Public urged to reconnect with local landscapes

By LFTO News Team

Outdoor headlines

14 October 2011 11:59

A major new initiative urging people to reconnect with their local landscapes launches today in South East England.

‘Our Land’ unites and celebrates the nine protected landscapes of the region – the first time such a collaboration has been created – in a new central tourism website: www.our-land.co.uk (hosted by responsibletravel.com). The promotion of sustainable tourism businesses that have a passion and commitment to their local landscapes and communities lies at the core of the site.

Employment in tourism in protected landscapes is around double the national average at almost 20%, and in some cases is much higher – on the Isle of Wight it accounts for 41%. Our Land aims to boost the vital revenue generated through tourism, whilst ensuring the long-term protection of the land by encouraging the public to recognise and rejoice in these diverse landscapes.

More than a third of the South East is officially classified as Protected Landscape – this consists of two National Parks and seven Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): the Chilterns, Cotswolds, High Weald, Isle of Wight, Kent Downs, New Forest, North Wessex Downs, South Downs and the Surrey Hills.

Visitors can use the new website to find and book their next holiday; browsing specific regions and accommodation preferences or by viewing suggested itineraries themed around seasons and activities, as well as reading about the sights, sounds and smells that make the different landscapes so distinct.

Social media elements allow people to share their experiences and to ask questions of the area to a panel of local experts; including historians, conservationists and walking and cycling experts.

Local businesses signing up to the scheme will benefit from free or discounted inclusion on the website, support developing their interaction with the landscape, and the promotional weight of the initiative. To qualify as partners, businesses must agree to the ‘Our Land Promise’ to offer authentic experiences that celebrate the cultural and natural history of the region, and they must demonstrate to visitors their commitment to the environment.

Examples of businesses that have signed up to Our Land:

Surrey Hills: Stay on a vineyard
Denbies has become synonymous with wine in the Surrey Hills, creating and producing some of the finest in the South East. Stay on their B&B to get the full vineyard experience, dine on local, seasonal produce in the restaurant. B&B from £70 for two.

http://www.our-land.co.uk/accommodation/7037/dorking-bed-breakfast

Kent Downs: Walking holiday
Local man Derek Bright knows the history of the Kent Downs intimately; his guided and self guided walks are the best way to discover this ancient landscape, with landmarks telling stories from Neolithic, Roman and Medieval to Jane Austen’s Regency. Six days, from £481p.p. including local B&B, evening meal and locally sourced packed lunch.

http://www.our-land.co.uk/holiday/3909/pilgrims-way-guided-walk

New Forest: Conservation taster day
Learn conservation techniques such as GPS and camera wildlife traps while learning about the unique biodiversity of the New Forest. Dr Hammer’s conservation expertise coupled with his military expedition background is the perfect combination to offer a brilliant day out. One day, £65p.p. including locally sourced packed lunch.

http://www.our-land.co.uk/holiday/7465/volunteering-taster-days-new-forest

Chilterns: Village B&B
Kingston Blount village-born childhood sweethearts Jim and Theresa’s family have farmed in the area for 180 years, their B&B is a gem in the Chilterns at the start of some of the best walking paths in the area, many going via National Trust properties. Corn from the farm is sold to the local mill and the flour brought back to make homemade bread. Home reared meat is sold at the local market, wildlife flocks to the beautiful garden and lake. B&B from £75 for two.

http://www.our-land.co.uk/accommodation/7256/chinnor-bed-and-breakfast-oxfordshire

North Wessex Downs: Country house hotel
Brothers Mark and David Pennells run Georgian manor Chiseldon House whose Coach House played an important part in the Second World War and whose location started as a Saxon settlement ‘Coesel Dene’. Not far from Swindon train station (but a world apart), the brothers recommend the best walks in the area, including in the Ancient Savenake Forest. From £95 for two.

http://www.our-land.co.uk/accommodation/7277/chiseldon-country-house-hotel-wiltshire

Isle of Wight: Tree climbing
Climb 30ft and hang out in the canopy of a 250 year old English oak; relax (if you can) in the tree hammock and abseil to the ground where you can celebrate your climb with a locally sourced lunch. Spot red squirrels and a variety of birds. Great for families and groups of friends. From £25 for two hours.

http://www.our-land.co.uk/holiday/5656/tree-climbing-tour-on-the-isle-of-wight

Cotswolds: Self Catering Cottage
Ross and Debbie Williamson have created five holiday cottages in the grounds of their 16th Century Cotswolds home near Broadway in the Warwickshire Cotswolds. The cottages are on the edge of the Cotswold Way National Trail and are built using local and recycled materials; water is solar thermal. Wildlife is thriving in the grounds and a Nature Diary gives you an idea of what to look out for. Five cottages sleeping two and four, from £325 per week.

http://www.our-land.co.uk/accommodation/7200/broadway-holiday-cottages-cotswolds

High Weald: Lakeside B&B
Mark grew up on the organic farm, which has been in the family for 60 years. As well as lake views from your bedroom window and a locally sourced breakfast, you can explore the land with its eco straw bale hut and organic veg patch. You can fish on the lake and visit the donkeys and ponies. Mark and Susie can recommend the best local walks, as well as taking you out on guided walking and cycling tours. There are craft courses, such as pottery, willow weaving and ceramics. B&B from £66 for two.

http://www.our-land.co.uk/accommodation/6984/south-downs-bed-and-breakfast

South Downs: Cycling holiday
After cycling around South America together, classmates Andy and Paul decided to set up cycling tours that gave people the chance to absorb local culture as well as having fun on a bike. The South Downs Way is one of the best cycle paths in the country and your local guide has a passion for the birds, wildlife, geology and history and can share this with you while you enjoy the views. £435 for three days including local B&Bs and locally sourced lunch.

http://www.our-land.co.uk/holiday/7014/south-downs-mountain-bike-holiday

Supporters and partners

TV presenter Kate Humble, is championing the new initiative and said: “In the UK we have some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes on our doorstep. Not only are these wonderful places to enjoy Britain’s nature at its best, they are also packed full of interesting stories of thousands of years of human life. There is a powerful, resurgent interest in re-discovering natural and cultural Britain and I congratulate the Our Land partners in aiming to capitalise on this in a responsible and sustainable way.”

Justin Francis, MD, responsibletravel.com, said: “We have some of the most diverse landscapes on our doorstep but too many are unaware of the riches that can be less than an hour away by bus, bike or train. Our aim is to reconnect people that live in the South East with our shared heritage to ensure it is enjoyed, whilst being conserved for centuries to come.”

James Berresford, CEO of Visit England, said: “Within the Strategic Framework for English Tourism the Rural Tourism Action Plan aims to significantly increase the economic benefits of tourism to local communities, and the  Wise Growth Action Plan embeds the principles of balancing growth with sustainability across the industry. Our Land is a very good example of putting these strategic plans in to action.  In time I hope it will develop beyond the South East.”

As well as working with local tourism businesses, Our Land will collaborate with membership organisations, transport providers and the media to promote the range of visitor attractions on offer in the protected landscapes.

Our Land has been made possible thanks to a £1m grant from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), to be spent over the next 2.5 years, after which it is intended the model will continue to prosper commercially and be available as a template for other protected landscapes across the country. Our Land is being managed by the South East Protected Landscapes (SEPL) forum, made up of representatives of the nine landscapes, and is being given web, marketing and brand support by the project’s private partner, sustainable tourism leader, responsibletravel.com.