The former Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council has been elected to chair the High Weald AONB Partnership, a body that promotes the nationally important landscape of the High Weald and enables its conservation and enjoyment. Jill Davison, an analytical chemist by profession, will Chair the Partnership for the next two years.
Mrs Davison, who has lived in the area since 1979 and served the Partnership since 2004, said: “It is a great privilege to be elected as Chairman of the High Weald Partnership. I am looking forward to raising the profile of the area’s needs both nationally and locally and enabling work to conserve its medieval landscape of rolling hills, abundant woods and hedges, small fields and sunken routeways.”
As Chairman, Jill is keen to highlight the value of engaging children with their local landscape and the need to provide opportunities for young people to enter into farming. “I believe that children can gain a sense of identity and of place through exploring their local environment and it is important that young people are given an opportunity to play a part in its future”.
Councillor Brian Kentfield of Rother District Council, who has served the Partnership for over 15 years and lives in Bexhill on the edge of the AONB, has been elected as Vice-Chairman. Councillor Kentfield said: “The AONB’s landscape is highly valued as a beautiful place to visit and it is very important that we sustain that beauty for future generations to enjoy. I very much look forward to continuing to work for the future of the High Weald.”
The High Weald Partnership has 20 Members - an influential group of people who play a role in championing the special qualities of the AONB and lobbying for policy and resources that conserve and enhance its landscape and further public understanding and enjoyment of it. The Partnership is responsible for producing the High Weald AONB Management Plan which sets out local authority policy for the area.
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