THE Yorkshire Wolds is to be considered for status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The status - known widely as an AONB - would allow the area to benefit from greater protections and safeguarding for future generations.

The Yorkshire Wolds forms an arc of rolling hills extending from the Humber Estuary west of Hull, to the North Sea coast at Flamborough Head, north of Bridlington.

The area is predominantly agricultural, creating an open, rolling landscape. Habitats include ancient woodland, chalk streams and maritime cliffs and slopes, all providing a high quality wildlife resource.

Three other areas, The Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, Surrey Hills and the Chilterns will be considered for greater protections, with potential to deliver over 40 per cent of the additional 4,000km2 required to meet the UK’s commitment to protect 30 per cent of our land by 2030.

Paul Duncan, Area Director for Natural England said: “The Yorkshire Wolds is a tranquil landscape of rolling hills, valleys and open plateaux interspersed with ancient woodland, chalk streams, farm holdings and historic villages, extending north from the River Humber.

“The announcement that the Yorkshire Wolds may become one of our newest Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty is fantastic news for Yorkshire and North East England.

“If successful the Yorkshire Wolds would join the Nidderdale and Howardian Hills AONB in celebrating, protecting and enhancing Yorkshire’s beautiful landscape, helping to bring nature and people closer together."

AONBs tend to bring in benefits such as increased tourism and gives the local authority a duty to manage the area. It is also considered to give authorities greater powers to restrict unwelcome developments.

The Chair of Natural England Tony Juniper said: “The announcement signals an ambitious step forward in growing our family of precious national landscapes, as well as protecting and improving the ones we have.

“One thing that has become very apparent recently, and especially during the pandemic, is the enormous benefit people get from having access to beautiful nature-rich landscapes.

"These can, however, be hard for many people to access, thereby raising the question of how more can be done to bring nature and people closer together. On this, we see huge opportunities arising from the establishment of the England Nature Recovery Network, of which wilder national landscapes will be a vital part.

“As Government’s statutory landscape adviser, we look forward to continuing to work closely with Government, designated landscape bodies and stakeholders to deliver more for and through England’s diverse landscapes.”