History and heritage

Thousands of years of human activity have influenced the Chilterns, leaving behind a legacy of archaeological sites, buildings and routeways.

The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a landscape that has seen many millennia of change and settlement, from the first humans that arrived in Britain to the growth of modern towns. Its wealth of grasslands, woodlands, chalk stream valleys and fertile soils have drawn human life and activity. This long history of heritage and culture is integral to the identity of the region. The Chilterns AONB is one of the richest archaeological and historic landscapes in the country. This abundance of evidence for our human story in one special place deserves not only recognition and understanding, but also protection and support.

The AONB – and the landscape it represents – is overseen by the Chilterns Conservation Board (CCB). We understand that the region is a living, breathing landscape, where people and nature are inextricably tied together. As such, our core work and flagship projects focus on the relationships and links between the landscape and human life. Whether we are looking to discover new Iron Age hillforts, or capturing the stories of those that worked in traditional industries, we consider how the topics, challenges and opportunities of each theme that we champion affect the special qualities of this wonderful landscape as whole.

We work to look after our heritage and culture now and for future generations.