Living in the Wye Valley National Landscape

Living in the Wye Valley National Landscape (formerly AONB) and Conservation Area

A note from the Parish Council:

Welcome to Fownhope!  Fownhope Parish Council welcome new residents and are pleased that you have decided to make your home in our village.  We hope that you will enjoy living here and will find some interesting activities in the many clubs and organisations run by parish volunteers. 

One of the things that many people love about Fownhope is the rural feel to the village and the wonderful countryside that is right on our doorstep.   These features are in no small part due to the fact that the older part of the village benefits from the protection of a Conservation order and that we are completely surrounded by the Wye Valley National Landscape.  Although many aspects of the Conservation Area are covered by planning code and management of the National Landscape is the responsibility of the Wye Valley National Landscape Partnership, there are a number of things that residents can do to help maintain and enhance both the village itself and surrounding landscape. 

Dark Skies – One of the simplest and most effective ways for residents to help maintain the integrity of the National Landscape is to comply with the Dark Skies policy that Wye Valley National Landscape and Fownhope Parish Council have adopted.  You will probably have noticed that there are very few street lights in the village.  This is a deliberate policy adopted by Fownhope Parish Council in response to requests to reduce night time light pollution during two parish wide consultations (Fownhope Community Led Plan – 2005; Fownhope Neighbourhood Development Plan – 2015). 

The Parish Council’s Environment Working Group has made Dark Skies a key focus of their programme for 2024, and have been holding a series of fun events aimed at promoting dark skies this year - including a guided star gazing evening, a dawn chorus walk, and a youngsters adventure dusk walk. 

In April, we took Sky Quality Meter readings at night to identify areas of light pollution in and around the village, and mapped the results.  Several local businesses were approached and kindly agreed to modify their outdoor lighting. We've worked with the developers of the new developments to keep the impact on dark skies to a minimum.  If you'd like to be involved in future work to keep our skies dark, please contact the Parish Clerk on 07989 066782 or at clerk@fownhopeparishcouncil.gov.uk.

In the meantime, there are a few simple things that individual households can do to help maintain our dark skies:

·        Only use outside lighting where and when you really need to.

Using external lights to move around your garden and in and out of the house safely makes sense, but leaving them on all night does not. Make sure to turn them off or use a sensor to help limit your use. This will not only help reduce light pollution but also lower your energy consumption.  And if you already have motion sensor activated lights, check the settings to ensure that they are not activated by rain, cats or hedgehogs and only stay on for as long as needed. 

·        Think about the impact of external lighting on wildlife and other people

Decorative garden lighting might help set the scene for a summer BBQ, but it’s not necessarily attractive to your neighbours or helpful to wildlife.  Lights shining into trees disturb roosting birds and spoil the night skies for anyone interested in star gazing.  Fownhope is listed in the Visit Herefordshire Stargazers Guide as a favoured location, so please help keep our Dark Skies dark by only using decorative garden lighting when you are using your garden.

·        Use only the brightest light you need.

There is a huge range of choices when it comes to lighting, but you don’t need “daylight bright” light at night. Choose “warmer” lights - these reduce the amount of blue-violet light being emitted, which is considered more harmful to invertebrates and reduces the amount of light reflected upwards adding to skyglow.

·        Shield your lights

Directing your lights to light up only the places you need can make a huge difference. Adding shields to existing lights can help stop casting light into unwanted places such as trees, hedges and up into the night sky.  And keep in mind that interior lighting escapes to the outside world if curtains and blinds aren’t shut.  So again, use low intensity, warm white lights if you have large windows or glass doors and try to shut your curtains when the lights are on.

Works to Trees – If you live within the Conservation Area you will need to contact Herefordshire Council planning department at least 6 weeks before working on any trees on your property.  Fownhope Parish Council will be asked to comment on the application and will obtain advice from our parish tree warden.  We might visit the site, but will typically work from the information provided in your application, so it is important to state clearly why you wish to conduct the work and what the impact and benefits will be to the tree, surrounding landscape and neighbouring properties. If you use a professional tree surgeon they will usually make the application on your behalf.

Planning Applications – In many parts of the country, Permitted Development has relaxed planning law, however, the National Landscapes are considered to be equal in value to National Parks and command the same levels of planning protection.  Planning applications must therefore be submitted via the Herefordshire Council Planning Portal for consideration following the traditional route.  Applications will be passed to Fownhope Parish Council for consideration and comment.  The Parish Council consider planning applications against the planning policies contained within the Fownhope Neighbourhood Plan, which includes specific details relating to our place within the Wye Valley National Landscape and the Fownhope Conservation Area.  It is important that applicants demonstrate how their application conforms to the Neighbourhood Plan so that the Parish Council can make an informed decision as to whether to support, or object to an application.   Details are often submitted in the form of a Design and Access Statement, which your architect or agent will be able to prepare based upon their knowledge of the local environment.

Fownhope Parish Council appreciate that you might not be familiar with some of these policies and will be happy to provide guidance, if required.  Further details of the planning rules impacting home owners living in the Wye Valley National Landscape and Fownhope Conservation Area can be found at:

The Planning and Building Control pages of the Herefordshire Council website: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/planning-building-control

Or, in the current Wye Valley National Landscape Management Plan: The AONB Management Plan | Wye Valley | Wye Valley AONB (wyevalley-nl.org.uk)

Alternately, please feel free to make contact via our Clerk, Helen Tinson, if you have any questions or would like further advice or clarification.