Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2011 - 2016
The Cornwall AONB
The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is unique in that it is made up of 12 separate geographical areas but is still one single AONB. It covers approximately 27% of Cornwall - an area of 958 sq km (370 sq miles). (See map)
The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was designated in 1959 with the Camel Estuary section being added in 1981.
A part of the Tamar Valley AONB is also in Cornwall. There is a close relationship with this AONB and with our other near neighbours, the Isles of Scilly, North and South Devon AONBs.
Why is the Cornwall AONB so special?
The qualities of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are represented by its landscape character, natural heritage, historic environment, natural and built features and cultural associations, all of which are of great significance and value to the people of Cornwall and Cornwall’s visitors. The AONB is a major asset for Cornwall and contributes substantially
to the economy, as well as offering enjoyment, health and lifestyle benefits to half a million local people and up to five million visitors.
The landscape is diverse and ever-changing, cherished by those whose families have worked in it for generations and loved by those who are seeing its beauty and mystery for the first time. It is the essence of Cornwall.
The AONB’s economic significance
"Landscape is worth millions to the Cornish economy. Polices to protect it make good economic sense.”
Professor Robert Tregay, Cornwall Lecture 2008
Exploitation of natural resources has been the historical source of Cornwall’s wealth. Agriculture, fishing and mining were the dominant forces in an economy that shaped the Cornish landscape and these industries provided a common link between many of the communities within the county. Agriculture and fishing are still significant industries
and there is a renewed interest in metalliferous mining in Cornwall, including the proposed
redevelopment and extension of South Crofty Mine.
The role of these traditional industries is much reduced but they have created much of the
landscape setting for Cornwall’s dominant industry – tourism. 4.4 million staying visitors were recorded in 2008 and most holiday trips to Cornwall are motivated wholly or partly by our conserved landscape. Scenery, landscape and views were cited by the largest proportion of visitors in 2008/9 as their favourite aspect of Cornwall.
Other sectors of the economy beside tourism also benefit from the quality of the landscape, notably the creative industries, knowledge based sectors, horticulture, local produce and marine businesses. Cornwall is an attractive place for entrepreneurs to establish and/or expand many types of business.
The economic value of the environment is not only relevant in terms of jobs and businesses in the tourism, recreation or agricultural sectors. In recent years Cornwall has been actively promoted to businesses, with marketing focusing on the environment and quality of life.
“The area’s attractiveness as a place to live and as a leisure destination is likely to remain as key features of future economic progress.”
Cornwall Council – Local Economic Assessment 2010.
Changing landscapes
The natural beauty of the AONB is sensitive to a range of factors which generate landscape change. While the AONB designation has guarded against major intrusive development, pressures on the landscape are likely to come from a number of areas as the economy and social structures of Cornwall continue to evolve.
There are many forces for change acting directly or indirectly upon the AONB landscape. Most of the forces for change are man-made but differ greatly in the scale upon which they act, from a local landowner changing his cropping scheme, to climate change requiring a global solution. Some forces for change are driven by political decisions, made increasingly at an international level and others are brought about by local decision making and changes in management.
However large or small and whatever scale they operate, forces for change have the potential to alter landscapes in a positive or negative way. The challenge for the Cornwall AONB Partnership, via the Management Plan, is to communicate what aspects of landscape and seascape within the AONB are particularly special and distinctive, worthy of conservation and enhancement. There needs to be a comprehensive understanding of how
these special qualities may change under certain pressures and then there needs to be a clear direction for the positive management, retention and enhancement of these special qualities.
Headline forces for change
• Climate change, energy generation and fossil fuel depletion
• Changes in land management practices
• Economic and development pressures
• Population change and housing
• Lifestyles changes
• Visitor and recreational pressures
• Legislative and policy change
Further information on predicted trends and forces for change can be found in the web-based appendices to the Management Plan’s strategic chapters.