Mendip AONB - Churchill and Langford Parish Council

Mendip - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Part of the Parish of Churchill lies beneath the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is exactly as it says; it is a precious landscape whose distinctive character and beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation's interest to safeguard it. There are over 40 AONB in England and Wales, each of which has been designated for special attention by reasons of their high quality, which includes their flora and fauna, historical and cultural associations as well as scenic views.

The care of AONB's are entrusted to Local Authorities, organisations, Parish Council's, Community Groups and other individuals who live and work within them or who value them. For its part, Churchill Parish Council is a member of the Mendip Hills AONB Partnership, which is an umbrella organisation that seeks to bring together the five main Local Authorities that impact upon the AONB, 28 Parish Councils and 12 National Bodies. There is a statutory requirement to produce a Management Plan that has to be revised every five years.

Mendip Hill sign

The main areas of this plan are:

To conserve and enhance natural beauty
To take account of the need of agriculture, forestry and other rural industries and of the economic and social needs of social communities
The demand for recreation should be met so far as it is consistent with the conservation of natural beauty and the needs of agriculture, forestry and other uses.

Your Parish Council is working actively in all of these areas for the benefit of the community and strongly believes that it is one of the custodians of this unique landscape for future generations.