Landscape

The landscapes of the South West

The South West is a rich mosaic of diverse landscapes that embody the natural influences of climate, geology, landform, drainage, soils, vegetation and ecology combined with the influences of the way we use the land over successive millennia. Reflecting the particularly rich geology, influence of  the sea and historical land use, our region is blessed with a striking sequence of landscapes, often in close proximity:

 National Character Areas

Over 25%, (42) of England’s 159 National Character Areas (NCAs) are in the South West. The NCAs describe what makes the region’s landscape so diverse from a national perspective, how one character area differs from another, how the character has arisen and how it is changing.

South West Protected Landscapes

The region has a wealth of highly valued landscapes of national and international significance as well as non designated places of  local significance.

 South West Protected Landscapes

Evidence indicates landscapes affect our daily lives significantly. They influence how we feel about the place we live, work, relax and play, they have the capacity to inspire, they can give us a sense of identity or belonging and can foster well being among communities.                                                                                         Source : Experiencing Landscapes 

Also important, therefore, are the non designated places and spaces in urban and rural areas at a more local level across the southwest that are highly valued by people where they live and visit that have particular significance and meaning - a picturesque village green or pond, a family holiday beach and coastal walk, a patch of common land to get away from it all, demonstrating all landscapes matter.

Key trends

Much of the character of England’s landscape underwent significant change and loss of landscape features from the 1940s with post war development and changes in land management, especially agricultural and forestry intensification. Changes to the South West landscapes over the last 80 years include:

• 45% loss of wood pasture in heaths and historic parks over the last 50 years

• 22% loss of hedgerows in Somerset between 1945 and 1994

• 35% at risk scheduled ancient monuments

• loss of tranquillity

• increased woodland cover especially forestry plantation

• livestock numbers that peaked in 1970, now returning to pre war levels

• steady increase in area of non food crops since the mid 1980s

• greatest increase in housing stock of any region 1991 – 2005 many in rural areas                              SW Future Landscapes Technical Report 2009

Table 1 Countryside Quality Counts assessment of landscape character 1999-2003                                           * past loss of character has not been reversed   **new landscape characteristics are emerging

Since 1990, 24% of the South West’s National Character Areas (NCA) show signs of  neglect (8 NCAs)  or diverging character (2 NCAs).  mainly in parts of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. This is generally due to development close to major urban areas, transport routes in open countryside and agricultural change, particularly loss of grassland pasture. Within the same period, 76% of the South West’s National Character Areas have been maintained (29 NCAs) or enhanced (3 NCAs), comparing favourably with other regions. 

18% more South West landscapes than the national average are being maintained and 14% fewer South West landscapes are showing change in character linked to management and restoration through the high uptake of environmental stewardship schemes in the South West, compared to other regions.

To better manage change landscape assessment is an important tool. From 2010 each NCA description will be updated and future landscape change will be monitored by the Character and Quality of England's Landscapesproject, CQuEL  against a set of objectives that reflect the elements of landscape character valued by people and the services they want the landscape to provide. There are landscape character assessments for most of the protected landscapes and counties in the South West and a seascape assessment is planned for 2010.

Landscape change needs to be managed in an integrated way exemplified by AONBs. Change is monitored to a set of cross cutting indicators that help inform the 5 yearly update of Management Plan objectives and work programmes. Drawn from the 15 Management Plans for 08/09 The South West Protected Landscapes Forum has drawn up a statement Commitments for a sustainable future 2009 - 2014 from the 15 AONB Partnerships and National Park Authorities. It identifies the key pressures and threats and seeks to align partnership delivery and focus resources on a core set of priority activities to help build a more sustainable future for our landscapes.  

Tranquility

Monitoring of tranquillity to date shows a steady decline in the South West in countryside undisturbed by proximity to main roads and towns. In the early 1960s the percentage of ‘disturbed’ countryside was 14%, by 2007 it was 42%. The light shining up at night from each square kilometre in the region also rose by 17% in the seven years between 1993 and 2000. Since then, development has continued at similar and sometimes higher levels, so it seems reasonable to assume that this decline in the tranquil character of the region is continuing.  More rural areas are also likely to have suffered a decline in their tranquillity due to increased traffic on minor roads and lanes. This will have had an adverse impact in relation to both enjoyment and safety when such routes are used for walking and cycling.

However, the South West still retains a substantial area of sparsely settled, relatively tranquil countryside with dark skies. In 2003 20% of the region still had truly dark skies.  The main area stretches across the northern parts of Cornwall and Devon to West Somerset and there are other smaller but still very important areas, such as, for example, the Lizard in West Cornwall.

The methodology associated with DEFRA’s rural : urban definition identifies areas of sparsely settled countryside. In the South West these correspond broadly with tranquil areas and areas with dark skies. The methodology has particular potential for modelling future landscape change as a result of built development.

For more information on Tranquillity - click here

Climate Change impact prediction on our landscape

The effect of climate change will significantly affect our landscapes. Our chalk lands, for example, are predicted to gradually resemble arid Portugal with drought sensitive beech in the woodlands, parks and estates likely to decline and small leaved lime likely to increase. Storm force winds are more likely to fell veteran trees and open up glades for sun loving plants and animals.  Chalk streams will dry up or shrink and heavier rainstorms will wash soils, nutrients and pesticides into watercourses affecting our water supply, wetland plants and animals. With longer growing seasons and new crop varieties, arable farming may expand into floodplains and valleys. Wind farms may be built on areas of exposed chalk plateau. People will increasingly seek woodland shade and refreshing rivers, streams ponds.                         Responding to the impacts of climate change: Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase 2008

Pressures & key issues emerging

The southwest is the fastest growing region in terms of population growth with associated levels of development and pressures on resources likely to have a significant impact on landscape character relative to other regions.

The Regional Spatial Strategy Strategic Sustainability Assessment 2006 identifies the following likely effects on landscape character of the draft RSS

• A change in landscape character especially where development is likely to be most concentrated (although the draft RSS does aim for a high standard of design, delivering this may be difficult)

• A gradual increase in light and noise pollution and possibly air pollution from development and traffic (this is likely to include growth of  traffic, road improvements including lighting and signage and development)  

The Strategic Environment Assessment of the draft RSS 2006 lists 11 key unsustainable trends facing the southwest which will have an impact on the state of our landscape:

• growth in transport, car ownership and distances/frequency of travel;

• loss and fragmentation of habitats and species,  

• some historic assets at risk from development or lack of care ;

• parts of the region, particularly the north and east becoming increasingly urban in character due to increased development and infrastructure with increase in noise and light pollution leading to loss of tranquillity and dark skies;

• increasing amounts of materials consumed and waste,

• the challenges of climate change such as increased risk of flooding from rivers and along the coast especially where sea level is rising and shortage of water supplies

The SW Future Landscapes Technical Report 2009 identifies significant challenges ahead if land management is to continue to deliver social and economic benefits whilst maintaining a high quality and distinctive landscape including:

• competing demands for land and volatile commodity and fuel markets

• food production, new forms of energy production, housing and related infrastructure

• increasing demand for recreational land use - equine, golf, hobby farming, garden centres, theme parks

• cumulative impacts of small scale development

Planning for change and managing landscapes for the future

These pressures will have a direct impact on the state of our landscapes. The evolving concept of sustainable landscapes brings new opportunities for integrated management and multi functional land use to create resilient dynamic landscapes that will fulfil our needs and reflect our changing values towards a more sustainable way of life. The  SW Landscapes Partnership’s Future Landscapes project  provides more detail on potential landscape change and a Stakeholder Engagement toolkit to assist planners and land managers in planning for future landscape change.

Priorities for action

Our aim is highly valued, resilient, distinctive and multi functional landscapes, managed through an integrated approach, responding to the complex interaction between people place and nature.

• SW coverage of up to date Landscape Character Assessment, Historic Character Assessment and Seascape Assessment form evidence for LDF's.

• Landscape change monitored to inform future policies and implementation through CQuel with support from SW Regional Landscape Partnership

• Understanding what landscapes or elements of landscape character are most valued by people

• Protected Landscapes sustainably managed through the National Park and AONB Commitments for a sustainable future 2009 - 2014

• All people have  access to areas of tranquillity