 Bowland Bulletin
Autumn 2009 |
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| Enjoyment |
Festival Bowland
Festival Bowland is a ‘year-round’ calendar of events that celebrate the birds, wildlife, landscape and culture of the Forest of Bowland AONB. We are now putting our 2010 calendar together. Festival Bowland events are led by local experts, landowners and businesses, showcase the area’s special qualities and share with others what makes it such a special place for people and wildlife. If you would like to get involved please contact Susan MacDonald on 01200 448000 or email susan.macdonald@lancashire.gov.uk
AONB / RSPB Outreach Education Project
After a first successful year the AONB and RSPB will be working with a further eight primary schools across the area in the second year of this project. Pupils from St Mary's Catholic, Claughton-on-Brock, Goosnargh Whitechapel, St Leonard's C of E, Grindleton C of E, Bolton-by-Bowland C of E, Rathmel C of E, Wray with Botton Endowed, Cawthorns Endowed and Abbeystead Primary Schools will learn all about the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and why this area is such a special place for people, birds and other wildlife. As well as taking part in the Big Schools Bird Watch www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch/ the project will culminate in a visit to farms in the area where farming practices are helping the Forest of Bowland's wading birds. Sessions will start in November after half term, with subsequent sessions in January, March and May. The project is being run by the Forest of Bowland AONB and the RSPB and is funded by the Forest of Bowland AONB Sustainable Development Fund and Ribble Valley Borough Council.
Martin's Blog - Be Inspired
The new addition to our website - Martin's Blog - has already proved to be a big hit with many followers gaining insider Bowland news from our very own Community Projects Officer, Martin Charlesworth. It is guaranteed to make you smile and also give you informal and up to date news on what is happening around the AONB. To read Martin's Blog follow this link www.forestofbowland.com/blog
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| Community |
Dunsop Bridge Host to New AONB Offices
We feel privileged to be now located in our new base in the centre of the AONB, in what was formerly the stable of the famous racehorse Kettledrum– winner of the 1861 Derby! It's also an added bonus to have Puddleduck's tea room and post office on our doorstep for our daily milk and provisions. We welcome you to call in and visit us – our new address is:
The Stables
4 Root Hill Estate Yard
Whitewell Road
Dunsop Bridge
BB7 3AY
01200 448000
Sustainable Development Fund Successes in 2009
The AONB Sustainable Development Fund began the year with £61,000 to spend, and the coffers have now been swelled to over £96,000, thanks to contributions from Lancaster City LSP and Lancashire County Council. To date we have supported 15 exciting projects ranging from arts festivals, education projects, and tourism support; through to renewable energy and community composting. See further details on our website www.forestofbowland.com/cons_devfund_sdf0910 Schemes have been submitted by voluntary organisations, schools, village halls and social enterprises. They all seek to develop projects which tackle the 3 elements of sustainability – meeting social, economic and environmental needs within the AONB. There is still a small amount of funding available, so please get in touch if you have a scheme in mind, cathy.hopley@lancashire.gov.uk or for further information visit http://www.forestofbowland.com/cons_devfund
Landscape Stories
The Landscape Stories project has been busy during the summer months getting out and about to some of the many agricultural shows and events taking place in the Forest of Bowland. From Chipping to Slaidburn we've been chatting to residents and visitors about cheese and chairs, limekilns and historic landscapes, and have heard some fascinating tales along the way! For further information visit www.forestofbowland.com/news_landscapestories We'll be celebrating National Tree Week – starts 29th November - and getting creative for Christmas with a number of events in December. Keep an eye on the website www.forestofbowland.com/landscape_stories and local press for dates if you'd like to get involved contact Sandra Silk sandra.silk@lancashire.gov.uk or 01200 448000.
Commendable Volunteer Efforts at Gisburn Forest
On the 19 Oct 20 people met up at the Dog and Partridge at Tosside to open the new bike trails that have been built over the past year by contractor and volunteers. Every other Sunday there has been a ‘volunteer task day’ where there were regularly up to 20 volunteers clearing a route, digging out topsoil and barrowing stone to form the new singletrack. Some volunteers did additional days to create special features. Martin Colledge of Forest Enterprises and Nigel Pilling of United Utilities were the mainstays leading task days and remembering to bring the tea and biscuits! This work continued for a year almost regardless of weather and was only called off twice due to frozen ground. The new track is already drawing in cycling enthusiasts from a wide area and the feedback from cyclists is extremely good. We trust that local businesses will be able to benefit directly from the increase in visitor, many of whom will spend on refreshments and some of whom will stay and explore the local area bringing in further economic benefit. Volunteers came from local cycle groups, Sustrans, Clitheroe firm 3Ms Health Care, a day centre in Lancaster and there were valuable contributions from Venture Scouts and youths seeking Duke of Edinburgh awards; not forgetting local people who just came along to help. This really was a magnificent job and the volunteer effort is continuing.
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| Business |
Green Tourism Business Scheme
Through the Lancashire Green Tourism Project 15 tourism enterprises will gain GTBS accreditation by March 2010, of those 8 are located in the Forest of Bowland joining the 33 who have already gained GTBS accreditation since 2007. Several businesses have benefited from PR for attaining their green credentials, including Bleasdale Cottages who were visited by the Northern Echo (follow this link to read the full article http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/leisure/4675454.Bottoms_up/) and Clough Bottom Farm Cottages who were visited by the Manchester Evening News (follow this link to read the full article http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/lifestyle/holidays/holiday_review/s/1171274_
forest_of_bowland_) While some of the journalistic writing isn't always accurate, sightings of green lizards?! it has hopefully generated some excellent coverage for the businesses. If you would like further information about the Lancashire Green Tourism Project email hetty.byrne@lancashire.gov.uk
Sustainable Tourism Network
The objective of the Sustainable Tourism Network is for tourism businesses to work with the AONB to improve the sustainable development and management of tourism in the protected area which takes account of the needs of the environment, local residents, local businesses and visitors. The Network is going from strength to strength and now has 101 members. If you are a tourism business who is not yet involved and would like to find out more contact mike.pugh@lancashire.gov.uk
Bowland Tourism Environment Fund
Many of you will have heard of or have been actively supporting our Bowland Tourism Environment Fund (BTEF) over the years. Although the purpose of the fund will remain the same some changes have taken place recently. BTEF was formed as a company in June 2009 and will be registered as Charity just as soon as we have evidence of income more than £5000 p.a. An inaugural General Meeting was held on 29th October, for further details of BTEF visit our website http://www.forestofbowland.com/news_btef
The New Bowland Experience Limited
We are excited to announce that the Bowland Experience Ltd (BEx) has been formed as a Company Limited by Guarantee as of August 2009. Initial directors are Robert Gardner (www.bleasdalecottages.co.uk), Edwina Miller (www.cobblehey.co.uk) and Jon Beavan (www.dalesbridge.co.uk). An inaugural General Meeting was held on 29 October 2009. The Bowland Tourism Environment Fund (BTEF) will have a 51% controlling interest. This is to ensure that BEx works within the objectives of the BTEF and that any profits which are made by the company will go to BTEF. The domain name www.bowlandexperience.com has been registered and website is under construction. This will include a searchable members' database and links to their own sites. We will be in touch soon with more details of how tourism businesses can get involved or follow this link to find out more www.forestofbowland.com/news_bex Top of page |
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| Landscape & Wildlife |
Landscape Matters
The AONB, in partnership with Natural England and Lancashire County Council, has recently published its new Landscape Character Assessment for the Forest of Bowland. The Report provides a wealth of information about the protected area's landscape and how it came to appear as it does today. It also seeks to classify and describe the landscape into 14 distinct 'landscape types'. These include moorland plateaux, rolling upland farmland, wooded valleys and so on, and they are then broken down into 82 landscape areas, each with their own locally distinctive qualities and features. This mapping and consultation work was carried out by CBA consultants with support from the AONB Unit, LCC, Natural England and local partners and communities. The Report also explores how the landscape has been affected by change and how sensitive or resilient it is to future developments or alterations in land management. This is a really useful tool as it enables the partnership to assess the impacts of planned or potential changes on the landscape, and also how to manage this protected area in order to fulfil our remit – to conserve and enhance the AONB. To view the report follow this link www.forestofbowland.com/landscape_character The new Landscape and Biodiverstiy theme group, co-ordinated by Tarja Wilson, will be developing further work based on this report, possibly including an interactive website, community workshops and training for district planning authorities. Please contact Tarja if you are interested in getting involved tarja.wilson@lancashire.gov.uk
Bowland Wildlife Business Bloggers
The Bowland Wildlife Blog www.bowlandwildlife.org.uk/ created by Barrie Tyrer web designs through the Lancashire Green Tourism project, goes from strength to strength. 14 businesses are now contributing to the aggregate blog and providing a wealth of information on wildlife sightings across the Forest of Bowland. Additionally, it is an excellent opportunity for tourism enterprises to market their businesses through a social networking channel, potentially opening up visits via a new niche market. If you would like to start 'blogging' about the wildlife on your doorstep then get in touch! hetty.byrne@lancashire.gov.uk
Seasonal Ideas
The colours of autumn have been fantastic across the AONB over the past month. Before the cold months set in why not explore the natural beauty on your doorstep with opportunities for excellent walking and cycling. Pull on those boots and try our walk of the month www.forestofbowland.com or for a full list of our walks visit www.forestofbowland.com/walking For ideas of where to buy delicious, local, seasonal produce search our online local producers database, as well as food producers it also contains a wealth of information about local arts and crafts producers www.forestofbowland.com/Producerdirectory
If you are a local producer who is not currently listed and would like to be added, please contact hetty.byrne@lancashire.gov.uk
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The Forest of Bowland AONB - a place to enjoy and keep special!
The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a nationally protected landscape and is international important
for its heather moorland, blanket bog and rare birds. The AONB is managed by a partnership of landowners, farmers, voluntary
organisations, wildlife groups, recreation groups, local councils and government agencies, who work to protect, conserve and enhance the
natural and cultural heritage of this special area. For more information visit www.forestofbowland.com |
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