Partnership Members
The Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is all about partnership. We cannot achieve our primary purpose ‘to conserve and enhance natural beauty’ on our own.
26 organisations work together to care for the Coast & Heaths AONB. This AONB Partnership is coordinated and supported by the AONB team.
- Babergh District Council
- Community Action Suffolk
- Country Land and Business Association
- The Crown Estate
- Defra
- East Suffolk Council (Suffolk Coastal & Waveney District Councils)
- Environment Agency
- Essex County Council
- Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust
- Forestry England
- Historic England
- Ipswich Borough Council
- Marine Management Organisation
- National Farmers' Union
- National Trust
- Natural England
The National Association for AONBs
The National Association for AONBs (NAAONB) is a charitable foundations whose vision is to ensure the natural beauty is secured and valued.
The NAAONB achieved charitable status in October 2015 and is now a charitable company limited by guarantee. This gives it a structure that allows it to respond better and more quickly to the needs of the membership.
The charity has three objectives:
- To promote the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty including the physical, natural, cultural and built environment in and around Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, other protected areas, and those areas for which such designation might be pursued.
- To advance the education, understanding and appreciation of the public in relation to the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty including the physical, natural, cultural and built environment of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), other protected areas and those areas for which such designation might be pursued.
- To promote the efficiency and effectiveness of those organisations promoting or representing Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, other protected areas and those areas for which such designation might be pursued.
Awards
The David Wood National Landscape Award aims to recognise and highlight the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to conserving and enhancing the Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
With the first award presented in 2021, this will become an annual award scheme. Award winners will receive a framed copy of a linocut print created by local artist, Jem Seeley, and produced by Drab Ltd featuring the Coast & Heaths AONB’s iconic species, the Redshank.
It is important to recognise the hard work and amazing contributions that people are making to improve the AONB, so it is better for wildlife, communities, and visitors.
The recognition of this annual award will hopefully inspire others to get involved in the Coast & Heaths AONB to ensure its outstanding landscape, wildlife, heritage and culture is protected for all to enjoy.