Chilterns Joint Accord
Two key organisations involved in protecting and improving the Chilterns countryside for the public have signed an agreement pledging to work closer together.
The Chilterns Conservation Board is a Government appointed body set up to manage the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Chiltern Society is a charity with hundreds of volunteers maintaining and improving paths, woodlands and heritage sites. Both the Chilterns AONB and the Chiltern Society are celebrating 50th anniversaries this year.
The groups signed a Chilterns Accord at Lacey Green’s historic windmill on Thursday (5 November) which committed them to work together on initiatives that will conserve, promote and enhance the area’s countryside and heritage.
Ian Reay, the board’s chairman, said: “In this year of special anniversaries for the Chilterns it is very fitting that the two main organisations concerned with protecting and promoting this beautiful area have committed to working even more closely together in the future. We greatly value our relationship with the Chiltern Society and look forward to working on many joint projects with them.”
Society chairman David Harris, said: “Both organisations have the same objectives in promoting and protecting the Chilterns. We have been working in parallel for 50 years so it’s a logical move to work closer together, particularly at a time when the Chilterns countryside is under increasing threat from major new housing developments, the proposed HS2 railway and reduced Government funding for the environment.”
The two groups currently co-sponsor the annual Chilterns Building Design Awards and earlier this year launched a special beer, the Chiltern Double Fifty, developed by Chiltern The Chiltern Brewery, to mark their golden anniversaries.