Agenda item

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Locality Officer introduced the Manager of the Blackdown Hills AONB who provided Members with a short presentation on their work during 2020/21.  He said that the team of 4 officers were usually based at Hemyock and their work and projects included:-

·         Commenting on 15 planning applications and 3 pre-applications.

·         Undertaking adder, nightjar and crayfish surveys and Beaver activity training.

·         Nature recovery planning as part of climate change mitigation to focus work on ecological networks to reconnect, improve and enlarge them.

·         Linking in with the South Somerset Environment Champions on the nature recovery work.

·         Sensory garden at Combe St Nicholas including willow structures and vegetable growing.

·         Project at Dommet wood to help hazel dormice by removing non-native conifers to allow natural regeneration of broadleaf trees and also improving public access with new steps.

·         The Government’s Farming in protected landscapes scheme to support farmers moving away from a basic payments scheme.

·         A Farming Advisory Officer would shortly be engaged to help with the delivery of nature recovery and roll out climate change measures.

·         Somerset Nature Connections was a 3 year project to bring groups of people into the AONB areas as volunteers as a nature and well being programme.

·         The Saving Devon’s Treescapes also included Neroche in Somerset to prevent Ash Dieback and build resilience in landscapes.

He concluded that they hoped to return to hold more in person events during 2021 and encourage residents into the AONB from the surrounding towns.

Councillor Martin Wale, as the SSDC representative of the Blackdown Hills AONB, said they were doing a great deal more project work than was mentioned in the report and the SSDC contribution of £6,000 generated further funding for them.

In response to questions from Members, the Manager of the Blackdown Hills AONB advised:- 

·         The Colchester Declaration was their national ambition for nature recovery across the AONBs and the South West Consortium had produced a State of Nature for each AONB which would be published shortly for consultation.

·         They were working with the East Devon Catchment Partnership to create farm transformation plans to help address the issue of phosphates in rivers.

·         Members of the Blackdown Hills Parish Network were part of the AONB management group and they were working on climate change issues including Broadband and had suggested lobbying MP’s on this issue.

·         The District and County Council contributions to the AONB had varied historically but their overall 25% contribution was vital to draw down DEFRA’s 75% funding.

·         An environmental land management test and trial had targeted large dairy farms within the Blackdown Hills to help them to comply with the Environment Agency targets to reduce phosphates in water. 

The recommendation to continue the SSDC contribution to the core funding of the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership was proposed and seconded and unanimously agreed by members.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)