The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has secured Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) approval for the "Overlooking the Wye" landscape partnership scheme.  With match funding this means £2.8 Million will be allocated to 40 heritage projects throughout the Lower Wye Valley Area.

This unique three-year scheme involves communities and organisations across three counties and over two countries. The bid has involved partners including Herefordshire Council, Gloucestershire County Council , Monmouthshire County Council, the Woodland Trust, Forestry Commission, Forest of Dean District Council, local Parish and Community Councils and individual landowners.

‘ We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled this work to take place’ said Andrew Blake, Wye Valley AONB Officer, ‘ We are looking forward to working with all the partners and community groups who helped develop the scheme, and will be involved in getting the projects off the ground as soon as the formalities are finalised.’

The range and variety of the projects covers themes of industrial heritage, the Picturesque movement and viewpoints, river corridors and hillfort archaeology. Individual projects in Monmouthshire include a restoration of Abbey Mill Waterwheel at Tintern, community arts projects at Monmouth Quay, restoration of Angidy Ironworks, improvement of access to the Piercefield viewpoints and the refurbishment of Tintern Old Station.