Potential Threats to the Landscape and Opportunities to Address Them

Layers of landscape and conservation Common Agricultural Policy designation together with successive suites of agri-environment schemes should have Until the procedure for leaving the EU and placed this landscape in a position of strength the subsequent arrangements for agricultural and protection. There have been successes subsidies, farmers and land managers are where conservation priorities are highest, but currently working within the existing Rural farmers struggle to make ends meet and the Development Programme for (RDPE) pressure continues to increase productivity. agri-environment schemes – Environmental As a result, fields continue to be drained and Stewardship and the new Countryside fertilised, resulting in losses of biodiversity, Stewardship. Since its introduction in 2015 a character and colour. Wildflower or waxcap- number of concerns about the practicalities rich fields, marshes and wet areas continue of the new scheme (divided into higher tier to be lost. Herbicides along roadsides often and mid tier) and its application, notably result in loss of flowers and nectar sources in the uplands, have been raised and for insects. Non-point sources of pollution some amendments are being made. are still present, although reduced in places. Potential Threats to With the added pressure of climate change, Unlike previous RDPE schemes, applications our wildlife, our communities and the for most elements of Countryside landscapes they occupy are at a crossroads. Stewardship (particularly in mid tier) are competitive, which means that applications are the Landscape and scored against criteria, so that not everyone who Broader Political Issues applies will be successful. Targeting and scoring and Policy Changes is used to encourage applicants to choose options that help achieve the environmental Opportunities to The most significant potential political and priorities in their local area (Natural England, policy threat to the landscape and its heritage 2015). Farmers need to choose the appropriate is the result of the UK referendum to leave the options for their holding from a set of available European Union which occurred on 23 June ones according to where they are in the country. Address Them 2016. At the time of writing and no doubt for some time to come, it is unclear what the However, differences in option availability wider implications of this outcome will be. and value between the lowlands and Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDAs) mean that upland Most of the UK's wildlife and environmental farmers can expect grant payments to be legislation is based on EU directives and there significantly lower than under previous schemes. is no certainty as to how and if these will For instance, the option for permanent grassland be replaced once the UK leaves the EU. As with very low inputs receives a grant of £95 per a member state the UK benefited from the hectare outside SDAs and only £16 per hectare European legislation that gave protection to within SDAs. This compares to the payment under the environment. This included an international Environmental Stewardship of £60 per hectare, so framework for protection of wildlife habitats a notable reduction in farm income in the uplands and species and rigorous standards for control will result. On many upland farms the option for of pollution, including air and water quality very low input grassland is the only one available and the use of agricultural pesticides. These to them, but small farms of 20 hectares are not EU directives are now enshrined in UK law, so big enough to meet the minimum annual payment it will be dependent upon the Government of £5,000 so are excluded from the scheme. to decide whether these laws remain in place as they stand or whether to revise At present, certain options are not available them. The UK will still abide by international in the uplands which would be appropriate laws covering environmental protection. in the South West Peak; for instance, there are no options available for haymaking, wild pollinator and farm wildlife package or stone

Field barn with rushes © PDNPA 99 Potential Threats to the Landscape and Opportunities to Address Them Potential Threats to the Landscape and Opportunities to Address Them wall maintenance. Traditional farm buildings are “Development on rural fields e.g. small plots of land “I used to make a living out of building dry and walls as more intensive farmers would seek a high priority in all upland areas and appear in which people put caravans on in the hope of getting stone walls. What they’ve got to be careful of is not to enlarge their fields to maximise profit. all the associated Statements of Priority. However, permission for housing/accommodation.” just dry stone walling, it’s tradesmen. they do not contribute to scoring in mid-tier, They put a grant there to get things done. Farmers who have a child lined up to take over which gives rise to the perverse situation where “Wind turbines and barns being built that are Then all of a sudden they say there’s no more money… the farm are very conscious that they want to including the option to manage high priority not sympathetic to their surroundings.” Where do them dry stone wallers go? Where hand the farm over in a good state and with buildings can reduce the chances of being do the tradesmen go? And then they wonder why as much land as possible. Keeping the farm accepted for an agreement (Morley, 2016). “Again the lack of jobs and affordable housing is they’re losing the art of doing such jobs.” alive and in the family appears to be a strong pushing the younger generation away, there are no driver amongst the farmers we interviewed. Whether or not amendments are made to opportunities for young people in the area.” increase availability of options in the uplands, “We have three sons… we keep this farm running and the total amount of funding available is Farming is traditionally a practical hands-on ticking over just in case one of them has a change of heart far lower than before, with priority given There is a certain amount of misunderstanding occupation where skills are learned through and comes back. That’s something else we think about.” to higher-tier agreements which are only and distrust of the planning process with people experience and observation. Increasingly, available for SSSIs and some sites in existing concerned that the planning process favours the amount of ‘paperwork’ and the move to Higher Level Environmental Stewardship. ‘incomers’ over local people. Concern is often online communication with Defra and the expressed about the changes to communities Rural Payments Agency have put farmers at a The implications of such reductions in scheme which result from lack of affordable housing disadvantage. Many do not have the numeracy payments and availability, coupled with the and an increase in second homes. or literacy skills required to cope with the complexity of the application process and bureaucracy, yet are having to somehow the suspicion with which it is viewed by many “Villages full of second homes and holiday cottages become computer literate and invest in means that far fewer farms in the area will enter putting nothing back into the community, they are computer hardware (Syson-Nibbs, 2001). into Countryside Stewardship agreements. The becoming ghost villages due to the policy of the Peak Park potential implication of this is for farmers to seek and outside money.” The proportion of people receiving job- alternative ways of gaining income from their related training in general is low in the land which may include increasing the intensity “Lack of ability to make a living and to find Moorlands compared to the of management by the application of fertilisers or accommodation in the area. So many properties are now national average (Pates, 2015). There are drainage of wet land. Such practices will have a used as second homes or for self-catering which affects the concerns that locally, some people in more negative impact on wildlife and species diversity. housing stock for people born in the area. The new comers remote rural areas have not shared in the want to live in the area but to bring the town with them and recovery upturn of the economy, particularly not join in activities like WI, schools etc.” where they have historically been dependent Social and Economic Changes upon the public sector for employment and In the sheep shed © Christine Gregory “Tourism, as many buildings/barns have been given lack alternative employment options or do not Some changes apparently unrelated to permission to use as holiday homes/lets, thus bringing have the skills required by local industries. Loss of services heritage can pose a threat to the landscape, by more tourists into the area, and locals unable to afford housing Evidence of the changes to the communities in impacting upon the people who manage it. and stay thus moving into nearby towns or further then Changes in land management or ownership the South West Peak can be seen in the closure of folk move in and commute and the village breaks down all There is a strong emotional attachment to pubs, schools, shops and other services such as Planning and development its history will be lost.” farms and a corresponding desire to keep doctor’s surgeries, libraries and public transport. Planning and development ranks highly as a them in the family; however, the marginal The primary school in Flash closed in 2012 due concern amongst respondents to our surveys; “The lack of new families in the area due to the expense of nature of upland farming and the limited to lack of pupils (in the previous school year it development pressure was mentioned 23 times property which leads to the demise of shops, schools and financial returns have seen young people had an attendance of just seven). Other village as a threat to the landscape and eight times community life. This leads to a community of older middle leave the area for work elsewhere. schools in the area also have small numbers; as a threat to the community. Conversely the class people which is not a good thing for the future.” at Longnor there are only eight pupils on the lack of affordable housing and the association Some older farmers without any succession plans school roll, in other villages the numbers are with lack of jobs, particularly for young have reduced the amount of stock they farm between 33 and 57, with Rainow primary having people, was raised as a considerable concern Decline in skills to a bare minimum and rent out much of their the largest number of pupils at 169. When these for local communities and the landscape. Decline in traditional skills often goes hand in land for other farmers’ livestock to graze. Some children reach secondary age they are then well hand with economic decline. There was a feeling consider selling up their farms. As older farmers served with schools in the surrounding towns; amongst the farmers we interviewed that there pass away with no offspring to carry on the farm, these, however, require travel of up to ten miles. was a lot of walling that was in need of repair the holding often is sold off, either as a whole or due to having dropped down the list of priorities as separate units. The change of ownership leads A few country pubs remain open and as a result of other time and money pressures. to discontinuity of management, particularly profitable while others have mixed fortunes; when the farmland is sold off in separate lots the Greyhound Inn in Warslow, for instance, Training in individual skills and short term to different owners. Some of the larger more repeatedly closes due to lack of trade, whilst grants for capital work like drystone walling intensive farmers are well placed to purchase the nearby Manifold Inn less than two miles is not the solution; to achieve sustainability smaller farms, so increasing their holdings. away at Hulme End draws regular custom and long-term employment, individuals need A concern amongst the smaller farmers is that from the village campsite and passing trade. to have a set of complementary skills. this would result in the loss of trees, hedges

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The decline and loss of local services impacts on the resulting damage to paths and habitats. Relationships communities; when combined with the effect of The Roaches, for instance, is popular for its During our consultations we heard of difficulties increasing house prices and fewer jobs, families variety of gritstone climbing and bouldering and misunderstandings between different and younger people in particular have been routes, the views which can be gained from parties; for instance, famers can often hold a leaving the area. With smaller communities, the ridge path and the fascination of Lud’s negative view of tourists. Whilst some gain more newcomers, a higher proportion of holiday Church. Certain parts of the site do show from tourism by providing accommodation homes and more people working away, the damage caused by the number of visitors, and and other services, for many, there is a feeling shops, pubs, village halls and community groups erosion is making paths impassable in many that tourists bring relatively little income to have fewer customers. There are fewer people places. Visitors find it hard to walk on sections the area and cause congestion on the roads. to care for rural villages and to keep traditions of footpath, so they chose to walk on areas of like well dressing and wakes week alive. heather, which quickly turn to peaty mud, which For a few farmers interviewed who had footpaths in turn rapidly erode, making the scar wider. going across their land, walkers (particularly Along with the decline of services such as As well as making access harder, these scars those on Duke of Edinburgh expeditions) were shops, pubs and schools, it’s also important are damaging the wildlife and heritage of the perceived to: take liberties as to where they to note the decline of the rural church and Roaches and look ugly on the landscape. They could walk; often get lost/have poor map Methodist chapels. There are small groups of are allowing blanket bogs to dry out as water reading skills; and be guilty of leaving farm dedicated volunteers that are currently keeping Scramblers erosion near Knotbury © Nick Mott drains quickly away through rapid erosion. gates open. A few farmers also mentioned these institutions alive and for a generation The scars are so wide they can be seen on aerial that walkers were not doing enough to keep (say 60-80 years of age) they have been a Action plans are being developed in association photographs. The erosion from visitors to the dogs under control when near to farm animals constant mainstay in the life of the villages. With with the Peak District Local Access Forum Green trig point on the ridge path has caused damage (Brook Lyndhurst, 2015). One farmer clearly felt congregations of only half a dozen or fewer, Lanes Sub-Group for those routes identified to the scheduled Bronze Age burial mound. that tourists were viewed as more important it is difficult to see how any of these churches as being in most urgent need of improved to the National Park Authority than farmers: will continue into the future once the current management. In the South West Peak, the current generation of volunteers and attendees dies out. priority routes are: Charity Lane, “They’ve [The National Park Authority have] got a mindset Forest; Cumberland Lane, Wildboarclough; in the South West Peak that it’s for the tourists and nothing Rake Head Lane, ; Swan and else. They don’t realise that it’s the farmers that have created Local Issues and Attitudes Limer Rakes, Hollinsclough; Three Shire Heads the countryside that the tourists want to come and see.” and Washgate, Hartington Upper Quarter. Attitudes to the countryside Whilst there is a strong connection to the Generally the issues here are around route During our visitor survey, farmers and farming landscape amongst residents and visitors, there condition and erosion, uncertainty over weren’t mentioned in regard to what made can be a lack of understanding about the special legal status and conflicts between different the place special, what benefits they got from value of the natural and cultural heritage and users. Simple measures such as monitoring visiting or what could be improved. Only one how these features are managed and protected. vehicle use and condition of the routes, person referred to “beautiful scenery, farmland There is still a strong view that the countryside clarifying legal status and improving and clear pathways and good signage about is free to use; this is evidenced by people signage are planned for some routes. when to keep dogs on leads”. Maybe this was refusing to pay and display in rural car parks, due to the particular locations chosen for preferring to park on the highway instead. Three routes are suffering notable impact: Swan surveys – places where there were congregations and Limer Rakes in Hollinsclough are suffering Erosion on the Roaches ridge path © PDNPA of people, so ‘honeypot’ sites rather than the Damage to heritage can either be wilful considerable damage from vehicle use, parts wider countryside, or perhaps the way in which or coincidental caused by neglect, lack of are impassable and a number of complaints However, it has been shown that visitors can the land is managed just isn’t considered by understanding or difference of opinion. The have been received about damage to the route and do give something back to the sites that visitors unless they have a specific problem use of recreational motor vehicles on green and disturbance to residents. There is a risk of they visit, the Roaches ‘Just Giving’ footpath like muddy footpaths or bulls in the fields. lanes, byways open to all traffic and illegally accident here and urgent repairs are needed. having appeal raised nearly £40,000 over two on footpaths and bridleways has been a At Three Shire Heads the route is popular with years towards the repair of footpaths. The now We heard a mix of both supportive and source of controversy in certain parts of the a lot of users and passes through a SSSI, some annual peregrine watch at Hen Cloud, adjacent to negative views of farmers and farming from Peak District and some Traffic Regulation vehicles are illegally using an adjacent footpath, the Roaches, attracted over 5,000 visits during our community e-survey and roadshows. Orders have had to be enacted, working with there is damage to routes including a landslip and the 2015 season, providing opportunities for Negative comments were mostly about the police and the highways authorities. there have been complaints. At Washgate Track people to view the birds from a safe distance, intensive farming, lack of maintenance and near Hollinsclough, some sections of the route find out more about them and donate to their eyesores in the countryside. Other people were are difficult to use, 4-wheel-drive vehicles having conservation. The public viewing of these birds is more understanding of the challenges that reportedly frequently damaged or demolished carefully balanced with their protection; in earlier farmers face and the importance of their role in adjacent boundary walls to ensure continuation. years, instances of nest and fledgling disturbance managing the landscape and its heritage features The route utilises a grade two listed bridge and and even nest robbing occurred. Tighter security, like dry stone walls, barns and meadows. vehicles have been leaving the highway and including the use of smart water to deter criminal fording a river to access the route. This route or foolhardy activity, is now employed and will Natural heritage features is now subject to a Traffic Regulation Order. need to continue for the foreseeable future. High quality grasslands are now fragmented in Honeypot sites do suffer from overuse and the landscape; however, there are still a number

102 103 Potential Threats to the Landscape and Opportunities to Address Them Potential Threats to the Landscape and Opportunities to Address Them of lower quality and less species-rich grasslands and using these to breed new generations (particularly meadows) that collectively of tolerant ash trees for the future (Forestry provide an important and substantial resource. Commission, 2016). While ash trees are a Grasslands such as these are rapidly being lost component of the South West Peak landscape, and there is a high risk that the rate of loss will ash-dominated woodlands are not; losses are accelerate in the short term as farm resources more likely to be evident amongst individual and subsidies are subject to increasing pressures. trees and hedgerow trees that in woodlands.

Breeding waders in the South West Peak have Heather beetle is a widespread and common experienced both short and long-term population insect species found across the uplands of declines. The 2009 South West Peak breeding Britain. The larvae (and to a lesser extent the bird survey found population declines between adult beetles) feed on the leaves of heather 2004 and 2009 of -27% for lapwing, -40% for plants, stripping them bare and damaging the snipe and -17% for curlew. The long-term trends in health of the heather. In a normal year, small key hotspots for the species from 1985 are more patches of heather will be “beetled”, but it is severe, showing declines, of -81% for lapwing, usually the case that the plants recover in a few -89% for snipe and -75% for curlew. Whilst Collapsed field barn © PDNPA Signal Crayfish © Karen Shelley-Jones months. Periodically, heather beetle populations considerable conservation effort has been put expand into huge outbreaks, in which millions into their recovery these declines have not been Smaller features such as lime kilns, stone troughs Plant diseases of the genus Phytophthora can of beetle grubs can decimate hundreds of arrested, and a refreshed approach is needed. and waymarkers reflect the ways in which people have widespread impacts; Phythophthora. hectares of heather (The Heather Trust, 2014). have interacted with their landscapes in the past ramorum is a notifiable disease which affects Changes in habitat quality and land management and the present. Developments in agriculture, trees including larch, northern red oak, Turkey In December 2012, the Heather Trust identified practices, increases in mammalian and avian settlement, communications, transport and oak, holm oak, beech, sweet chestnut and horse two moors in the Peak District as sites for a predators, extreme weather events and other activities have meant that features have chestnut. There were outbreaks in the South scientific study into heather recovery after a food availability all impact on the breeding become redundant over time. Some features West Peak in 2012 and 2013 where statutory beetle outbreak: Combs Moss near Chapel-en-le success of ground nesting waders. There is an remain as vestigial elements of the landscape Plant Health Notices were served on woodland Frith and the Crag Estate a few miles south-west urgent need to understand how conservation but many are not recognised, understood or owners requiring their infected trees to be felled. of Combs above the Goyt reservoir. Both moors interventions can be delivered at a landscape cherished. These features risk loss through Further outbreaks would impact on the natural have become the subject of a study carried scale to better understand wader distribution, neglect, ignorance and damage. With keen heritage and landscape value of woodlands. out by consultant ecologists based in nearby population trends, productivity, causes of interest in local history amongst village groups Buxton. Identical plots have been identified and failure and the impacts of land management. and the resurgence in popularity of archaeology Phytophthora pseudosyringae is a pathogen the initial phase of monitoring is now complete. from television programmes and the local which affects bilberry and was found on the Within the restrictions caused by extreme Cultural heritage features HLF-funded ‘Peeling back the layers’ project Roaches estate in 2011. With potential to kill off weather, plots of beetle damage on both estates The many changes in agricultural practice there is an opportunity to identify, promote swathes of bilberry (as had happened in Cannock have been burnt and cut, and the heather's over the last 150 years – the development of and protect these fading heritage features. Chase in Staffordshire) there was concern about response will continue to be closely monitored. machinery, animal husbandry and welfare and the condition of the SSSI within which the cropping - has meant that many field barns disease was found and the long term impacts. While heather beetle undoubtedly can cause have fallen out of use and into disrepair because Plant and Animal Diseases The disease did not have a significant impact in widespread damage to heather, there is no they are considered no longer to have a viable and Non-native Species 2011; however, it is thought that fungal pathogens appropriate preventative treatment and the agricultural use. They remain, nevertheless, such as this one could benefit from changes heather can recover of its own accord. The a key landscape characteristic. They are also The impact of diseases on natural heritage is in the climate to warmer, damper conditions beetle can reduce the competitiveness of the significant heritage and wildlife assets and potentially significant for individual species and and thus could be more significant in future. heather enabling other coarse grasses to take repositories of a range of traditional skills, from habitats and across areas of the landscape. hold, which can alter the vegetation community. lime mortar use, stone walling and carpentry Chalara dieback is a serious disease of ash trees to roofing. Their continued degradation and, Species-specific threats include crayfish plague, caused by a fungus which was previously called An introduced non-native plant species of ultimately, loss will have a significant impact on which is a fungal spore carried by non-native Chalara fraxinea, now known as Hymenoscyphus particular relevance to the South West Peak landscape character, wildlife, local traditional skill signal crayfish, transmittable via water, mud and fraxineus. The disease causes leaf loss and is Himalayan balsam, a prolific-seeding, bases and provision and on an understanding fishing equipment and lethal to our native white- crown dieback in affected trees, and is usually showy plant which grows mostly alongside of how the landscape of the South West Peak clawed crayfish. With the continuing increase in fatal. Infection was confirmed in areas of the watercourses; this species can dominate vast has developed and been managed over time. signal crayfish populations around the country South West Peak in 2015. We don't yet know swathes of river bank entirely, out-shading and and in some instances wilful release of animals, what the full impact of Chalara will be in Britain. out-competing native species with knock-on it is an ongoing battle to ensure biosecurity Evidence from continental Europe suggests that impacts on native pollinators. The showiness and protect our native crayfish. Crayfish plague older, mature ash trees can survive infection of the blooms makes them attractive to bees has wiped out most of the native crayfish in and continue to provide their landscape and and it has been known for bee-keepers to the South West Peak already; a tiny remnant wildlife benefits for some time. The best hope deliberately encourage this invasive plant. population remains and there is potential for for the long term future of Britain's ash trees lies populations to be increased; this will require in identifying the genetic factors which enable ongoing vigilance and public awareness. some ash trees to tolerate or resist infection,

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Table 4. The potential implications of climate change, the consequences for heritage and opportunities for adaptation and mitigation Climate change effect Consequences for heritage Opportunities to mitigate or adapt

More extreme weather Damage to riparian and floodplain Adapt land management to promote events - flooding habitats and species suitable floodplain habitats and riparian tree planting. Installation of woody debris and natural flood management measures.

Damage to packhorse bridges Slowing the flow measures or ‘working with natural processes’.

More extreme weather Drying out of peat, particularly Gully and grip blocking, re- events - drought on less vegetated areas – loss of vegetation of bare peat, cessation of Bee at Himalayan balsam © Paul Hobson sphagnum and species diversity burning on moorlands.

Climate Change Seasonal drying of streams – habitat Enhance aquatic habitat by unavailable for fish and invertebrates providing more variation in substrate, With a mean global temperature increase of 2oC in-stream features such as woody the South West Peak is projected to experience debris and pools. Riparian planting an annual increase of 2–3.5oC. The greatest for shading effect. variance is likely to be in the summer and winter temperatures. With regards to precipitation, Soil erosion causing sedimentation Management practices to promote under a 2oC scenario, the area is projected to in rivers and streams or damage vegetation cover such as roughening experience an annual increase of between 0 and around archaeological features riparian zones; visitor management +10% precipitation. Again, the greatest variance to avoid sensitive sites. is likely to be felt during summer and winter. During the summer months rainfall could be More extreme weather – Deterioration of footpaths due to Increased need/cost of maintenance, up to 30% less or 20% more; in winter, rainfall rainfall extremes extreme weather episodes repair and management. May require is projected to increase by between 0 and visitor management to protect 30%. It is only during the summer months that vulnerable locations. a potential decrease in rainfall is projected. Potential for high run-off (pollution) Work with farmers on better storage The implications of climate change are difficult and soil erosion impacting on water of slurry, manure, chemicals etc. to predict; the range of impacts can be both quality and soil quantity (notably in direct – loss of species when temperatures areas with thinner more friable soils) Buffering of watercourses. change – or indirect – how people’s behaviour changes and the effect this has on heritage. Opportunity to slow and store water from high rainfall events in the Table 4 shows just some of the range of the catchment and in headwaters with consequences for heritage which result from ‘slowing the flow’ measures. climate change effects and what opportunities we may have to mitigate or adapt to them. Warmer wetter springs Greater water availability in rivers Ensure reservoirs are well-maintained and reservoirs to store for drier and able to cope with extra capacity. periods.

More difficult to get onto land for May benefit some species through harrowing etc lack of disturbance.

Better feeding conditions for wading Alter timing of land management to birds with damper ground avoid disturbance.

106 107 Potential Threats to the Landscape and Opportunities to Address Them Potential Threats to the Landscape and Opportunities to Address Them cont... Earlier growing season, lush sward More flexibility needed in timing of cont... Loss of sphagnum from blanket Either put more effort into may benefit some species but be land management to achieve desired bog and mire due to temperature hydrological management of blanket detrimental to others. Increased outcomes on a site-by-site basis. increase and drying effect bog communities or accept that stock grazing levels would cause change is inevitable and follow trampling of ground nesting birds adaptive management practices.

Invertebrate phenology may be More flexibility needed in out of sequence with predator management activities to achieve species, therefore problems with healthy soil structure and diversity food availability, e.g. pied flycatcher, of flora and maximise potential for understanding of the value and benefits which we curlew diversity of invertebrates. get from the natural environment will be a focus of this partnership as we work with beneficiary Greater incidence of plant diseases No realistic preventative measures, communities within and outside of the South such as heather beetle post-disease management only. West Peak. We will learn from pilot Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes elsewhere Warmer drier summers Less productive grass growth for Promote nutritional benefits of and explore possibilities for developing them here stock grazing, hay, haylage and species-diverse grassland above as a means of securing some sustainability. silage production – increase inputs of species-poor grassland. fertiliser to compensate Site-specific capital work during the delivery phase will be carried out to high standards, Longer growing season and better Take advantage of better conditions utilising appropriate and robust materials and opportunity for hay-making with dry for hay making and promote above techniques. Path improvements on the Roaches weather silage/haylage. will be designed to last for over 25 years. By using skilled contractors to carry out the work and train Increased fire risk on moorlands, Education of the public. Expand Fire volunteers at the same time, a high standard of grasslands, woodlands Operation Group. Eroding peat at Danehead © Nick Mott work will be delivered together with a team of people to help with any ongoing maintenance Reduced water flows, less available Enhance aquatic habitat by providing requirements. Other capital works on privately oxygen and higher temperatures – more variation in substrate, in-stream Need for Long Term Management owned land will be subject to a written agreement impact on aquatic life, fewer species features such as woody debris and between the accountable body and the grant able to thrive, potential losses pools. Riparian tree planting for Long term management of the heritage features recipient, covering the initial capital works, any shading effect. of this landscape is crucial to their persistence annual payments, plus a commitment on the and the qualities which residents and visitors part of the landowner to a ten year period of Threat to existing tourist 'honeypots' Opportunity to create a wider value. Designated sites all have management management and maintenance. becoming overwhelmed and array of recreational open spaces; plans with a series of outcomes which are subsequent environmental spreading prosperity. overseen by Natural England. Farm holdings Through our Small Heritage Adoption project we degradation which are entered into agri-environment schemes will enthuse members of the public, both resident are signed up to agreements lasting for 5 to 10 and visitor, about the importance of these Threat from increased traffic and Opportunity to improve transport years. While these are relatively short periods, the heritage features to the story of the landscape congestion (air quality as an indirect infrastructure in order to encourage high quality and important sites have typically and its communities. By generating interest and impact) tourism in the 'right' locations. remained in agreements for much longer as new understanding and developing skills through versions come into operation, so moving from training sessions we will encourage people to Warmer, wetter autumns Extended grazing season may Flexibility of management ESA to Higher or Entry Level Environmental adopt a piece of heritage and take care of it into reduce biodiversity through over- prescriptions required. Continue Stewardship. The current change to Countryside the future. grazing and trampling. Opportunity support for native breeds, consider Stewardship is likely to see a break in that to graze more productive stock with opportunities for building market continuity with fewer farms entering the scheme. resultant reduction in native and hill premium for native breed produce. breeds Management and maintenance of heritage does not rely solely on agricultural subsidies; farmers Warmer conditions Loss of cold-adapted Arctic-alpine Woody debris installation and themselves take pride in managing their land generally aquatic species such as southern riparian tree planting for shade to well and in seeing wildlife. A central aim of this iron-blue mayfly and upland reduce water temperature. partnership is to improve working relationships to summer mayfly build on this pride in the heritage and landscape. As with the current Countryside Stewardship, it is likely that any new national scheme (likely to be developed following the UK exit from the EU) will focus on paying landowners for delivering public goods and services. Developing a greater Limekiln © Eric Wood

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