HOWARDIAN HILLS AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY TEXT-ONLY VERSION MANAGEMENT PLAN 2014 – 2019 the need to manage ecosystems in an integrated fashion, linking goals on wildlife, water, soil and landscape, and working at a scale that respects natural systems. This management plan also makes the important connection between people and nature. I am pleased to hear that local communities have been central to the development of the plan, and will be at the heart of its delivery. From volunteers on nature conservation projects, to businesses working to promote sustainable tourism, it’s great to hear of the enthusiasm and commitment of the local people who hold their AONBs so dear. Ministerial Foreword AONBs are, and will continue to be, landscapes of change. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are some of our finest Management plans such as this are vital in ensuring these changes landscapes. They are cherished by residents and visitors alike and are for the better. I would like to thank all those who were involved in allow millions of people from all walks of life to understand and bringing this plan together and I wish you every success in bringing it connect with nature. to fruition. I am pleased to see that this management plan demonstrates how AONB Partnerships can continue to protect these precious environments despite the significant challenges they face. With a changing climate, the increasing demands of a growing population and in difficult economic times, I believe AONBs represent just the sort of community driven, collaborative approach needed to ensure our natural environment is maintained for generations to come. Lord de Mauley MP AONB Partnerships have been the architects of a landscape-scale Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries approach to land management. This approach is a key feature of the Government’s Natural Environment White Paper and emphasises CONTENTS Page Foreword Part One Introduction 1.1 The Howardian Hills AONB 1.2 Special Qualities 1.3 The AONB Partnership 1.4 The AONB Management Plan 1.5 Landscape character Part Two Achieving a Vision 2.1 A Vision for a Living Landscape 2.2 The Ecosystem Approach 2.3 A Rich Heritage 2.3.1 Natural Environment 2.3.2 Historic Environment 2.4 Living and Working in the Howardian Hills 2.4.1 Local Communities 2.4.2 Agriculture 2.4.3 Forestry and Woodland 2.4.4 Development & the Rural Economy 2.4.5 Roads, Transport and Traffic Management 2.5 Enjoying the AONB 2.5.1 Recreation, Access and Tourism 2.6 Awareness and Promotion Part Three Implementation 3.1 Putting the Plan into Action 3.2 Monitoring 3.3 Action Programme Glossary Landscape Management & Priority Sites [The Evidence Base and Priority Sites descriptions & map are on the CD on the inside of the back cover] 4 1.1 THE HOWARDIAN HILLS Derwent Valley, it extends to the rising ground Particular regard should be paid to of the Yorkshire Wolds. Roughly rectangular in promoting sustainable forms of social and AREA OF OUTSTANDING shape and up to 16 miles (25km) long by 6 economic development that in themselves NATURAL BEAUTY miles (10km) wide, it covers 79 square miles conserve and enhance the environment. (204 sq. km). Section 2.3 (A Rich Heritage) describes the landscape and its characteristic Recreation is not an objective of The Howardian Hills is one of 46 areas in features in more detail. designation, but the demand for England, Wales and Northern Ireland that have recreation should be met so far as this is been designated as Areas of Outstanding Administratively, the AONB falls within the consistent with the conservation of Natural Beauty (AONB). AONBs, together with County of North Yorkshire and is divided natural beauty and the needs of National Parks and Heritage Coasts, cover some between the Districts of Ryedale and agriculture, forestry and other uses. of the most spectacular and unspoilt Hambleton. Containing all or part of 44 landscapes in the country. The designation was Parishes, which are administered by 29 Parish Natural beauty is defined as including flora, confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Councils or Meetings, the designated area has fauna and geological as well as landscape Environment on 19th October 1987. As one of a population of approximately 6,100 people. A features. The conservation of archaeological, seven protected landscape areas in North further 3,200 live in villages just outside the architectural and vernacular features is also Yorkshire, the Howardian Hills AONB plays an designated boundary (1). important, since the landscape is continually important role in both local and regional being shaped by human influence. Whilst the landscape and wildlife conservation, as well as The purpose of designation character of AONBs often differs from that of in tourism, leisure and the rural economy. It Government guidance (2) describes the National Parks, in landscape and legal terms also ranks alongside some of the world's best‐ purpose of designation as follows: they have equal status and protection. known landscapes, such as the USA's National Parks and the Amazon Rainforest, as part of the The primary purpose of designation is to Section 85 of the Countryside and Rights of International Union for the Conservation of conserve and enhance natural beauty. Way (CRoW) Act 2000 places a 'duty of care' on Nature’s family of Protected Areas. relevant bodies, by stating that: In pursuing the primary purpose of The Howardian Hills AONB designation, account should be taken of "In exercising or performing any function in Lying between the Vale of Pickering and the the needs of agriculture, forestry, and relation to, or so as to affect, land in an area Vale of York, the Howardian Hills AONB forms a other rural industries and of the economic of outstanding natural beauty, a relevant clearly defined geographical area of well‐ and social needs of communities. authority shall have regard to the purpose of wooded rolling countryside (see Figure 1). In conserving and enhancing the natural beauty the north west the AONB abuts the North York (1) Mid‐Year Estimates for 2010; ONS; Crown Copyright of the area of outstanding natural beauty." Moors National Park; in the east, along the (2) Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: A Policy Statement, Countryside Commission, CCP 352, 1992 5 Central to the management of the AONB is the In order to satisfy both the Section 85 CRoW concept of sustainable development, as Act Duty to Have Regard and the principles of defined in the Brundtland Report: sustainable development, all policies within “development that meets the needs of the other plans, strategies and programmes should present without compromising the ability of adequately reflect the national importance of future generations to meet their own needs.” the AONB. 6 Figure 1: AONB general area 1.2 SPECIAL QUALITIES the landscape together. The strongest of these A landscape of high visual quality is the dominance of woodland, which seems to The variety of landform and land use form a green web across the whole area. The produces a contrast in scale, colour, texture The primary purpose of AONB designation is “to open sweeping views from the ridge tops and and form. The settings of the historic conserve and enhance natural beauty”. It is the quiet intimacy of the enclosed valleys are houses, the extensive woodlands, the broad therefore essential to define as clearly as experiences which constantly recur whilst sweeping views and the unspoilt farming possible the character of the landscape, travelling through the area. The sheer landscapes and traditional building styles recognising both its Special Qualities and the complexity of the land cover, with its rich have a special aesthetic appeal. forces for change that act upon it. patchwork of crops, pastures, woods, trees and hedgerows is another consistent quality across A remarkable heritage Although the Howardian Hills landscape is most of the area.” The Howardian Hills has a concentration of heavily‐wooded it is essentially a farmed archaeological and historic features, ranging landscape, so agricultural and forestry practices More specifically, the key Special Qualities are from Iron Age earthworks on prominent play a dominant role in shaping its appearance. considered to be: hilltops to the castles and monasteries of the medieval period. The numerous grand The evolution of the landscape of the area since An unusual landform houses and designed landscapes, such as prehistoric times, and the forces for change The Howardian Hills is the only area of Castle Howard, Newburgh Priory, which continue to shape it, are described in Jurassic limestone landscape in the north of Hovingham Hall, Gilling Castle and detail in The Howardian Hills Landscape, a England to be designated as an AONB. The Nunnington Hall, have a dramatic effect report prepared by consultants in 1995 (3). The deeply incised Kirkham Gorge is a unique upon the landscape. report summarised the Special Qualities of the glacial overflow channel of great scientific AONB as follows: importance. An important wildlife resource The AONB contains a section of the unique “The Howardian Hills have a strong unity of A richly varied landscape River Derwent, with its outstanding wild visual character, not least because they are The landform consists of a complex system plants and animals. Other habitats of physically separated from the surrounding of ridges, hills and valleys (see Figure 2). national importance include fens and countryside, but also because there are a These are clothed with a mosaic of relatively extensive remnants of Ancient number of common characteristics which bind woodland, rolling arable fields, small‐scale Semi‐Natural Woodland. pasture, fens, hedges and walls, formal parkland and scattered settlements. Whilst each of these attributes is important in (3) The Howardian Hills Landscape, Cobham Resource its own right, it is their combination in a Consultants, Countryside Commission, 1995 relatively small area that has produced a landscape of national significance.