The campaign to extend the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been nixed by government cuts.

Natural England's announced earlier this month that it is cancelling the review of the Chilterns National Landscape boundary. 

The decision was made after Defra cut funding for Natural England's landscape designations programme. 

The Chilterns AONB is near to the Hitchin Priory and Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo wards which contain countryside and wildlife.

According to "Chilterns National Landscape" Designating new areas to extend the Chilterns National Landscape would secure more of these unique natural and cultural areas, contributing directly to key government commitments including to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030, and to ensure more people, particularly from disadvantaged urban backgrounds, can experience nature. 

Over the past three years, hundreds of hours of work have been invested by Natural England teams, their consultants, Chilterns National Landscape staff, local authorities, partner organisations, and members of the public in anticipation of the public consultation stage, which was due to begin this month.  

Abandoning important projects like this, as well as a new National Landscape for the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, sends a troubling signal, say campaigners, about the government's commitment to protected landscapes. If this well-advanced, widely supported initiative can simply be dropped, it leads us to question whether any new National Landscapes, or National Parks, will ever be designated again. 

Dr Elaine King, Chief Executive of the Chilterns National Landscape, said: "This is a devastating decision. We were on the cusp of supporting Natural England with its public consultation on an extended boundary, with all landscape assessments completed and strong support across our local authorities, partner organisations and local residents. The time, effort, and hope invested by so many people has simply been swept away.  

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The Chilterns is in a strong position to connect its growing local communities with the joys of this special landscape – this is not just a missed opportunity, it's a step backwards." 

Hitchin's previous MP, Bim Afolami, had campaigned for extending the area of AONB which would provide vital protections to both the flora and fauna and from development to a whole swathe of countryside towards the south of Hitchin.

It would have also paved the way for this area, which already covers part of North Herts, towards the south of Hitchin to be included in plans for a Chilterns National Park.