Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2014 – 2019 (Final Draft)
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Forest of Bowland AONB Management Plan 2014-19 (Final Draft) Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2014 – 2019 (Final Draft) Prepared by the Forest of Bowland AONB Partnership, February 2014 1 Forest of Bowland AONB Management Plan 2014-19 (Final Draft) MINISTERIAL FOREWORD Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are some of our finest landscapes. They are cherished by residents and visitors alike and allow millions of people from all walks of life to understand and connect with nature. 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. AONB Partnerships have been the architects of a landscape-scale approach to land management. This approach is a key feature of the Government‟s Natural Environment White Paper and emphasises 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. AONBs are, and will continue to be, landscapes of change. Management plans such as this are vital in ensuring these changes are for the better. I would like to thank all those who were involved in bringing this plan together and I wish you every success in bringing it to fruition. Lord de Mauley Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2 Forest of Bowland AONB Management Plan 2014-19 (Final Draft) CONTENTS MINISTERIAL FOREWORD .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 What is an AONB? .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 What is „natural beauty‟? ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Why is the Forest of Bowland an AONB? .................................................................................................................................................................. 7 WHY IS THE AONB SPECIAL? ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Wild Open Spaces ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 A Special Place for Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 A Landscape Rich in Heritage ................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 A Living Landscape ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Delicious Local Food and Drink ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12 A Place to Enjoy and Keep Special ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12 THE AONB PARTNERSHIP ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) .............................................................................................................................................................................. 14 AONB Unit ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Partnership Funders Group (PFG)........................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Other Partnership support ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 AONB Partnership Successes and Achievements (2009 – 2014) ............................................................................................................................ 17 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN ....................................................................................................................................................... 22 The purpose of the plan ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 How the current plan was produced ........................................................................................................................................................................ 23 POLICY CONTEXT FOR THE MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................................................................................................. 24 3 Forest of Bowland AONB Management Plan 2014-19 (Final Draft) Planning and development in AONBs ...................................................................................................................................................................... 24 National Planning Policy Framework ....................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Landscape Characterisation .................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Forest of Bowland AONB Landscape Character Assessment .................................................................................................................................. 27 Historic Landscape Characterisation Programme .................................................................................................................................................... 28 Benefits to Society from the AONB Landscape........................................................................................................................................................ 29 A VISION FOR THE FOREST OF BOWLAND AONB .................................................................................................................................................. 31 Vision Statement ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 How will the AONB Partnership achieve this vision? ............................................................................................................................................... 31 DELIVERING THE MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 AONB Outcome 1 - An Outstanding Landscape of Natural and Cultural Heritage ................................................................................................... 34 AONB Outcome 2 - Resilient and Sustainable Communities ..................................................................................................................................