GUIDANCE FOR IDENTIFYING THE SPECIAL QUALITIES OF SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL SCENIC AREAS Final version 29/1/08 This guidance describes the method and resources required for identifying the special qualities of National Scenic Areas. It is aimed primarily at the landscape professionals who would lead on the work. For further information contact: James Fenton –
[email protected] Introduction a) To date, the only descriptions of most of Scotland’s 40 National Scenic Areas are found in the original 1978 Countryside Commission for Scotland publication Scotland’s Scenic Heritage. However, our understanding of landscape has developed significantly since then, and recent pilot NSA management strategy work has explored more systematic, transparent and robust approaches to defining the qualities that make each of these nationally important areas special. b) In 2006 SNH commissioned David Tyldesley and Associates (DTA) to review this special quality work and to produce a standardised methodology that could be used across the suite of NSAs. After producing such a methodology, DTA tested it across five representative NSAs. c) This guidance is based on the outcome of DTA’s work, full details of which can be found in: David Tyldesley and Associates (2006). Identifying the Special Qualities of Scotland’s National Scenic Areas. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No.255 (ROAME No. F05AC701). This report also includes a review of the methods that have been used to determine the special qualities of protected landscapes in the UK generally. d) The methodology described here is solely of a professional/expert nature, which does not involve public consultation nor seek to capture the views of the wider set stakeholders.