Did you know... the poet Laureate has written a poem to celebrate the creation of AONBs. Read 'Fugitives' here.

Did you know... 156m people visit AONBs annually, spending over £2bn and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses.

The National Association for
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a designated exceptional landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are precious enough to be safeguarded in the national interest. AONBs are protected and enhanced for nature, people, business and culture.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland has 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, covering 18% of the countryside, over a fifth of the English coast, and including 12,000 miles of footpaths and bridleways.

...supporting the UK’s 46 AONBs to value and secure the natural beauty of the countryside

The National Association for AONBs is a charity with three objects:

to promote the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty in and around AONBs and other similarly protected areas;
to advance the education, understanding and appreciation of the conservation and enhancement of the countryside; and
to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of organisations promoting or representing Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Jump straight to:

Joint Statement on Climate Change and Biodiversity

The National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty today signed the Global Protected and Conserved Areas Joint Statement on Climate Change and Biodiversity. We are proud to unite for nature with so many other protected landscape organisations throughout the world. The statement illustrates our absolute commitment to delivering on the challenge to being part of the first 30% of the globe to be protected for nature, safeguarding our planet for the generations that follow.

Colchester Declaration - sustainability.jpg

The Colchester Declaration

At the Landscapes for Life Conference 2019 the UK's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty jointly made the Colchester Declaration #Declaration4Nature.

This is our pledge for nature: to protect what remains and restore what has been lost.

Environmental Land Management system - Tests and Trials

Twelve AONB teams across England are taking part in Defra's Environmental Land Management system tests and trials. The new ELM system will replace existing farm payment schemes from 2024. The AONB programme 'Farming for the Nation' (coordinated by the NAAONB) is made possible by the high level of collaboration across the network. It brings together hundreds of farmers across thousands of acres of land in a wide range of settings to test proposed elements of the new system, providing significant input for the scheme’s development ahead of its implementation.

Kent Downs AONB attains coveted Lonely Planet ‘Best in Travel’ Award

A huge congratulations to Kent’s Heritage Coast in the Kent Downs AONB, which has won international recognition as the 4th region on Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022. Lonely Planet particularly focused on its sustainable tourism practices.

Kent is the only UK destination to feature and was selected for its unique experiences, ‘wow’ factor and its ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism practices.

Huge congratulations to all the local organisations, businesses, and people that make Kent’s Heritage Coast such a special place to visit!

Forest of Bowland AONB - Bowland Fells - Steven Kidd.jpg

Best Poem of Landscape

The winner of the very first Ginkgo Prize - Best Poem of Landscape category announced.

Order your copy of the anthology of shortlisted poems here!

Art in the Landscape strategy

We are delighted that the National Association for AONBs' Board of Trustees has endorsed the Art in the Landscape Strategy prepared for us by Activate performing arts with input from a steering group of staff from AONB teams throughout England and Wales. This forms the next step in our commitment to working with artists to explore how we can create art within and inspired by our iconic landscapes, opening them up to a wider audience and enabling people to experience awe inspiring art in awe inspiring settings.

Amazing AONB Stories

AONBs are dynamic, living landscapes that underpin the economy and the health and wellbeing of the UK. We have put together a selection of stories which are a representation of what AONB teams are doing in an effort to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to take advantage of everything AONBs have to offer, whilst also learning how to enjoy and look after them.