Outstanding Heritage in AONBs

We can look at the natural landscapes of AONBs and sometimes forget that the vast majority of what we see is the result of human cultural activity over many centuries.

Woodlands that we consider to be Ancient (pre-1600) will have been managed before that and could even have been open fields in Medieval times. What we might consider to be pristine semi-natural woodland has been managed by generations of people, for purposes as diverse as charcoal for iron smelting, grazing for livestock and timber for fuel and construction.

The moor, arable and pasture land so characteristic of many AONBs was mostly created by woodland clearance over 6,000 years ago. Over time it has been managed in a variety of ways – as open strip fields (ridge and furrow); for extensive sheep or cattle grazing; as pasture or as arable. In the 18th century, Parliamentary Enclosure resulted in a radical change in the pattern of the landscape, with open fields being divided up by new hedges. This trend was reversed between World War 2 and the mid 1980’s, when the emphasis was on food production and many hedges were taken out. Much land was also converted, from moorland to pasture and from pasture to arable. The wheel is turning again however, with the latest Government incentives targeted at maintaining and restoring hedges, boundary features and habitats.

The monuments and historic features found in the landscape have reflected the changes in land management, population growth and social structure over the centuries. From Neolithic barrows dating back 6,000 years, through the Iron Age with its massive hill forts, past the period of Roman occupation and on into the 19th century with its grand country houses and designed parkland. Changes in land management and social structure have seen many of these monuments and landscapes disappear through disuse, neglect or demolition.

So is the picture all gloomy? Definitely not. In England and Wales, AONBs contain nearly 50,000 listed buildings, almost 5,000 nationally important ancient monuments and over 300 designated historic parks and gardens. And because our cultural heritage constantly evolves, we continue to shape history.

AONBs contain a wealth of historic and cultural features –the remains of mining industries in the Tamar Valley, Nidderdale and the High Weald; majestic castles on the Northumberland Coast; Iron Age hill forts in the Clwydian Range, Malvern Hills and Gower; magnificent country houses and designed parkland in the Howardian Hills; battlefield sites in the Shropshire Hills.

AONB partnerships help to conserve and enhance features of our cultural heritage, by giving advice and funding for management. Many AONBs provide funds directly to help land managers conserve features on their land, but the greatest contribution comes from drawing-in funds from national schemes. English Heritage (link to www.english-heritage.org.uk) and CADW (link to www.cadw.wales.gov.uk) carry out vital survey and investigation work, whilst the Heritage Lottery Fund and Defra’s Environmental Stewardship Scheme provide significant resources to manage both monuments and cultural landscapes such as woodland, heathland and parkland.

In this 50th year of AONBs, where can you go and what can you see? Because cultural heritage is all around us and constantly evolving, it’s easy to see! Check this website for a list of events in AONBs nationwide and visit your local AONB. Or visit all 50 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland! From the wilds of the North Pennines to the rolling agricultural landscapes of the Cotswolds and Lincolnshire Wolds; from the Norfolk and Solway Coasts to the rugged cliffs of Dorset, the Isle of Wight and the Causeway Coast. Look for obvious features such as castles, country houses, hill forts, lead mines and monasteries. But also look at the landscape and settlement patterns around you and find clues to why they look the way they do – how have humans managed this land over time and for what purpose?

And don’t forget the culture of local rural communities. Visit museums and local craftsmen; go to local festivals and events; buy local food, drink and craft products; or simply soak up the atmosphere of quiet country villages in some of the most stunning areas in the British Isles.

Apart from the geology and landform beneath our feet, the landscapes of Britain’s AONBs have been shaped by humans, for better or for worse. Understanding how our ancestors have shaped the land, and how we continue to do so, adds immeasurably to our enjoyment of these outstanding landscapes.