What the future holds for Chalk, Cherries and Chairs

The Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Landscape Partnership Scheme has been running since 2019 and is due to wrap-up in November 2024. The Scheme was set up to face the challenges to the Central Chilterns of the day: the development of HS2; the loss and fragmentation of ancient woodland and other wildlife habitats through development; the disappearance of traditional orchards and hedgerows; and an increasing disconnect between people and their local landscape.

The Scheme works across three themes – wildlife, heritage and people. Under these themes, there sits a whole host of projects interweaving topics such as volunteering, engagement, research, restoration and enhancement in order to deliver tangible, on-the-ground benefits and a lasting legacy for our landscape. We have created Farmer Clusters to bring people together to care for wildlife, increased and expanded wildlife monitoring, fostered partnership working, and helped people to take action for wildlife and heritage within the Chilterns, whether through volunteering, community planning, or simply enjoying the landscape through walks, talks and events.

We still have much to do in terms of ensuring activites are continued where appropriate, and support and signposting is in place for when the Scheme ends. But we are looking forward to the coming celebrations of our work – all that we have achieved over five years and all that may come in the future … so watch this space!