John Dower was a 1940s architect and civil servant. His vision and persistence resulted in the 46 National Landscapes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that we enjoy today. He was not to know of the importance of the countryside for mental health, nor that the UK’s international obligations for the mitigation of climate change depends in a large part on the work carried out by National Landscapes today. 

While this Management Plan was being developed, the Government issued its response to the Landscapes Review, setting out bold ambitions for the future of protected landscapes. More recently, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 strengthened the duty on relevant authorities, requiring them to actively seek to further the purposes of Protected Landscapes. Our purpose as a National Landscape is to ‘conserve and enhance natural beauty’ – a goal that drives everything we do.  

We cannot achieve this without partners, and I am proud to chair the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership which brings together local authorities, government agencies, conservation organisations and community groups. I’m confident this Management Plan will provide the focus needed for the Blackdown Hills, enabling partners and other stakeholders to collaborate on actions that restore biodiversity, support climate resilience, conserve and restore the area’s historic environment, and support its vibrant communities and their cultural heritage. 

Of course, there are many challenges – people need houses and places to work and the nation needs roads and schools.  

Notwithstanding these challenges, I am confident that with diligence and resourcefulness the Partnership can continue to champion ‘natural beauty’ so that the Blackdown Hills National Landscape remains a place of tranquillity and beauty for many years to come.