Unlocking the Secrets of Cranborne Chase and the Chalke Valley
CBA’s Landscape Character Assessment helped bring the story of the historic evolution and character of the Cranborne Chase and Chalke Valley landscape to life, conserving and enhancing the the landscape for future generations to enjoy.
The Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been awarded a £1.68m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards a project to unlock the secrets of Cranborne Chase and the Chalke Valley. The £2.7m Cranborne Chase and the Chalke Valley Landscape Partnership Project aims to enable a wide range of people to engage in the conservation and enjoyment of the area's distinctive historic, natural and cultural landscapes.
Linda Nunn, Director of Cranborne Chase AONB, said: "It's like dusting down an old book that you find in the attic and opening it to find a mass of truly wonderful stories that you can't wait to share with everyone. It's a special place that remains largely unknown and, as a result, has become undervalued. This project will reignite a love for the area and will foster a sense of pride for generations to come."
CBA was commissioned by the Partnership to prepare a Landscape Character Assessment that informed the Landscape Conservation Action Plan submitted in support of the successful bid.
The Cranborne Chase and Chalke Valley is an outstanding chalk downland landscape that in many ways evokes a strong sense of the 'iconic English countryside'. As the traditional heart of the former Medieval royal hunting grounds, the unusual wooded chalk downland of Cranborne Chase evokes an ancient landscape with a rich patina of stunning, interrelated natural, built and cultural assets. This is a dramatic and historic landscape where 'voices in the landscape' can still be heard.
Dominic Watkins, CBA Director, said: "We are delighted that our work has helped bring the story of the historic evolution and character of the Cranborne Chase and Chalke Valley landscape to life. The study is intended to provide a richer understanding of the area's unique sense of place and its importance as a cultural landscape and people's connections to it. We have no doubt that the project will encourage greater participation in conserving and enhancing the special qualities of this amazing landscape for future generations to enjoy."