Protected landscapes and renewable energy – the big issues

Chris Bolton, Natural England

Blackdown Hills AONB Community Conference 2010

‘Green Energy for a Living Landscape’

Coming up

• Big Issues – a landscape perspective

• Landscape change

• Blackdown Hills AONB: special qualities

• Evidence to assist decision-making

• National Character Area profiles/objectives

• Renewable energy in the landscape

Big issues – threats and opportunities

• Landscape Change as backcloth– Drivers, Perceptions– Change not always negative, opportunities

• Climate Change– Long-term threat– Direct and indirect effects on landscape– Implications for landscape (AONB special qualities)

• Renewable energy in the landscape– Landscape sensitivity– Working with landscape character and functions

• Adaptation– Integrated Land Management– Multi-functional landscapes

Landscapes change – that is certain

Landscape Change

Climate change!....uncertaintyAdaptation

MitigationIncluding renewable energy

Now

Managing landscape change – the evidenceNational Character Areas – context for local decision-making and action

159 NCAs

Landscape Change - evidenceCountryside Quality Counts, 1998 - 2003

Data for National Character Area 147: Blackdowns

www.countryside-quality-counts.org.uk

What makes up landscape and gives each landscape its special qualities?

Experience

History

Land use

Wildlife

Physical features

Experience

Blackdown Hills AONB Special qualities:A unique geology

Greensand, clay with chertFlat-topped plateau, ridges, spring-lined valley slopes

Isolated, unspoilt rural areaAncient landscape featuresSpecial wildlife habitatsWinding tree-lined lanesRemote villagesPastoral landscape

Diversity of landscape patterns and pictures

MosaicsWoodland and heathSpecies rich hedgerowsAncient field patternsParliamentary enclosure

Blackdown Hills AONB Special qualities:

A Landscape with architectural appeal

Traditional villages and farm buildingsCob, chert and thatch

An historic landscapeBronze Age barrowsIron Age hillfortsMedieval settlement patternsWW11 airfields and installations

Landscape – evidence and toolsEast Devon and Blackdown Hills Landscape Character Assessment, 2008

Nature Map - Devon

Tranquillity mapping 2006

Devon

Somerset

Agri-environment schemes in the AONB

Decision-making toolsUpdating National Character Areas

• Audience: Partners, Local Communities• Part one: Updating the descriptions

- About place- Evidence based- Improved consistency

• Part two: Setting Integrated Objectives - matching up:– Required landscape services– Desired landscape character – Compatible with existing initiatives

• Programme and consultation:– September 2010 to March 2011 – 80 NCAs– April to September 2011 – 79 NCAs

147: BlackdownsCharacter description

147: BlackdownsCharacter description

147: BlackdownsKey facts and data

Manage and enhance the pattern of deciduous farm woodlands, traditional orchards and historic field boundaries (including the dense pattern of species-rich hedgerows and beech hedgebanks) to create rich ecological networks resilient to climate change:

• restoration, extension and active management of ancient woodland on steeper slopes particularly to the north as a source of local woodfuel and helping prevent soil erosion and runoff and screen major roads• restoration of traditional orchards of the valley floors associated with settlement to improve genetic diversity and increase production of high value locality foods and drink• restoration of degraded species rich hedges and hedgebanks, coppicing of the beech hedgebanks and pollarding of boundary trees to enhance landscape character, biodiversity, increase resilience to climate change and reduce soil erosion and runoff • creating opportunities for small-scale biomass planting of SRC and miscanthus sited within the vales and valleys to the south with miscanthus also integrated within existing mixed cropping patterns.

147: BlackdownsNCA Objectives

Renewable energy in the landscapeKey issues

• Context of Landscape character and change• Conserve local distinctiveness as defined by

AONB ‘special qualities’• Protected landscape ‘raises the bar’ in terms

of sensitivity to change and capacity to accept types of development

• Appropriate technology, scale and location (i.e. ‘fit’ within the landscape) e.g.– Wind energy– Solar, hydro-electrical– Biomass, energy crops– Woodfuel

A sustainable future?(Generic example)

So what happens now?

We all have a role in helping to shape our future landscapes & what services they provide

Questions?