Fownhope is a genuinely special place — nestled in the Wye Valley National Landscape, with a vibrant, warm-hearted community that makes it so much more than just a beautiful setting.

You’ve joined a village that really looks after its own, and we’d love to help you feel at home as quickly as possible.

Getting Connected

The best way to get a feel for village life straight away is to dive into what’s going on around you:

• The Flag — our brilliant community magazine, packed with local news, events, and features. You’ll receive a copy delivered to your door every month (except January).  
• The Beneficial — the Church’s magazine keeping you in touch with matters spiritual.
• The Village Website — www.fownhopeparishcouncil.gov.uk — your go-to for council news, meeting dates, planning information and much more.  It really is stuffed full of all sorts of interesting information – and by no means just about the Parish Council.
• The Village Calendar — there’s over 100 events a month happening in Fownhope.  We really think there’s no excuse to ever be bored here!  You’ll find it on the village website.
• Facebook — There are (at least) two Fownhope Facebook pages, and they’re both worth keeping an eye on – one at http://www.facebook.com/FownhopeVillage/ and one at http://www.facebook.com/groups/281085820868378.

Getting Involved

One of the things that makes Fownhope so special is its extraordinary army of volunteers — residents just like you who give their time to run the clubs, groups, societies, and events that make village life so rich. Whether your interest is sport, the arts, history, gardening, conservation, or simply getting together with good people, there is almost certainly something for you here.

You’ll find a full list of clubs and groups in the back pages of The Flag and on the Village website. And if you’d like to find out more about any of them or think you might be able to help out in some way, please do get in touch — we will always be happy to hear from you.

Your Village, Your Countryside

One of the things people love most about Fownhope is that glorious sense of space and the unspoilt countryside right on the doorstep. This doesn’t happen by accident — it’s a result of the care the whole community takes, and the protections in place through the Fownhope Conservation Area and the surrounding Wye Valley National Landscape.

As a resident, there are just a few things worth knowing that will help you play your part in keeping Fownhope looking and feeling as special as the day you arrived:

• Dark Skies — we’re proud of our dark skies here, and the Parish Council has adopted a Dark Skies policy to reduce light pollution. Where outdoor lighting is needed, low- wattage, downward-directed fittings on timers or motion sensors work best. More information is available at https://fownhopeparishcouncil.gov.uk/dark-skies/.  If you take a walk down to the Rec you will come across our beautiful Dark Skies bench.  It has a lot to say for itself as you’ll see at https://fownhopeparishcouncil.gov.uk/from-the-dark-skies-bench/
• Works to Trees — if you live within the Conservation Area and are planning any work on trees on your property, you’ll need to give Herefordshire Council planning department at least six weeks’ notice beforehand. A professional tree surgeon can handle this for you.
• Planning Applications — because we sit within a National Landscape, Permitted Development rules are more limited here than in many other areas. Any planning applications should be submitted through the Herefordshire Council Planning Portal, and the Parish Council will consider them against our Fownhope Neighbourhood Plan. We’re always happy to offer informal guidance before you submit anything formal. Full details can be found at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/planning-building-control and in the Wye Valley National Landscape Management Plan at www.wyevalley-nl.org.uk

We’re Here for You

The Parish Council meets at 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month (except January and August) in the Pavilion on the Recreation Ground — parishioners are always very welcome to come along and see what we do.

If you have any questions at all — about planning, the village, getting involved, or anything else — please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Clerk at clerk@fownhopeparishcouncil.gov.uk

Once again, a very warm welcome to Fownhope. We hope you’ll love it here every bit as much as we do.

Fownhope Parish Council