Posted on Thursday 16th January 2025
Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, in Cannock Chase Forest.
Time is running out to make your views heard on the priorities for protecting and managing Cannock Chase National Landscape over the next five years.
Staffordshire County Council is proud to be part of the Cannock Chase National Landscape partnership, dedicated to preserving and improving the natural beauty of the Chase.
The Cannock Chase National Landscape (AONB) Management Plan sets out how the partnership looks after the area.
The latest draft of this plan, which will guide the management of this treasured area for the next five years, outlines ambitious goals for nature recovery, reducing the impact of climate change, managing how people use the area for recreation in a way that is sustainable and encouraging the community to get involved in caring for Cannock Chase.
A public consultation on this proposed plan is well underway and people now have less than two weeks left to make their views heard.
Councillor Tony Pearce, Chairman of the Cannock Chase National Landscape Partnership, said:
“Our draft Management Plan provides a clear framework to safeguard Cannock Chase for future generations. As the smallest mainland National Landscape, this beautiful area faces significant pressures from its urban surroundings.
“The plan focuses on nature recovery, tackling climate change, protecting heritage, and ensuring responsible enjoyment of the Chase.
“We need your views to get this right. Specifically, we want to know if our ambitions are realistic, if more can be done, and if we have identified the right actions to care for this special place.”
Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, said:
“Cannock Chase is an internationally significant landscape, and this is your opportunity to help shape its future.
“The new management plan for 2025-2030 will guide how we protect and enhance the Chase’s unique beauty, wildlife and heritage for years to come. Your feedback is essential to ensure our ambitions and actions reflect the priorities of the community.
“Please take part in the consultation before it closes this month - your voice will help safeguard this treasured landscape for future generations.”
The deadline to take part in the consultation is Monday 27 January 2025. The management plan will then be reviewed and finalised before it is taken to be adopted at the National Landscape Joint Committee meeting in March.
For more information and to take the online survey, click here.
The county council is also carrying out a separate consultation on a £18 million programme to upgrade Cannock Chase and Chasewater Country Parks and improve the 92-mile Staffordshire Way trail.
To find out more, visit Countryside investment - Staffordshire County Council.