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Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - Landscapes for Life
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is exactly what it says it is: an outstanding landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so precious that it is in the nation's interest to safeguard them.
There are 46 AONBs in Britain (33 wholly in England, four wholly in Wales, one which straddles the English/Welsh border and eight in Northern Ireland) and they cover 18% of our countryside.
AONBs are designated in recognition of their national importance and to ensure that their character and qualities are protected for all to enjoy.
They are living, working landscapes, much loved and valued by all who enjoy them. They are powerful symbols of our national pride: places of motivation, inheritance, excitement, pleasure and profit. The flora, fauna, history and culture of our AONBs’ lowland heath, wild moor, towering peaks, dramatic gorges, sheer cliffs, gently rolling hills, sandy beaches, spectacular cliffs, quiet coves, rocky shores, sand dunes, saltmarsh and shimmering estuaries ensure they remain Landscapes for Life.
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Further information about AONBs
The AONB story
AONB designation
AONB legal framework
AONB family objectives
The Fourteenth Annual Conference 'Shaping nature on a landscape scale'
Tuesday 17th - Thursday 19th, July 2012
University of York
Registration now open.
Early bird discount available until 1st June.
Click here to go to conference page
and
to register.
There are 46 AONBs throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Just click the map for a larger view or select an AONB below to find out more
