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Finest Countryside

Some of the East of England’s finest landscapes have been designated as National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) as a result of their national landscape quality. They are designated by Natural England, to mark them out for special protection and sustainable management to help maintain their special character for now, and for future generations.

The Broads

The Broads were designated with equivalent to National Park status in 1988.  The area lies on the flood plains and lower reaches of 3 main rivers in Norfolk and Suffolk - a unique and internationally important wetland landscape.  The Broads Authority manages the Broads for the purposes of:

  • Conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the Broads
  • Promoting the enjoyment of the Broads by the public
  • Protecting the interests of navigation       

The Broads Authority is required to produce a plan - 'The Broads Plan', which is updated every five years.  The latest version was published in 2004. 

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

There are four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) wholly or partly in the East of England, in total covering 1,122 km2 or 6% of the region. These are:

  • Norfolk Coast
  • Suffolk Coast and Heaths
  • Dedham Vale
  • part of the Chilterns.       

The Norfolk Coast AONB covers a narrow coastal strip along the north coast of Norfolk with outlying areas in the west and east.   The area is largely wild and open with a variety of dynamic coastal features such as salt marsh, sand dunes, shingle and eroding sandy cliffs, with harbours and villages of distinctive flint stone buildings

The Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB extends from the northern side of the Stour estuary just south of Ipswich, up the coast to Kessingland in the north.   It is a landscape of sandy heaths, forest and farmland with a dynamic coastline traversed by five magnificent estuaries. 

The Dedham Vale AONB lies on the Suffolk/Essex border, an exceptional example of a lowland river valley with undulating slopes falling gently to the meandering River Stour and its hedged water meadows, copses and riverbank willows. 

A small area of the Chilterns AONB extends into the East of England region, to the north of Luton and along the Herts/Beds border to the south. 

Managing AONBs

A Natural England grant helps each AONB partnership to perform the essential core functions of management of the area, through a small management team in each AONB.  Some funding is also available to support work on the ground.   However, the passing of the CRoW Act in November 2000 brought new responsibilities to the local authorities of each AONB to produce a Management Plan.  

Reviewing AONB Management

Each of the three AONBs has undergone a management review process to establish the most effective arrangement for the management of the AONB. 

AONB Management Planning In The Region

The Suffolk Coast and Heaths were the first AONB in the country to produce a statutory management plan in June 2002.  Management Plans are now in place for the Norfolk Coast; Suffolk Coasts and Heaths and Chilterns AONBs.  These bring together all the key partners and stakeholders involved in the AONB, all working together to devise a plan of action that will help secure a sustainable future for the area.