Chris loved the Blackdowns and played a key role in establishing the Blackdowns as an AONB in June 1991.

He was Chairman of the AONB Committee from 1990-1995 and Chairman of the Blackdown Hills Rural Partnership from 1995 to 1999. As Chairman, Chris steered the Partnership to the production of the Blackdown Hills Management Strategy 1997-2002 through an innovative community consultation process. The management strategy and community approach adopted by the Blackdown Hills Partnership has received national acclaim (Rural Development commission publications 1998, Countryside Agency Guidance 2001).

In 1998 Chris was elected to the Association of AONB's Steering Group and began working on strengthening legislation to support the management of AONBs.