Box Planting Project at the Wormsley Estate

Following successful planting sessions in 2016 at the Wormsley Estate as part of a Box woodland creation scheme, we have continued our support for the next phase of the project by running three volunteer planting sessions in recent weeks. Over 50 volunteers clocked up 459 volunteer hours between them and planted in excess of 1500 Box trees!

The new phase of this important environmental project, supported by Trust for Oxfordshire Environment & Grundon Waste Management, focusses on the creation of new Box woodland on some of the higher ground on the Estate.

Box was a common tree in the Chilterns for thousands of years – places like Bix, Boxmoor and Box End all derive their names from it. The Romans first used it for hedging, and it was used for making musical instruments as early as the 14th century. It is, however, a very slow growing timber and plentiful supplies were inevitably exhausted. Box-dominant woodland is now very rare in Britain with perhaps under 20 hectares remaining on a handful of windy hillsides. Not only is the timber still highly sought after, still being the material of choice for many musical instrument makers, but its woodland provides a safe haven for many animals and birds.

We’re proud to be supporting such a worthwhile project in the Chilterns!

Chilterns Buildings Design Awards 2017 - The Results

We are delighted to announce that our team of judges have chosen the winning buildings for this year’s award.

Our judges undertook a marathon journey to visit the eight shortlisted properties in early May, followed by very serious and detailed deliberations to choose the developments which best match the awards criteria.

The overall winner is the Hundred Hills Vineyard in the Stonor Valley, designed by Nichols Brown Webber of Henley. It was chosen because it significantly enhances the site and locality, completely harmonises with its setting, the use of high quality local materials, attention to detail and above all its relationship to the special character of the Chilterns.

A Highly Commended award will be given to Jestico & Whiles of London for a domestic project in Amersham which is completely carbon neutral, uses local materials and achieves a highly cool and contemporary effect whilst still being very much part of the Chilterns. The details are of the highest standard.

Commended awards will be given to Nichols Brown Webber of Henley for a new art, music and resource centre at Shiplake College and to Danks Badnell of Windsor for a very interesting domestic development in Frieth successfully combining two disparate buildings. Both of these also have strong eco credentials.

The winner will receive a blue plaque and the runners up will be awarded certificates.

The Buildings Deign Awards are run jointly with the Chilterns Conservation Board.

Working together to protect The Chilterns

A new grouping of organisations across the Chilterns has come together to protect the Green Belt and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which are under threat from an unprecedented housing tidal wave. There is currently an assessed need for 135,000 new dwellings in the Chilterns, with eight out of ten local authorities in the Chilterns identifying a need to build on the Green Belt with some small incursions into the AONB. A recent workshop co-hosted by the Chiltern Society and the Buckinghamshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) was also attended by representatives of the London Green Belt Council, the Chilterns Conservation Board, CPRE National Office and CPRE Branches from Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

The shared messages of the respective organisations are as follows:

Government and Local Authorities need to make a long term commitment to protect the Green Belt and AONB, ensuring action and not just empty words.
Realistic housing targets that account for Green Belt and AONB designations are required based on real local need not aspirational market demand.
A clearer, more restricted, definition of ‘exceptional circumstances ’is needed for Green Belt releases and AONB developments and assurance that housing need does not override Green Belt and AONB designations. There should also be less opportunity for local government to interpret the NPPF to suit their agenda.

The team of organisations will be lobbying MPs in the Chilterns for support and will continue to work closely together to protect the best interests of the Chiltern countryside.

Watch closely for further details about the team’s planned activities!

BT Volunteers at Whiteleaf

The regular Whiteleaf & Brush Hill Volunteer team were joined by five keen and hardworking corporate volunteers from BT. Lesley, Shanna, Aliya, Deborah & Nicky, all of whom were new conservation work, were thrown in at the deep with a tricky job of replacing protective fencing around the Juniper trees growing on the steep scarp slope. This low level fencing is important in giving the Juniper seedlings the best chance of successfully establishing themselves.

The volunteers did a fantastic job replacing four of the enclosures.
Lesley from BT said, ‘The volunteering with The Chiltern Society was a great opportunity for us to get together as a team and invest some of our time into doing something really worthwhile. The team found it really energising helping with the repair and protection of these conservation areas, learning about the plant life and understanding a little about the importance of the archaeological features. The conservation group we joined were really welcoming, coffee and brownies was certainly a highlight! Every member of our team have expressed how much they enjoyed themselves.’

We look forward to working alongside another group of BT volunteers who will be coming out again to help out in June.

Our Response to the Government’s Housing White Paper

The Government's housing white paper, published in February, proposes planning reforms to diversify the housing market and changes to planning law and policy. The Chiltern Society Planning Team has studied the Paper in depth, with a particular focus on risks to the Green Belt, and has now responded to the consultation.

Within the wide-ranging White Paper, there were some proposals to welcome, including encouragement of small and custom-builders, greater emphasis on design standards, more support for providers of affordable houses, increased powers for local authorities to assemble land and deliver homes themselves, a hike in application fees to help cash-strapped planning departments, and the potential introduction of an appeal fee.

But, if anything, the White Paper increased our grave concern that in the drive to build more homes, local authorities will feel compelled to turn to Green Belt or other designated land. They are still being required to make every effort to meet theoretically-assessed “need” locally if at all possible, with no “automatic” allowance given to reduce numbers even when there is significant Green Belt or other designated land.

Our full consultation response is available here.

Chiltern Way Guide - Now Available!

At long last, our updated guide to the Chiltern Way has now been published and is available to purchase from our online shop.

This is the official companion to the famous 134 mile circular walking route that was established by the Chiltern Society back in 2000. Offering breath taking views of the rolling landscape, the route stretches around the AONB and is enjoyed by thousands of walkers every year.

This comprehensive guide includes detailed maps, photos and step by step guidance to help you on your way.

Buy your copy here.

Spring / Summer Events

We’ve organised a whole host of fantastic events to help you make the most of the Chilterns this Spring/ Summer. From outdoor adventures and skill building, to heritage days and delicious food and drink events, we have something for everyone to enjoy!

Places on all of our events are limited and booking is essential. Visit our website to learn more about what’ on offer.

Craufurd Arms Under Threat

Our ‘Save Our Pubs’ Group has been supporting the Craufurd Arms in Maidenhead which has recently been put up for sale by the owners and risks being lost as a Community Asset. The pub is an integral part of the community, regularly hosting local music events as well as having its own football team. A local action group ‘Save the Crauford’ are hoping to buy the pub and are inviting the public to invest in the project.

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Mark Newcombe, Chair of the Craufurd Arms Society Ltd on craufurdacg@hotmail.com. Further information about the pub can also be found on the pub’s website.

This is one of a number of pubs under threat of closure or demolition that is supported by Save Our Pubs Group. More information on all of these pubs or help with fighting to retain a similar community asset in your area, can be obtained by contacting our office.

2017 Craft Beer Award

Following the nomination period which closed at the end of April, we can reveal that five shortlisted breweries which received the most nominations from the public are: Chiltern Brewery, Lovibonds, Malt The Brewery, Rebellion and Tring Brewery. Lots of people were eager to tell us about their favourite tipple, and our judges look forward to visiting each brewery in turn.

In July our panel of beer experts will be tasting a selection of beers from each brewery and will decide which are the best craft beers in the Chilterns.

The presentation to the winners will take place in October. Watch this space!