North Wessex Downs NL (GFF-0265)

On Friday 22nd March 2024 at 12:33 UTC, Lacy YO6CFB, a radio amateur from Romania made contact with Ivan G0BON/P, a radio amateur from Swindon, England who was operating from the North Wessex Downs NL (GFF-0265) on the 20m amateur radio band.

A National Landscape Area (NLA) is a region in England which is designated for its exceptional natural beauty, cultural significance, or historical importance. NLAs are protected and managed to preserve their unique character and promote sustainable use.

The North Wessex Downs National Landscape includes parts of Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire and is England's third largest ANOB.

The area is characterised by ancient chalk landscapes with downland hillsides, rolling downland and steep escarpments. This landscape supports a diverse range of flora and fauna and includes arable farmland, ancient woodlands and chalk river valleys.

Culturally the area contains traces of six thousand years of history including prehistoric sites and medieval villages.