 2 SMs; 1 SM re-seeded; bramble control strategy developed for 12 SMs; bramble strimmed on 6 SMs; • Carrying out scrub and tree removal/management works scrub cleared on 1 SM. Volunteers received refresher on Peel Wood & Grasslands SINC, Amotherby Lane SINC training in survey techniques, for carrying out the end- and Coulton Fen SINC of-project monitoring surveys (delayed due to COVID-19 • Conservation grazing of 5 SINC or other important sites restrictions) by Exmoor ponies • Restoring 1 traditional village name sign • Management works on 45 Special Interest Road Verges • Carrying out scrub removal works on limekilns at Ness • Continuing involvement with the North Yorkshire Local and Hovingham and an old mill at Welburn Geological Sites Partnership: Passed the site citations for 16 sites to Ryedale DC for In addition to initiating and grant aiding work itself, the AONB the formal notification process Unit also gives advice to applicants and/or comments on Assessed 3 sites for scrub management works applications submitted for agri-environment scheme funding and woodland management licensing: Carried out scrub management works on Slingsby East Quarry LGS • 5 Forestry Commission Felling Licence consultations and Agreed scrub control works for Slingsby Quarry LGS 1 Woodland Management Plan appraised for impact on for 2020/21 the AONB • Contributing significantly to the delivery of the NLHF- funded Turtle Doves Project within the AONB: Completed the Spring 2019 surveys (both new 10km2 squares and monitoring visits to previous squares) Maintained early-flowering seed plots at Sproxton, Yearsley, Coulton, Gilling and Terrington Sowed new plots at Fryton and Coneysthorpe Held a third event for volunteer surveyors • Monitoring the situation with tree diseases, particularly the spread of Chalara Dieback of Ash • Visiting Coulton Fen SINC, Rose Cottage Farm Meadow SINC and Grassland next to Swinsey Carr SINC in order to monitor condition • Carrying out a thorough survey at all known sites for knapweed broomrape Emergency stabilisation works, Coulton Mill

4 During 2019/20: • 108 applications were determined by the Local Planning Authorities in the calendar year 2019. 94% of these were approved • 125 applications were scrutinised in detail by the AONB Manager in 2019/20 • Comments were submitted on 47 schemes, where a conflict with AONB Objectives was identified, improvements could be made or support was given • Objections or Strong Reservations were lodged in 13 of those responses; The Local Planning Authority: Approved 5 schemes; Refused 4 schemes; Approved 3 schemes AONB Team crushing bracken on a Scheduled Monument, following re-submission/amendment to address the Grimstone AONB Manager’s/LPA’s concerns; 1 scheme not yet Determined • 6 other schemes were amended, re-consulted and subsequently Approved • 2 consultations on other development (on the A64) also scrutinised – comments submitted on 2 schemes. Section of timber-clad vehicle restraint system installed as part of full VRS installation on the A64

In other planning-related issues we: • Commented on national policy consultation documents by submitting local evidence/perspective to the National Association for AONBs (NAAONB) as necessary • Submitted comments on the Hambleton Local Plan and the MHCLG consultation on revisions to Permitted Scrub clearance, old lime kiln, Hovingham Development Rights for 5G mobile phone masts Planning Issues • Supported enforcement action against overhead BT lines adjacent to Newburgh Priory park The Joint Advisory Committee is consulted by the Local Planning Authorities on certain developments in the AONB, in line with an agreed protocol. The AONB Manager also ENJOYING THE AONB monitors the Weekly Lists of planning applications and The Public Rights of Way network continues to be managed scrutinises any smaller schemes which might potentially have to a generally high standard, although the age of some of the an impact on the AONB. Consultation responses are dealt infrastructure means that continual maintenance/improvement with by the AONB Manager, in consultation with the JAC and works are required over the whole network. More complex Chairman in certain circumstances. path routing issues are being resolved gradually, depending on their complexity. Larger/more significant applications examined in 2019/20 included: the erection of a storage building at ; the In 2019/20 work included: erection of a new ‘country house’ dwelling at Ampleforth, and new dwellings at Ampleforth, Hovingham and Howsham; the • Removing litter from at least 10 sites in the AONB, on a erection of an extension at Oulston; the erection of a garage regular basis throughout the summer, and monitoring/ annex at Scackleton and a garage block at Bulmer; significant reporting fly-tipping incidents alterations to a house façade in Crayke; a Smart Meter mast at • Supporting Dark Skies events at Terrington (x2) and Terrington; a 78 panel solar array at Oswaldkirk; the installation Castle Howard (x3), throughout the winter and as part of of crash barriers along the full length of the dual carriageway the National Parks’ Dark Skies Week section of the A64 within the AONB. • Continuing a major project to assist NYCC with resolving Public Rights of Way issues in the AONB: Providing details for 30 new/replacement roadside fingerposts

Identifying improvements to 3 gates at Hovingham (implementation delayed by COVID-19)

5 Communities: • Continued liaison with the principal organisations involved in community work in the AONB, via the regular Community Development Officers’ meetings • Provided funding for equipment for the Helmsley Mobile Rural Watch covering the Helmsley and Howardian Hills areas • Continued scoping and landowner liaison work in Gilling, as part of the Ryedale Villages Natural Flood Management Project run by the Yorkshire Derwent Catchment Partnership • Provided funding for community nature areas at Autism New roadside fingerpost sign Plus (Gilling), Slingsby and Crayke (phase 2) • Provided funding for improvement works at Amotherby, Oswaldkirk and Hovingham Village Halls COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS • Continued involvement in the Ward Mapping/Planning & EDUCATION Project with the Sproxton Ward

Our Junior Ranger Club held 4 activity sessions during the school half-terms and holidays. PUBLICITY Promotion of the AONB has continued via our Newsletter, In 2019/20 the programme consisted of: Annual Report and attendance at the local agricultural Junior Ranger Club (Easter) show. Increasingly our profile is being raised via the leaflets • Springtime: Blossom, plant growth and frog life cycles – and publicity being produced in partnership with other 19 children organisations, as detailed in the ‘Enjoying the AONB’ section. Junior Ranger Club (May) In 2019/20 we: • Birds: Turtle Doves, bird life cycles, bees – 16 children • Maintained the 14 AONB Gateway Signs Junior Ranger Club (October) • Amazing Autumn: Nuts and seeds dispersal – • Published and distributed our annual Newsletter (AONB 13 children News) in October 2019 Junior Ranger Club (February) • Published our 2018/19 Annual Report in December 2019 • Rocks, Fossils & Dinosaurs: Rocks, model dinosaur head, (delayed by General Election purdah) crafts – 26 children • Managed the AONB website

• Maintained a presence on Twitter – issuing information, publicising the practical work being carried out in the AONB and re-Tweeting as appropriate • Provided the Ryevitalise Education Officer with contacts for AONB schools; successful after-school club held at Hovingham, where the children developed a river-based board game • Attended the Ryedale Show and Countryfile Live SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

We distributed £5,700 to Sustainable Development projects, assisting a variety of schemes addressing environmental, social and economic objectives.

Sustainable Development projects assisted in 2019/20 included: • Continuation of a Sustainable Rural Communities Pond dipping at the Yorkshire Arboretum project run by Community First Yorkshire, assisting with community planning and action

6 • Provision of environmental education resources at • Arranged for Volunteers to help us with 16 projects Terrington or tasks, worth at least 217 days (£14,650 at NLHF volunteering rates). 139 days were spent on site • Support for sustainability sessions and a bike shelter management tasks; 24 days on Junior Ranger Club, made from recycled materials at Amotherby School shows, etc; and 54 days on Turtle Dove surveying

Turtle Doves Project Officer with a local farmer, Yearsley (R Baines/NYMNPA) Floor repairs, Appleton-le-Street Parish Hall

New wildlife ponds, Autism Plus, Gilling

Volunteers clearing scrub, Yearsley PARTNERSHIP WORKING The AONB Management Plan is delivered via the policies and actions of many partner organisations, but we also make use NATIONAL ACTIVITY of a number of sources of specialist help and assistance. The Howardian Hills AONB is part of the national network of 46 AONBs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2019/20 we: The National Association for AONBs (NAAONB) is an • Contributed significantly to the launch of the delivery important umbrella body that co-ordinates lobbying on phase of the NLHF-funded Ryevitalise Landscape behalf of all AONBs, responds to national consultations Partnership, including assisting with the main programme and organises training events. Support and participation as well as individual projects: Education, Citizen Science, in NAAONB activities brings many benefits for the volunteering, the interpretation strategy and monitoring Howardian Hills and is important for staff development. 2019 In 2019/20 we: • Continued to participate in the Biodiversity Action Partnership for Ryedale, Scarborough and the AONB • Attended the national AONB Forum in July • Participated in the North Yorkshire & Local Nature • Attended the national Chairmen’s meeting/NAAONB AGM Partnership in November • Worked jointly with North York Moors National Park staff • Attended 2 Northern AONB Group meetings on: Native Woodland Partnership; Dark Skies Week; • Input to NAAONB discussions on Brexit issues, the starting delivery of the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership Agriculture Bill, Environment Bill and Julian Glover’s Scheme; NLHF Turtle Doves Project; developing a Landscape Review NLHF bid for a Farmland Birds project; post-Brexit • Participated in peer-to-peer and on-line collaborative agri-environment scheme development; attendance at working initiatives, to share and receive knowledge Countryfile Live; publicity material for the International around the AONB Network Sheepdog Championships

7 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 9,150 people live in or immediately adjacent to the designated area • Around 18% of the AONB is wooded

AONB CONTACTS

AONB Manager Paul Jackson [email protected]

AONB Officer Liz Bassindale [email protected]

The Old Vicarage Bondgate Helmsley York YO62 5BP

Tel: 01609 536778 E: [email protected] T: @howardian_hills Web: www.howardianhills.org.uk Photos: AONB Unit, unless stated otherwise. All taken pre-COVID-19

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