State of the Malvern Hills AONB 2009

Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty State of the Malvern Hills AONB 2009 Introduction View from Fairoaks Farm 16 15 14 12 1 a Page Contents Manager, Malvern HillsAONB Unit Paul Esrich the Malvern HillsAONB’ (Centre for Rural R this work canbefound inareport entitled ‘A methodology for monitoring thechangingcondition of data rather thanonwhy orhow ithasbeencollected. Information onthejustification and rationale for Whilst thetext doesmake brief references to methodology, thisreport focuses onthepresentation of AONB P of theAONB ischanging.Thiscomparison canalsobeseenasagaugeof theeffectiveness of the Malvern HillsAONB report for 2006.Inthisway thereader canbeginto understand how thecondition Where possible,comparisons are madebetween new data andthosepresented intheState of the attributes, whichare deemedto becharacteristic of thearea. Beauty (AONB) in2009.Itdoesthisbypresenting information aboutarange of elements, or This report provides asnap-shot of thecondition of theMalvern HillsArea of Outstanding Natural Introduction 17 C eNjo 20 tranquillity 18 artnership inconserving andenhancingthespecial qualitiesof thearea. Hist Geology Biodiversity Landscape ttribute oric andbuil ymen t t en vir onmen esearch, 2006)available at www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk c t Number andcondition of Local GeologicalSites C - area underwoodland grant schemes - area underagri-environmental schemes - landuse - farmtype Agricultural change: Fixed point photography Indicator c C T ranquillity index ondition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest ondition of Listed Buildings,P ondition of ScheduledMonuments ondition of Rights of Way

arks andGardens 1

2 land s cap e

3 Landscape: Fixed point photography 4 Overview Figure 1: Landscape Description Units and Landscape Character Types Landscape Character Assessment is a key tool Landscape Description5 Units Landscape Character Types for identifying and describing variations in (LDUs) 6 Enclosed commons 1 Alfrick 7 landscape character. Drawing upon the work Forest smallholdings and of local authorities in the area, 30 detailed 2 suckley Hills dwellings 29 28 Landscape Description Units (LDUs) can be 3 stitchin’s Hill, Alfrick High hills and slopes 1 4 storridge identified within the Malvern Hills AONB (Figure 9 30 Principal timbered 1 farmlands 5 West Malvern1 & Upper Colwall 10 1). LDUs are distinct, relatively small areas in 2 1 8 Principal wooded hills which the historical, physical and biological 6 Mathon2 1 Village 2 1 Sandstone estatelands 7 Malvern Hills3 North features are similar in their appearance and 215 1 11 2 1 13 Settled farmlands 8 Colwall2 1 3 12 purpose. Hence, LDUs can be regarded as the 2 3 14 16 Settled farmlands on river individual building blocks of the landscape. 9 Colwall2 Stone3 21 2 3 terraces 10 Three Counties3 Showground 22 Unenclosed commons 3 For monitoring purposes, one fixed-point 11 Marlbank 43 23 43 24 Urban photographic location has been identified 18 12 Little Malvern4 19 20 17 4 Wooded hills and farmlands for each LDU in the AONB. A mathematically 13 Malvern Hills Central 1 4 25 4 calculated central point, known as a ‘centroid’, 14 Ockeridge 4 2 26 has informed the selection of each monitoring 15 Wellington Heath4 N 4 27 point. Photographs and assessments taken 16 Beggars Ash 3 5 ± 5 from these points provide an indication of the 17 Bradlow Hills 01230.5 4 km 5 appearance and condition of each LDU. 18 eastnor6 5 7 19 Bronsil6 5 7 4 All images depicted over the subsequent pages 6 5 20 Malvern Hills5 South 7 were recorded either in February/ March 2006 6 5 21 Castlemorton6 5 Common 7 7 29 28 (thumbnail photos) or in late January/February 22 Newlands,6 West Castlemorton7 28 6 2009 (larger photos*). The images are organised 7 29 28 23 Hollybed Common 7 28 according to the general appearance of the 5 24 Fairoaks Farm9 3029 28 3029 28 landscape, known as Landscape Character Type 28 6 25 Whitehouse 9Farm 30 10 3029 1028 7 (Figure 1). The LDU number is included simply 26 King’s Green 29 28 9 30 28 8 9 30 10 by way of cross-reference to its geographic 27 Bromesberrow8 9 30 10 location, also shown in Figure 1. Descriptions 28 Malvern8 Common9 East 30 10 29 28 9 30 10 of Landscape Character Types can be found at 29 Malvern8 Common West 10 15 8 10 11 www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk/pages/managing. 8 13 10 9 30 30 Malvern Wells 13 12 15 8 14 12 11 15 8 13 11 10 16 13 14 12 2111 Current condition 15 14 2111 8 1615 13 11 16 14 13 12 21 The text presented alongside each photograph 14 12 2111 1615 14 12 11 1615 13 22 11 in the following pages provides a summary 16 1315 12 22 21 11 14 12 21 13 16 14 23 12 assessment of the condition of each LDU in 2009.16 24 23 22 14 16 1624 21 18 23 21 21 18 24 23 22 Trend in condition 19 20 24 22 17 18 23 17 18 24 23 19 20 24 23 22 22 Changes in the condition of landscapes are 18 19 20 2425 22 17 18 23 23 17 18 19 23 24 often only discernable over longer periods of 19 20 2425 23 17 19 20 2425 18 17 18 time. However, arrows on the 2009 photographs 17 18 2526 19 20 *It is recognised19 that20 2526 17 19 20 25 do highlight some discernable changes in the comparing17 photos of 25 different17 sizes 27is not ideal.26 landscape view since 2006. As is to be expected, 27 25 All images contained in 25 27 26 such changes are often small-scale. Where no this report can 27be viewed 26 ±26 ‘full screen’ at arrows are provided this indicates no change in 27 26 01230.5 4 www.malvernhillsaonb.org.27 26 0123270.5 ± 4 27 26 ± km the landscape view between 2006 and 2009. uk/pages/managing 01230.5 4km 27 01230.5 ± 4 1 ± 27 ± 27 ± km ± km 01230.5 4 01230.5 4 01230.5 ± 4km km ± km ± km km 01230.5 4 01230.5 4km km Principal Wooded Hills Alfrick (LDU 1)

Current condition: n Substantial loss of wooded land use to intensive arable cultivation n Major loss of hedgerows and therefore of organic field pattern L and s cap e n Very few remaining hedgerow trees

2006 2009

Suckley Hills (LDU 2)

Current condition: n Substantial loss of woodland cover n Introduction of non-native conifers n Hedges replaced by post and wire fences n Gardens and orchards associated with new dwellings add a suburban element

deadwood removal

growth of laurel hedge

less intensive management of grassland

2006 2009

Storridge (LDU 4)

Current condition: n Some loss of woodland cover and subsequent utility poles removed increase in the proportion of pasture n Fewer hedgerow trees than might be expected n Uniformity of woodland age is of concern

temporary storage of building rubble

2006 2009 2 land s cap e Principal Wooded Hills

West Malvern and Upper Colwall (LDU 5)

Current condition: n Extensive loss of woodland and consequent increase in pasture n Some conifer introductions in the vicinity of housing n The influence of nearby urban areas is evident by the presence of sewage farm structures

2006 2009

Ockeridge (LDU 14)

Current condition: n Extensive loss of woodland and change of land use to intensive arable cultivation n Hedgerows are in poor condition with few hedgerow trees

2006 2009

Bradlow Hills (LDU 17)

Current condition: n Intensive arable production has replaced the wooded character n Field boundaries are becoming discontinuous n Significant loss of hedgerow trees

2006 2009 3 4 Landscape Principal Timbered Farmlands n n Current condition: Colwall (LDU8) n n n n Current condition: Mathon Village(LDU6) n n Current condition: Stichin’s Hill,Alfrick(LDU3) evident deterioration inboundary condition is Some arable landuseincursionand good Species andagevariation of trees remain residential buildingsare evident Incongruous modernagricultural and Poor tree cover absent The associated organic enclosure pattern is complex, smallscalenature of thislandscape Intensive arable agriculture underminesthe Landscape Description Unit Derelict traditional orchards dominate this Hedgerows are becoming ‘gappy’ 2006 2006 2006 2009 2009 2009 landscape 5 2009 2009 2009 2006 2006 2006

There has been substantial replacement of of replacement has been substantial There fencing and wire with post hedgerows enclosure small scale loss of Consequent pattern with trees hedgerow of age structure Poor progressing of and evidence trees derelict Elm disease Dutch Field re-organisation towards a more a more towards Field re-organisation planned landscape is evident in one area is concentrated Woodland to leading has intensified, cultivation Arable hedges the loss of are those remaining trees, hedgerow of Loss along watercourses concentrated Native species such as oak are being such as oak are species Native associated or species with exotics replaced as the line of land uses such with other poplars the disrupting increasingly are Gardens a suburban introducing landscape character, quality

n n n Current condition: Current Whitehouse Farm (LDU 25) Farm Whitehouse n n n n Current condition: Current Fairoaks Farm (LDU 24) Farm Fairoaks Colwall Stone (LDU 9) Stone Colwall n n Principal Timbered Farmlands Timbered Principal condition: Current 6 Landscape n n n n Current condition: Little Malvern (LDU12) n n n Current condition: Marlbank (LDU11) n Current condition: Three Counties Showground (LDU10) Enclosed Commons n n n n

with agreater densityof hedgerow trees landscape thantypicalfor thislandscapetype In places this is a smaller scale, more intimate Some pastoral landusereplaced byarable evident, leaving someisolated trees Boundary removal and/orreplacement is distinct over time The enclosure pattern is becoming less is lost Hedgerow removal is evident as functionality and growing out E pastoral tradition of thislandscapetype Arable cultivation represents a break with the A landscapehighlymodifiedbyurbanisation surviving Tree cover issparsewithisolated specimens Some introduction of conifers along different boundaries enclosure hedges and introduction of fences There has been removal of 19th century Modern agricultural structures are conspicuous nclosure boundaries are tightly managed 2006 2006 2006 line of fencing removed new building removed gate 2009 2009 2009 landscape 7 2009 2009 2009 field tree field tree fallen/removed 2006 2006 No image taken in 2006 in No image taken

Intensive arable farming has now commonly commonly farming has now arable Intensive pasture replaced as functionality has been reduced Hedgerow some of of, by gaps in, and removal indicated these boundaries some has left field pattern of Rationalisation landscape in the shaped areas irregularly Intensive agriculture is replacing pastoral land pastoral is replacing agriculture Intensive use field in larger is resulting hedgerows of Loss an increase through intimacy and loss of size in scale and uniform very are hedgerows Remaining trees hedgerow of with loss gappy becoming astern part now occupied by golf course occupied now part Eastern trees and hedgerow hedgerows of Loss part southern into urban area Expansion of

n n n Current condition: Current King’s Green (LDU 26) Green King’s n n n Current condition: Current Newlands, West Castlemorton (LDU 22) Castlemorton Newlands, West n n n Current condition: Current (LDU 30) (LDU Wells Malvern Enclosed Commons Enclosed Settled Farmlands with Pastoral Land Use with Pastoral Farmlands Settled Wooded Hills and Farmlands Eastnor (LDU 18)

Current condition: n Loss of hedgerows and hedgerow trees n The pattern of previous field enclosure has largely been lost

L and s cap e n Introduction of fences

2006 2009

Bronsil (LDU 19)

Current condition: hedgerow n some hedgerow loss and associated loss of trees/bushes hedgerow trees n Consequent loss of traditional enclosure pattern

2006 2009

Unenclosed Commons Castlemorton Common (LDU 21)

Current condition: some gorse/ n A lack of grazing is leading to scrub scrub expansion encroachment

2006 2009 8 landscape 9 2009 2009 2009 increase in rough in rough increase vegetation 2006 No image taken in 2006 No image taken No image taken in 2006 No image taken

Peripheral formal tree planting has planting tree formal Peripheral an urban element introduced Some scrub encroachment in well use has resulted recreational Heavy erosion and some ground paths trodden grassland Degraded Recreational pressure has resulted in has resulted pressure Recreational paths trodden and heavily erosion grassland Degraded crub encroachment due to insufficient insufficient due to Scrub encroachment grazing trodden is creating pressure Recreational grassland the unimproved across paths

by neighbouring golf course some intrusion n n n n Current condition: Current (LDU 29) West Common Malvern n n n Current condition: Current Malvern Common East (LDU 28) Malvern n n Current condition: Current Hollybed Common (LDU 23) Hollybed Unenclosed Commons Unenclosed 10 Landscape n Current condition: Beggars Ash(LDU16) Settled Farmlands onRiver Terraces n n n Current condition: Bromesberrow (LDU27) n n n Current condition: Wellington Heath (LDU15) Forest SmallholdingsandDwellings Sandstone Estatelands Landscape Description Unit Intensive commercial orchards dominate this Arable reversion to pasture Post andwire fencing replaces hedges features lack of needfor, andthuslossof, distinctive The highintensity agriculture isleadingto a appearance The landscapeisassumingasuburban and ‘horsiculture’ are prominent smallholdings, suchasranch style fencing Uncharacteristic features associated with types, underminingthedistinctive character Infill hasled to amixture of settlement 2006 2006 2006 extension house pens removed static caravan 2009 2009 2009 landscape 11 2009 2009 2009 shift towards shift towards sward grass bushes removed less bracken cover less bracken erosion extending erosion 2006 2006 2006

crub and woodland encroachment. These encroachment. Scrub and woodland of evidence greater southern high hills have summits than the their bare surrounding woodland northern hills on the hills scrub and bracken is incursion of There fields and in adjacent themselves slopes lower of enclosure Partial in the paths from is evident pressure Visitor than in the less acute but is generally vegetation, and northern hills higher central by colonised conspicuously quarries are Former and shrubs trees A lack of grazing is leading to encroachment encroachment to is leading grazing A lack of by scrub and bracken an advanced has reached Encroachment in a trees of with the establishment stage line on the ridge col sheltered by is evidenced pressure recreational Heavy wide paths distinct, The open, unwooded character of the of character The open, unwooded by scrub is being compromised landscape encroachment and bracken with some pressure, recreational Significant these northern, of is a feature erosion, hills highest

Malvern Hills North (LDU 7) Hills North Malvern High Hills and Slopes Hills High n n n n n Current condition: Current Malvern Hills South (LDU 20) Hills Malvern n n n Current condition: Current Malvern Hills Central (LDU 13) Hills Central Malvern n n Current condition: Current Landscape: Agricultural change Overview June Agricultural Survey. Nevertheless, with these caveats in mind, some possible trends can

L and s cap e Current condition be discerned.

i) Farm type – Farms devoted to livestock n There is a suggestion that enterprise farming dominate the agricultural scene. (see specialisation in the AONB’s farming is still Figure 2). Horticultural farms are the second occurring. ‘Cereal’ and ‘Horticulture’ farm Hay cutting at most prevalent holding type (16.7% of holdings). types appear to be increasing at the expense Longley Green Very small and small-sized farms (those under of ‘General Cropping’ and ‘Mixed’ classified 20 hectares) overwhelmingly account for the holdings. majority of holdings, with only 26 (10.6%) being n Dairy farms have declined to such an extent greater than 50 hectares in size. Reflecting this between 2006-7 that Defra will no longer size structure, just 22.9% of the farm labour declare the number of them in the AONB (this force comprised full-time farmers in 2007. The means that the number of farms is probably amount of land rented for agriculture remains less than six). modest at 21.5%. n The data hint at an ongoing replacement of ii) Land use – Figure 3 shows that permanent the full-time farm labour force with part-time grassland occupies the greatest area in land use labour under both the ‘Farmer’ and ‘Worker’ terms (55.5%). Cropping (26%) and woodland headings. Much less casual labour was (7.3%) are other notable land use components. employed in 2007 (7 workers) compared with The almost negligible amount of rough grazing 2006 (15 workers). recorded (0.8%) is much lower than an impression of the ‘Hills’ might convey, demonstrating the Table 1 shows that since 2006 there has extent of intensive land use (agriculture and been a decline in the number of Countryside woodland) in the AONB. Stewardship agreements and an increase in the number of Entry Level and Higher Level iii) Area under agri-environment Stewardship schemes. This is to be expected as Cattle at schemes – Table 1 shows the uptake of the schemes closed to new entrants (Countryside Castlemorton main English agri-environmental schemes in the Common Stewardship) are phased out and new ones AONB. There are 63 live schemes now covering phased in. The number of Countryside almost 51% of the eligible land of the AONB. Stewardship agreements has not decreased iv) Area under woodland grant schemes dramatically since 2006 but there has been a 1 Eligible land is here taken as 1899ha – Table 2 shows that nine active woodland significant fall in the amount of land covered - the total area of grant scheme agreements cover 208ha or by these agreements. This can be explained by woodland in the 1 AONB according 10.9% of the wooded area of the AONB . Six the fact that many of the early Stewardship to the National grants are for woodland management, four for agreements were for large areas of land and Inventory of Woodland and Trees woodland improvement and two for woodland these agreements have now expired. The regeneration. smaller schemes were often agreed at a later date when funding was less readily available. Trend in condition These remain in place. Overall there has been a significant (22%) increase in the number of As is to be expected, figures for 2007 show only agri-environment agreements in the AONB small differences in ‘farm type’ and ‘land use’ since 2006 but a smaller (9.5%) increase in the from those for 2006. Some caution also has to amount of land covered by such schemes. be exercised due to the sample nature of Defra’s

12 60 58.58.33

30 % holdings

20 16.7

9.2 10 7.5.5 4.2 4.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 e A al ed ock ock eals Pig s t t Dairy - LF Mix oultry wland es es opping P Cer Gener cr Liv Liv - Lo

Horticultur Farm type land s cap e

Figure 2: Farm types in the Malvern Hills AONB, 2007 Figure 3: Land use in the Malvern Hills AONB, 2007

60 58.358.3 60

50 50

40 40

30 30 ea (ha) % holdings % ar 20 16.7 20

9.2 10 7.5.5 10 4.2 4.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0 e A t al ed w ock ock ary eals ass ass Pig s t t land Dairy - LF ough Mix oultry gr gr wland azing Other es es opping fallo taside R P Cer Gener gr ops and cr oodland Se Liv Liv - Lo empor ermanen Cr W T P Horticultur Farm type Land use type Source: Defra, 2007 Source: Defra, 2007

Table 1 – No of active agri-environmental scheme agreements and area of land under such agreements in the Malvern Hills AONB in January 2009 (figures in brackets are for 2006)

Type of scheme Number of Area under % of eligible

60 agreements agreement (ha) land in AONB Entry level Stewardship 38 (20) 2943 (871) 36% (10.5%) 50 Entry level plus

Higher40 Level Stewardship 4 (0) 325 (0) 4% (0%) Higher Level Stewardship 1 (1) 449 (252) 5% (3.2%) 30 ea (ha) Organic Entry Level % ar S20tewardship 1 (0) 73 (0) 1% (0%) Countryside Stewardship S10cheme 19 (24) 381 (2659) 5% (32%)

Total0 63 4172 (3782) 51% (45.7%) t w ary ass ass land ough gr gr azing Other fallo taside R gr ops and

Source: Natural England, January 2009 (and 2006)oodland Se empor ermanen Cr W T P Land use type

Table 2 – No of active Woodland Grant Scheme agreements and area of land under such agreements in the Malvern Hills AONB (not including woodland creation grants)

Type of scheme Number of Area under % of eligible agreements agreement (ha) land in AONB Woodland Grant Schemes (WGS) 4 67 3.5% England Woodland Grant Schemes (EWGS) 8 140ha 7.4%

Total 9 208ha 10.9%

Source: Forestry Commission, January 2009

Apples at Suckley orchard

13 Biodiversity: e r s it y Condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Overview (Figure 4 and Table 3). The Government has set a Public Service Agreement (PSA) dedicated to biodiv Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) have improving the condition of SSSIs. The target is been designated since 1949 to protect the very to have 95% of the total SSSI area in favourable best of the country’s wildlife and earth heritage or recovering condition by 2010. The Malvern (geology, geomorphology). The Malvern Hills Hills AONB thus achieves 89% of the SSSI AONB has 15 SSSIs either completely or partially area in favourable or recovering condition. This within its boundary, representing 10.9% of its compares very favourably with the 2006 level of total area. The broad habitat and other types of 71% of SSSI area reaching the PSA target in the SSSI in the AONB are recorded in Table 3. West Midlands Region and 74% across England as a whole. Current condition

The most up-to-date information available for Trend in condition Common spotted this indicator is from 2006. No SSSI has been No previous data exist to effect a comparison orchid in Suckley wholly or partially destroyed and only 2% of the with current condition. Woods total area is found to be declining in condition

Figure 4: The Condition of SSSIs in the Malvern Hills AONB.

% Area favourable 457.28 ha (39%) % Area unfavourable recovering 577.94 ha (50%) % Area unfavourable no change 104.06 ha (9%) % Area unfavourable declining 24.04 ha (2%) % Area destroyed/part destroyed 0.00 ha (0%) % Area meeting PSA Target 1035.22 ha (89%)

Source: Natural England, 2006

Table 3: The condition of SSSIs in the Malvern Hills AONB according to habitat type.

CONDITION OF SSSI BY % AREA HABITAT TYPE AREA % of AONB Favourable Unfavourable Unfavourable Unfavourable Destroyed/ (ha) SSSI area recovering no change declining part destroyed Acid Grassland 535.28 46.01% - 100.00 - - -

Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland 409.07 35.16% 68.25 10.08 21.67 - -

Earth heritage 110.53 9.50% 86.94 - - 16.06 -

Neutral grassland 101.94 8.76% 82.95 1.39 15.12 0.53 -

Calcareous grassland 5.74 0.49% - - - 100.00 -

Built up areas and gardens 0.76 0.07% 100.00 - - - - 14 Geology 15

16 1 3 20 (44.4%) Good

Permissions to 1 access the remaining two sites had not yet been obtained at the writing. time of 1 0 0 1 (2.2%) Good improving

2 1 0 3 (6.7%) Good steady

Uncertain 4 (11.1) 0 0 4 (8.9%) 9 0 1 10 (22.2%) Good declining

0 0 0 0 Poor improving

Undesirable 4 (11.1%) 3 (60%) 0 7 (15.5%) status Management 4 0 0 4 (8.8%) Poor steady

Trend in condition Trend (previously Geological Sites In 2006 36 Local This in the AONB. designated RIGS) were of 47 (an increase number has since risen to a effect to exist data 33%). No previous almost these of condition with the current comparison sites. percentage terms, geomorphological sites tend tend sites geomorphological terms, percentage (100% classed as condition in the best be to features with superficial deposit desirable), (60% classed as condition in the worst undesirable). (Table status management to With respect classed are Geological Sites Local 5), 75% of than 24% as poor. more as good and slightly are sites of all visited 38% almost Significantly, assessed as being in decline. Condition of site Condition of Desirable 28 (77.8%) 2 (40%) 4 (100%) 34 (75.6%)

1 3 2 0 5 (11.1%) Poor declining Poor declining/ 1 1 0 2 (4.4%) lost lost sites No. of 36 5 4 45 of of sites Number 36 5 4 45

Bedrock feature Superficial deposit Geomorphology feature (AONB) Total site of Type Type of site of Type

Source: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust, 2008/9 Earth Heritage Trust, and Worcestershire Herefordshire Source: Bedrock Superficial deposit feature Geomorphology feature Total (AONB)

Table 5 – Management status of Local Geological Sites in the Malvern Hills AONB in the Malvern Geological Sites Local of status 5 – Management Table Table 4 – Condition of Local Geological Sites in the Malvern Hills AONB in the Malvern Sites Geological Local of 4 – Condition Table and almost 9% are in uncertain condition. In in uncertain condition. 9% are and almost over 15% of sites are classed as undesirable classed as undesirable are sites of 15% over ites visited, 76% are in desirable condition. Just Just condition. in desirable 76% are visited, Sites condition and management status assessed. status and management condition Geological the 45 Local of that 4 shows Table (95.7%) of these sites were visited and their visited were these sites (95.7%) of condition Current Malvern Hills AONB. In 2008 and 2009, 45 In 2008 and 2009, Hills AONB. Malvern ites in the Sites Geological 47 Local are There condition of these sites. of condition developed a methodology for monitoring the monitoring for a methodology developed arth Heritage Trust Earth Heritage Trust and Worcestershire or aesthetic value. In 2008, the Herefordshire the Herefordshire In 2008, value. or aesthetic the basis of their scientific, educational, historic, historic, educational, their scientific, the basis of ). These are selected on selected S). These are - RIG Geological Sites ites (previously known as Regionally Important Important as Regionally known (previously Sites that have been designated as Local Geological as Local been designated have that the Malvern Hills AONB is the number of sites sites is the number of Hills AONB the Malvern A reflection of the exceptional earth heritage of earth heritage exceptional of the A reflection

Overview Number and condition of Local Geological Sites Geological Local of and condition Number Geology: Historic and Built Environment: Condition of Scheduled Monuments Overview respect of risk, 25% of monuments in the AONB are considered to be at high risk, 63% at medium Scheduled Monuments (SMs) are archaeological risk and 12% at low risk. sites or historic buildings that are of national importance and have been afforded legal When compared with data for the West Midlands protection by the Department of Culture, Media as a whole, results show that slightly fewer and Sport on the advice of English Heritage. The Scheduled Monuments in the AONB are at Malvern Hills AONB contains eight Scheduled high risk (25%) compared with the regional Monuments (Table 6). average (29%). However, a higher percentage Little Malvern Priory of monuments in the AONB are at medium risk Between October 2004 and July 2006 (63% compared with 34% for the region) and a English Heritage assessed the condition lower percentage are deemed to be at low risk and vulnerability of monuments in the West (12% compared with 37% for the region). Midlands region through its Monuments at Risk programme, a part of the Heritage at Risk Trend in condition initiative. The information provided in Table 6 is

e nt e nvironm and built hi s toric 1 Monuments are not based on the findings of this research, together named in this report No previous data exist to effect a comparison since some owners with more recent assessments of condition in with current condition. However, it is noteworthy may not yet be aware the case of a small number of monuments.1 of the results of that work in 2007 and 2008 on British Camp the Heritage at Risk and Bronsil Castle has improved the condition of survey. Current condition2 these monuments and their risk ratings. 2 % figures should be viewed in the The overall condition of 63% of monuments Information about the Monuments at Risk knowledge that there are only 8 in the AONB has been assessed as generally programme, including the West Midlands report, monuments in the satisfactory with 37% unsatisfactory. In respect can be viewed on the English Heritage website AONB and that these sites are not of condition trend, 50% of monuments are at www.english-heritage.org.uk by clicking on representative of described as being in declining condition, 38% the Heritage at Risk button. those in the West Midlands as a whole. are stable and 12% are in improving condition. In

Table 6 – Summary of Scheduled Monument condition and vulnerability in the Malvern Hills AONB

Monument Type Overall condition Condition trend Risk A Boundary feature Generally unsatisfactory – extensive localised problems Declining High B Iron Age hill fort Generally satisfactory – Declining Medium minor localised problems C Iron Age hill fort Generally satisfactory – stable Medium minor localised problems D Fortified house Generally satisfactory - Improving Medium minor localised problems E Bronze Age round barrows Generally unsatisfactory – Declining Medium major localised problems F Monastery Generally satisfactory – stable Medium minor localised problems G Medieval and later building Generally satisfactory – stable Low minor localised problems H Medieval and post-Medieval Generally unsatisfactory – Declining High feature significant localised problems 16 Source: English Heritage, 2008 hi s toric and built e nvironm e nt Historic and Built Environment: Condition of Listed Buildings, Parks and Gardens Overview Current condition

Listed buildings are buildings or other structures Listed buildings officially designated by English Heritage as being of special architectural, historical or Table 7 shows that 302 (almost 92%) of visited cultural significance. Buildings are graded in one buildings are in fair or good condition. 27 of three categories (Grade I, II* and II) according buildings (8%) are in poor or very poor condition Eastnor Castle to their importance with Grade I being the most and can be classed as at risk. When looking at important. figures by building grade (Table 8) all Grade I listed buildings are either in fair condition (40%) The most recent figures indicate that there are or good condition (60%). 9% of visited Grade a total of 344 listed buildings within the AONB. II* listed buildings were found to be in poor Of these, 329 buildings (almost 96%) were condition, 9% in fair condition and 82% in good visited between January and March 20081 . The condition. condition of each building was quickly assessed in accordance with the standard Listed Building Parks and Gardens at Risk condition methodology developed and At the time of publication English Heritage used by English Heritage. has not officially released information from its The Malvern Hills AONB also contains two listed Designed Landscapes at Risk survey. However, Parks and Gardens: early indications are that neither of the listed parks and gardens in the AONB are at risk. n Grade II* Eastnor Castle n Grade II Hope End Trend in condition 1 15 properties were Initial research into the condition of all No previous data exist to effect a comparison not visited, either designed landscapes was carried out by English with current condition. because access was denied or because Heritage in 2008 as part of its Heritage at Risk repairs were being programme. carried out.

Table 7 – Results of listed building condition surveys by AONB County

Area No. of buildings (by condition status) Total (buildings 1 (very poor) 2 (poor) 3 (fair) 4 (good) assessed) Herefordshire 5 18 66 132 221 Malvern Hills District Council 0 3 34 53 90 Forest of Dean District 0 1 10 7 18 Malvern Hills AONB 5 22 110 192 329 (1.5%) (6.7%) (33.4%) (58.4%) (100%)

Source: Malvern Hills AONB Unit, 2008

Table 8 – Results of listed building condition survey by building Grades I and II*

Grade of building No. of buildings (by condition status) Total (buildings 1 (very poor) 2 (poor) 3 (fair) 4 (good) assessed) Grade I 0 0 2 (40%) 3 (60%) 5 Grade II* 0 2 (9%) 2 (9%) 18 (82%) 22 Source: Malvern Hills AONB Unit, 2008 17 Tranquillity: Tranquillity Index Overview i) south, in a band from Castlemorton Common over Swinyard Hill to Eastnor. Tranquillity is one of the special qualities of the ii) Centre west, between the villages of Colwall Malvern Hills AONB. Its assessment is facilitated and Mathon. tran q uillit y by the publication of the tranquillity map of England by the Campaign to Protect Rural iii) North, encompassing the Suckley Hills. England (CPRE) in 2006. The country has been A lack of tranquillity in the AONB can be divided into 500m by 500m squares and then observed in five areas due to the influence scored positively or negatively on 44 factors primarily of roads and settlement. relating to people’s feeling of tranquillity. Each square is assigned a colour ranging from green i) The A449 corridor connecting Ledbury, (most tranquil) to red (least tranquil) to indicate Malvern Wells and Great Malvern. Great where people feel most or least tranquil. CPRE Malvern is the least tranquil place in the hopes to acquire future funding to allow the entire area, although the situation worsens tranquillity map to be updated. significantly eastwards towards Malvern Link just beyond the AONB boundary. A full exposition of the methodology can be ii) The Wyche Cutting provides a route for the found in Jackson, S., Fuller, D., Mowbray, R., Hext, B4218 through the high hills and clearly S, Macfarlane, R. and Hagget, C. Tranquillity detracts from tranquillity (observe the mapping: developing a robust methodology for diagonal line of orange squares running planning support. Report to CPRE, Centre for south-west to north-east in the centre of the Environmental and Spatial Analysis, Northumbria map). University, Bluespace Environments and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne iii) West Malvern, extending a band of least tranquillity to encircle the northern high hills. Current condition iv) The southern boundary of the AONB, where the presence of the M50 motorway seriously The most up-to-date information available for compromises tranquillity. this indicator is from 2006. Figure 5 shows that the AONB is characterised by moderate v) storridge, where the major Hereford to tranquillity from the predominance of yellow Worcester A4103 road traverses the north of shading. Tranquillity is geographically uneven the AONB. within the AONB. The compact nature of the AONB makes it vulnerable to influences Trend in condition immediately beyond its boundary that undermine No previous data exist to effect a comparison tranquillity, a factor particularly evident in the with current condition. east and south. From the map, three distinct pockets of high tranquillity can be observed.

Bluebells at Old Hollow

18 tran q uillit y

Tranquillity: Tranquillity Index

Most tranquil Least tranquil

Figure 5: Tranquillity map: Malvern Hills AONB

Reproduced courtesy of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Revised edition 2007. 19 Enjoyment: Condition of Rights of Way y m e nt Overview Current condition

e njo In 2000 the Government announced that Overall, 73.2% of the public rights of way it required local authorities to report on the network in the Malvern Hills AONB can standard of their public rights of way network. be classed as being easy to use. When This has been assessed through Best Value disaggregated according to county, easy to Performance Indicator (BVPI) 178 defined as use paths were encountered at an incidence ‘the percentage of the total length of footpaths of 78.7% of paths surveyed in Worcestershire, and other rights of way which are easy to use 58.2% in Herefordshire and 100% of paths in Cycling near the by members of the public’. The percentage is Gloucestershire1 2. Significantly, all of these Wyche Cutting calculated based on an annual survey of a 5% figures compare favourably with the latest random sample of rights of way within each county-wide BVPI 178 scores see final column county. in Table 9). This suggests that a higher standard of rights of way management is being achieved In the autumn of 2008 a random sample of 5.6% within the AONB. of the total public rights of way network in the Malvern Hills AONB was identified. This was Trend in condition surveyed by trained practitioners using the BVPI 178 methodology employed by Worcestershire The current condition figures provided in Table County Council. 9 are the first to be generated from a dedicated BVPI 178 survey of paths in the AONB. Previously, BVPI 178 data were only available at a county level. The % figures for the AONB for 2002/3 and 2005/6 in Table 10 are thus only indicative and have been derived from the county figures, (calculated according to the percentage of the AONB in each county). The figures for 2008 in Table 10 are based on the dedicated AONB survey described above. It is not possible to compare current and previous data directly but Table 10 does suggest an upward trend in the condition of rights of way in the AONB.

1 NB Only four paths Table 9 – BVPI 178 Results for AONB counties: rights of way that are easy to use in Gloucestershire were assessed as part Area Length of path Rights of way easy to use County BVPI of the survey. surveyed (metres) metres (%) (%) 178 scores (%) 2 Local authorities Worcestershire 9497 7471 78.7 73.2 (2007) divide up their paths in different ways Herefordshire 6361 3702 58.2 39% (2007) for the purpose of BVPI assessment and Gloucestershire 1539 1539 100 78% (2007/8) this helps to explain Malvern Hills AONB 17379 12712 73.2 differences in the county figures. Source: AONB Unit, 2009

Table 10 – BVPI 178 Trend Results for AONB counties: % rights of way that are easy to use

Area 2002/3 (%) 2005/6 (%) 2008 (%) Malvern Hills AONB 48.8 57.3 73.2 20

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