Landscape

The main services we provide are:

• Advice on the landscape aspects of development proposals which are considered by the County Council, including planning and minerals and waste applications. Advice is given to the Council, applicants, developers, consultants, contractors and the public. Schemes include major roads and restoring and landscaping minerals and waste sites
• Advice to other parts of the County Council on landscape including the impact and design of Council projects such as new roads and buildings. Includes detailed advice on highways landscaping and improving school grounds, and approval of roundabout schemes
• Supporting community initiatives which improve local landscapes
• Carrying out research and providing a strategic overview of the county's landscapes
• Advising the County Council and others on landscape policies and approaches.  Contact: Alison Myers

We also run or support:

The Bedfordshire Landscape Character Assessment

– which identifies the different characters of the County's landscapes and says how they should be protected and improved.  Please click to see final versions of Bedford Borough| and Mid Beds| landscape character assessments.

Contact: Alison Myers

The Chilterns Conservation Board – which has an overarching role for managing the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Contact: office@chilternsaonb.org| 

Chilterns Conservation Board|
The Lodge
Station Road
Chinnor
Oxon
OX39 4HA

Tel: 01844 355500

Other organisations providing local services include:

Bedford Borough Council|, Mid Bedfordshire District Council|, South Bedfordshire District Council|  are the Local Planning Authorities and have a range of other roles which affect the landscape.

The Forest of Marston Vale| is a national community forest which restores and enhances the Vale through tree planting and other work to improve the environment and recreation.

Contact :

The Forest Centre
Marston Vale Millenium Country Park
Station Road
Marston Moretaine
Bedfordshire
MK43 0PR

Telephone: 01234 767037
Email: info@marstonvale.org|

The Greensand Trust carries out countryside management work which conserves and improves the distinctive landscape, wildlife and heritage of the Greensand Ridge. It works closely with local communities and in and around towns such as Ampthill and Leighton Buzzard.

Contact:

The Forest Office
Haynes West End
Bedford
MK45 3QT

Tel:01234 743666
Email: greensand@freeuk.com|

The Ivel and Ouse Countryside Project |carries out countryside management work which conserves and improves the landscape, wildlife and heritage in and around the Ivel and Ouse valleys and the northern part of Bedfordshire. It works closely with local communities, and in and around towns such as Biggleswade. The Project is based at the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity.

Contact:

The Smithy
The Village
Old Warden
Biggleswade
Bedfordshire
SG18 9HQ

Telephone: 01767 626326
Email: info@ivelvalley.co.uk|

The North Chilterns Trust carries out countryside management work which conserves and improves the landscape, wildlife and heritage of south Bedfordshire and Luton. It works closely with local communities.

Contact :

North Chilterns Trust
c/o Three Valleys Water
Crescent Road
Luton
LU2 0AD

Telephone: 01582 412225
Email: office@northchilternstrust.co.uk|

The Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity |carries out wide ranging activities to support rural communities, including support for Parish Plans and Village Design Statements.

Contact:

The Old School
Cardington
Bedford
MK44 3SX

Telephone: 01234 838771
Email: info@bedsrcc.org.uk|

Landscape 2000| is an environmental enhancement and community project centred on St Neot's which covers parishes in the north east of Bedfordshire. It is based at the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity.

BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) creates better environments through involving people e.g. through volunteering.

Contact:

Bedfordshire BTCV
1b Brereton Road
Bedford
MK40 1HU

Telephone:01234 327300
Email: beds@btcv.org.uk|

CPRE| (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Bedfordshire promotes the beauty and tranquillity of rural Bedfordshire.

Contact:

Lesley Jones (Secretary)
Phoenix Chambers
15-17 High Street
Bedford
MK40 1RN

Telephone: 01234 353331
Email: info@cprebeds.org.uk|

The Chilterns Society promotes the special qualities of the Chiltern landscape and organises a range of activities to conserve and promote this special area.

Contact:

White Hill Centre
White Hill
Chesham
Bucks

Telephone: 01494 771250
Email: office@chilternsociety.org.uk|

Important organisations include

The Campaign to Protect Rural England| (CPRE) provides polices, initiatives and useful information and advice on preserving the character and special qualities of the countryside.

The Countryside Agency| is the statutory body with responsibility for conserving and enhancing the English countryside. It advises government and provides policy, initiatives, advice and information. A new agency called Natural England will be replacing the Countryside Agency with respect to landscape.

Learning through Landscapes| is the National School Grounds Charity which works with schools, early years settings, organisations and individuals to help them improve and develop their grounds.

The main contact for our services is:

Alison Myers
Landscape Officer
Heritage & Environment Service
Bedfordshire County Council
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP

Tel: 01234 228083
Email: alison.myers@bedscc.gov.uk|