Introduction Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2019-2024 Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2019-2024 1 Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2019-2024 Malvern Hills AONB Management Plan (2019-2024) Introduction BIRMINGHAM OXFORD CARDIFF BRISTOL The Malvern Hills AONB © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Worcestershire County Council 100015914. For reference purposes only. No further copies may be made. Location of the Malvern Hills AONB 2 Contents Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2019-2024 Contents Ministerial Foreword . 4 Chair’s Foreword .. 5 Section 1: Introduction . 6 About Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty . 6 The Malvern Hills AONB . 8 About the Management Plan . 12 Monitoring . 18 Section 2: The Natural and Cultural Environment . 20 Chapter 1: Landscape . 25 Chapter 2: Geodiversity . 30 Chapter 3: Biodiversity . 34 Chapter 4: Historic Environment . 42 Chapter 5: Farming and Forestry . 46 Section 3: Community Life . 56 Chapter 6: Living and Working .. 58 Chapter 7: Built Development . 64 Chapter 8: Tourism . 74 Chapter 9: Transport and Accessibility. 78 Section 4: Enjoying and Understanding . 84 Chapter 10: Recreation and Access . 86 Chapter 11: Information and Interpretation . 92 Chapter 12: Volunteering . 96 Glossary . 99 3 Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2019-2024 Ministerial Foreword I am fortunate that England’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are part of my Ministerial responsibilities . Whether it be rolling hills, sweeping coastline or a tranquil village, spending time in an AONB can stir the heart and lift the spirit . Ministerial Foreword Ministerial This is a pivotal moment for all AONBs . The Government has set its ambition in the 25 Year Environment Plan which states clearly the importance of natural beauty as part of our green future, while AONBs retain the highest status of protection for landscape through national planning policy . Leaving the EU brings with it an opportunity to develop a better system for supporting our farmers and land managers, who play such a vital role as stewards of the landscape . And the Review of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty led by Julian Glover - the first of its kind for generations - will Lord Gardiner of Kimble make recommendations to make sure our designated landscapes can flourish in the years ahead . In my visits to AONBs around the country, I have been struck by the passion of many people - farmers, volunteers, and hard-working staff - for the beautiful places they live and work . In this sprit I am delighted to welcome publication of this Statutory Management Plan for the Malvern Hills AONB . It is significant that this plan will be delivered in partnership by those who value the Malvern Hills AONB . I would like to thank all those involved in the preparation of this document, and wish you the best of success in bringing it to fruition . Lord Gardiner of Kimble © Mark Waidson Enjoying the view from the top of the Malvern Hills 4 Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2019-2024 Foreword Chair’s Chair’s Foreword This management plan has been written at a time of great uncertainty . The task of the AONB Partnership now, as always, is to stick unwaveringly to the purpose for which the area was designated: the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty . Countless people have known this to be a special place and it is our duty to ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to be moved by its fantastic views, special wildlife and by the area’s historic buildings and culturally rich landscapes which inspire and inform . For those less motivated by emotion I believe that the pursuit of natural beauty also has a hard edge to it . Where once we saw a wood producing only a nice scene or a product to sell at market we can now discern a resource which also absorbs harmful greenhouse gases, helps to control downstream flooding and provides opportunities for recreation which keep us healthy and productive . We need to embrace Gwyneth Rees this deeper understanding of the multiple benefits of the AONB and use it to inform future decision making . The AONB stands on the cusp of change . This management plan aims to provide the framework for embracing that change in a positive way but it is the partnership of local communities, government bodies, landowners and other interested parties which will be instrumental to success or failure . We must remember that those who own and manage land are on the front-line of keeping this area special . They in particular will need good advice, effective long-term support and a spirit of understanding and cooperation if we are to chart a course which preserves this as one of the country’s finest landscapes through the years ahead . Gwyneth Rees, Chair of the Malvern Hills AONB Joint Advisory Committee As members of the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) we recommend and endorse this management plan* Chair Mrs G. Rees: Malvern Hills Trust Ms S. Faulkner: National Farmers Union Vice Chair Councillor K. Pollock: Worcestershire Mr J. Hervey-Bathurst: Country Land and Business County Council Association Councillor P. Tuthill: Worcestershire County Council Mr R. Williams: Campaign for Protection of Rural England Councillor J. Raine: Malvern Hills District Council Mrs Hazel McDowell: Natural England Councillor C. O’Donnell: Malvern Hills District Council Mr I. George: Historic England Councillor E. Holton: Herefordshire Council Mr A. Lee: Herefordshire Local Access Forum Councillor T. Johnson: Herefordshire Council Prof R. Bryant: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Councillor C. Williams: Forest of Dean District Council Heritage Trust Mr S. Bosley: Herefordshire Association of Local Councils Mrs Sharon Smith: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Mr J. Fryman: Worcestershire Association of Local Councils Mr W. Barnes: Forestry Commission *Names of JAC members are followed by the organisations they represent 5 Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2019-2024 About Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty What is an AONB? Together with National Parks, Areas of Northumberland Coast Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) represent the country’s most outstanding Solway Coast North Pennines landscapes; unique and irreplaceable national assets, each with distinctive character Arnside & Howardian Silverdale Nidderdale Hills and natural beauty . They are part of the Forest of international protected area family . As Bowland cultural landscapes, produced through the interaction of humans with nature over time, Lincolnshire Wolds the International Union for the Conservation Norfolk Coast Cannock Chase of Nature recognises them as ‘Category V - Shropshire Hills Protected Landscapes’1 . Their management is to be in the interest of everyone – local Suffolk Coast Malvern Hills & Heaths Dedham Vale residents, businesses, visitors, and the wider Wye Valley Cotswolds public - and protected for future generations . Chilterns North Mendip Hills Wessex Downs Surrey Hills There are 46 AONBs in England, Wales and Quantock Hills Kent Downs North Devon High Weald Cranborne Chase & Northern Ireland, covering approximately Blackdown West Wiltshire Downs Hills Dorset 14% of the land surface . The distinctive East Devon Chichester Tamar Harbour Valley Isle Of Wight character and natural beauty of AONBs make Cornwall them some of our most special and cherished South Devon places . They are living, working landscapes Isles Of Scilly that contribute some £16bn every year to the AONBs in England 2 Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right [2015] Map Reference - NE150415-0934-420 national economy . 0 25 50 100 Km Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right [2015] Mapped by - Carrie Payne (2015) Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. GI and Analysis Team, Natural England © Crown copyright and database right [2015] Ordnance Survey Licence number 100022021. Introduction - About Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Natural Outstanding of - About Areas Introduction The Purpose of AONB Designation The primary purpose of AONB designation is ‘to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area’3 . ‘In pursuing the primary purpose of designation, account should be taken of the needs of agriculture, forestry and other rural industries and of the economic and social needs of local communities . Particular regard should be paid to promoting sustainable forms of economic and social development that in themselves conserve and enhance the environment . Recreation is not an objective of designation, but the demand for recreation should be met so far as this is consistent with the conservation of natural beauty and the needs of agriculture, forestry and other uses ’. 4 1 IUCN NCUK, Putting Nature on the Map: Identifying Protected Areas in the UK - A Handbook to help identify protected areas in the UK and assign the IUCN Management Categories and Governance Types to them . London: IUCN National Committee for the United Kingdom 2012, February . www .iucn-uk .org/Portals/0/PNOTM%20Final%20January .pdf 2 NAAONB, What Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty can offer the LEPs . Fairford, Glos: National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty 2017 . Available on https://www .lepnetwork .net/blog/why-aonbs-are-important-to-the-leps/