Welcome to Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

This nationally designated AONB covers 380 sq miles of countryside overlapping the boundaries of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset.

It is a diverse landscape offering areas of rolling chalk grassland, ancient woodlands, chalk escarpments, downland hillsides and chalk river valleys each with a distinct and recognisable character. The landscapes of the AONB today, as they were in the past, are extraordinarily rich.

Conservation and enhancement of natural beauty

The primary purpose of AONB designation is to 'conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area'. In planning terms, AONB designation is equivalent in status to that of National Parks.

The AONB was designated in 1981 and the AONB Partnership’s primary aim is to ensure that these exceptional landscapes are conserved and enhanced for future generations. National designation of this deeply rural AONB is founded on its being a vibrant, living, working landscape. Agriculture, forestry, related rural industries and all its local communities are central to its conservation and enhancement into the future.

On this website you can discover more about the landscape character, heritage and wildlife of the AONB, as well as local information for visitors and residents.

AONB Management Plan 2009 - 2014

This document is the statutory Management Plan for this AONB, as required under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

To download the whole plan, or sections of the plan, please see the Management Plan page.

The Hart Newspaper - Click to view the latest edition

The Hart is our free newspaper for everyone living and working in the AONB. Download PDF (4Mb) or if you would like to have one mailed to you, please contact the office.