About Us

The aspects of natural beauty are the components that make a landscape so scenic and distinctive; the wildlife, trees and plants, and the shape of the land with its rivers and hills and rock outcrops.  However, landscape is about the relationship between people and place; the interaction between nature and culture.  Public appreciation is a key component of natural beauty and considerable provision for recreation and tourism in AONBs were made in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
The special qualities of the AONB encompass natural beauty, amenity, heritage and landscape assets. 

Partnership & Consultation

A Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) has overseen the Wye Valley AONB since 1972.  Unlike a National Park Authority the JAC is not a planning authority.  The role of the JAC is one of advising and guiding the statutory authorities regarding particular issues within the AONB.  While the complex nature of the AONB is an administrative challenge, in practice the JAC has for many years been a strong partnership. This committee meets formally three times per annum along with a winter seminar and late summer study tour.  Wherever possible the Joint Advisory Committee seeks the views and involvement of Parish and Community Councils, community groups and local individuals from all walks of life.  The Joint Advisory Committee recognises that careful integration of interests is needed to safeguard the AONB for the future.

The current AONB structures of the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) and the AONB Unit, supported by the Technical Officers Working Party (TOWP) and various Topic Groups have proved remarkably effective and resilient. 
The strong partnership is committed to working effectively to achieve ways that not only sustain the area’s natural beauty and enable people to continue to enjoy it, but also to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

We are fortunate in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) that the Wye Valley benefits from a tremendous amount of ‘goodwill’.  Agreement on common interests and aims, and working together to achieve these aims between all these different interests is the only way to successfully progress the conservation or enhancement of the Wye Valley AONB