The North Wessex Downs – Protected National Landscape

Whitchurch is a ‘gateway town’ to the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; but despite it being a protected landscape, it currently faces a massive threat from land speculator, GENKO, who are trying to develop thousands of houses in this area – contrary to national legislation.

The new sign is an initiative spearheaded by David Gosling of Whitchurch Conservation Group, a constituted community group in Whitchurch. Established in October 2020, the group now has over 800 Whitchurch resident members and seeks to preserve Whitchurch’s green spaces, enhancing Whitchurch’s status as an economically and socially vibrant town with a strong rural and heritage identity.

Whitchurch Conservation Group’s campaign to protect the North Wessex Downs AONB north of Whitchurch has gathered much momentum and has attracted support from notable celebrities including Bill Bryson, who says “The North Wessex Downs is a rare and lovely landscape, but it is also painfully finite. What a tragedy it would be to lose it.”

Pictured alongside David Gosling are Ann Shepley, Communications Officer for the North Wessex Downs AONB Partnership, Councillor Paul Miller, the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council representative to the Council of Partners (CoP) of the NWDAONB, whose aim is to enhance and protect the natural beauty of the AONB, Councillor Lucie Follett Maitland, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Councillor for the ward of Whitchurch, Overton and Laverstoke, and Jackie Browne, Vice-Chair of Whitchurch Conservation Group.

David Gosling, of Whitchurch Conservation Group, says: “Our intention is to lay down a visual marker and remind people that this is a National Protected Landscape”.