Plan launched at Meadow Haven

The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast European Marine Site Management Group launched their joint Management Plan at 12.30pm on 22 October 2009.  Over 60 representatives of various government, private, community and voluntary sector groups, each a key stakeholder in the management of these designated areas, gathered at Meadow Haven, Berwick-upon-Tweed.  They raised their glasses to toast the Plan and begin the task of implementing it through until 2014.

 

In the spirit of integrated coastal management a joint management plan has been prepared for the Northumberland Coast AONB and Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast EMS.  The integration of management for these two designated sites connects the land and sea across the intertidal area and the border for the first time in the UK.  The Plan focuses on delivering an ecosystem approach, informed conservation, stakeholder and community engagement, climate change adaptation and mitigation and sustainable development.  The themes in the Plan cover the natural and historic environments, environmental quality, enjoyment, living and working and land use and marine planning within the sites.

 

Cllr Pat Scott, AONB Partnership Chair, opened the event saying: “This shared Management Plan is a milestone for both our organisations. We have always worked closely with our colleagues across the Border and believe this plan will deliver our shared goals and ambitions to conserve and enhance this most beautiful and spectacular coastline of Northumberland and Berwickshire with it’s great variety of colourful marine life and stunning coastal scenery

 

Natural England’s Chief Executive, Dr Helen Philips said:  “The Northumberland and Berwickshire coast is a nationally important environmental treasure and a uniquely important natural asset for northern England and the Borders.  I’m delighted to welcome this pioneering management plan, which is the first of its kind in the UK to take into account the future management of both the area’s coastline and its inshore waters.  All the partners have worked closely together on this innovative project and I congratulate everyone involved on a ground-breaking approach to the future management of a beautiful coast.

 

“As well as being an amazingly beautiful part of the country in its own right, this coastline contributes to the regional economy by attracting thousands of visitors, creating employment, and delivering many far reaching public benefits.  This new plan will ensure that this superb natural asset remains well-managed for future generations to enjoy.”

 

Dr Ian Jardine, the Chief Executiveof Scottish Natural Heritage who also spoke at the launch said: “This is an important time for marine conservation with the Scottish Marine Bill currently going through the Scottish Parliament.

 

“This management scheme combines a breadth of vision with focused activities and will help conserve and enhance our internationally important areas of coastline while providing sustainable recreation, access and enjoyment.”  Dr Jardine also used the event to commit a further two year’s financial support for the EMS Officer.

 

Northumberland County Council has a statutory duty to conserve the AONB and EMS.  The Executive Member for the Environment Cllr Alan Thompson, in a colourful speech interspersed with poetry, said: “The Council takes this duty very seriously.  We are an active member of the governing bodies of both designations.  We also help to fund and resource their management.”  Cllr Thompson stressed the importance of sustainability and self-sufficiency.  He also encouraged people to think positively about the coast to the south of the AONB: “while the launch is about the area from North Berwick to Amble I would like to have the very positive advances that have been made in areas like Newbiggin by the Sea recognised through extending protection status to the whole of the Northumberland coast from the border to Tynemouth.  He thanked Helen Phillips for the ongoing financial support provided by Natural England for managing the AONB and EMS.

 

Mel Nicholls, AONB Officer said: “This special place required a special Plan.  There are two of everything to contend with: nations, designations, legislation, realms of land and sea and sets of stakeholders. It’s sometimes been a labour of love, with a lot of sweat and some pain, but it is great to have everyone along to celebrate the birth!”

 

Aisling Lannin, previously EMS Implementation Officer, now with Natural England, added:  “This has been a very exciting process to be involved with.  Although having no template was a challenge, what has been produced is a new way of working together for the overall benefit of the sea and land, historic and natural, and of course for people as custodians of the environment around us.” 

 

Unfortunately, Miranda Krestovnikoff of the BBC Coast programme and The One Show, and the EMS Patron, who was to be one of the keynote speakers at the launch, was unable to make the event through succumbing to the flu a day before.  In a message related by John Elliot, Chair of the EMS Management Group, she congratulated the AONB and EMS staff and governing bodies on their commitment to managing the designated sites in a pro-active, dynamic and integrated way especially by forming partnerships that contributed so much to management.  She also encouraged them to keep up the good work and wished all those responsible the best of luck in implementing the plan.

 

The Plan is available in printed form and as a CD.  It can also be viewed to on-line at http://www.northumberlandcoastaonb.org/ or http://www.xbordercurrents.com/.  Copies of the Plan will be available to view in Berwick, Amble and Seahouses, Eyemouth libraries, and various other public buildings throughout north Northumberland and Berwickshire (see notes to editor). 

 

If any organisation feels it would benefit from a discussion on the Plan then they are invited to contact Mel Nicholls to arrange a meeting.

 

The event also saw the formal launch of Our Coast Our Sea – a new website packed with free downloadable activities and information sheets for visitors to use.  These detail ideas for games, historic exploration, natural history learning, make and do and general learning about the coast.   

 

A dedicated section for teachers and lecturers planning coastal trips includes information about venues, accommodation, learning providers, safety, activity ideas, information sheets with curriculum links and contact details for local experts is also on the website.

 

There is something for all individuals, families, organised groups or schools at http://www.ourcoastoursea.org.uk/ 

 

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