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Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase Responding to the impacts of climate change on the natural environment: Natural England publications are available as accessible pdfs from: Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase www.naturalengland.org.uk/publications Should an alternative format of this publication be required, please contact our enquiries line for more information: A summary 0845 600 3078 or email: [email protected] Printed on Defra Silk comprising 75% recycled fibre. www.naturalengland.org.uk Introduction Natural England is working to deliver Downs and Cranborne Chase. The a natural environment that is healthy, others are the Cumbria High Fells, enjoyed by people and used in a Shropshire Hills, and the Broads. sustainable manner. However, the natural environment is changing as a consequence This leaflet is a summary of the more of human activities, and one of the major detailed findings from the pilot project challenges ahead is climate change. (these are available on our website at www.naturalengland.org.uk). The leaflet: Even the most optimistic predictions show us locked into at least 50 years identifies significant biodiversity, of unstable climate. Changes in landscape, recreational and historic temperature, rainfall, sea levels, and the environment assets; magnitude and frequency of extreme assesses the potential risks climate weather events will have a direct impact change poses to these assets; and on the natural environment. Indirect impacts will also arise as society adapts suggests practical actions that would to climate change. These impacts make them more resilient to the impacts may create both opportunities and of climate change. threats to the natural environment. What we learn from the four pilot Natural England and its partners therefore projects will be used to extend the need to plan ahead to secure the future approach across England as part of of the natural environment. One way in our aim to build a healthy and resilient which we are doing this is through the natural environment for the future. Character Area Climate Change Project. Although the project is primarily The project aims to identify the local concerned with the natural environment, it responses required to safeguard the has also considered the impacts of climate natural environment and our enjoyment change on other areas of Natural England’s of it. In the pilot phase we are focusing remit, including access and recreation, on four of the 159 ‘Character Areas’ in landscape, and the historic environment. England, one of which is the Dorset 1 A Byway open to all traffic © Natural England 2 About the project The objective of the Character Area Climate Change Project is to ensure that when decisions on the future of places like the Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase are made, proper account is taken of impacts on the natural world, as well as on communities and their livelihoods. It is not Natural England’s role, or intention, to take such decisions, but to initiate debate on the impacts of climate change on the natural world, so that well informed decisions about its future can be taken. Communities and their livelihoods are tandem. Informed by this project, we vital considerations in the development will engage with communities, other of any future strategy to respond to organisations and Government to find climate change. This leaflet does not approaches that deliver successful and attempt to cover these issues, not long-term adaptation to climate change. because they are unimportant, but because our role is primarily in relation to Taking action to respond to climate change the natural environment. will also depend on the cooperation of those who own and manage the land. We Ensuring a strong, healthy, diverse do not take that cooperation for granted and inclusive society that lives within and are aware that many measures will environmental limits is the key objective of require appropriate incentives. At this sustainable development. Natural England stage we wish to explore with others seeks to contribute to this through its potential responses which are feasible management of the natural environment. and acceptable in principle, and have not We recognise that environmental and yet considered the detailed mechanisms social solutions need to proceed in of change. 3 Significant natural assets The Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase systems, and also Bronze Age barrows, hill Character Area is a high, rolling chalk forts, marl pits and parkland features. landscape extending from Salisbury to south of Dorchester. It covers 116,500 The most significant biodiversity assets hectares (ha). Most of the area is included found in the Character Area are: in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural 855 ha of internationally important Beauty (AONB) and the Cranborne ‘Natura 2000’ habitat and associated Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB, species; including chalk grassland and and contains a wide range of wildlife, scrub (marsh fritillary and early gentian), historic and landscape features. mixed alder-ash wet woodlands (marsh The north facing scarp, creased by steep, fritillary), and yew woodlands; dry combes has substantial areas of 3,460 ha of nationally important calcareous grassland. The undulating top Sites of Special Scientific Interest land mostly contains open, arable fields (SSSI) and 10,250 ha of Biodiversity enclosed by fences or sparse hedges. The Action Plan (BAP) habitat; and arable and grassland mix is important for farmland birds and arable plants. iconic species including Adonis blue The chalk stream valleys of the Frome, butterfly, Atlantic stream crayfish, grey Piddle, Stour, Allen and Ebble dissect partridge, otter, Bechstein’s bat, and land dipping to the south-east. Here, wet the rare arable flower pheasant’s eye. grassland occurs around the surviving water meadows. Broadleaved woodland Significant landscape assets include: and conifer plantations exist around rolling, chalk landscape of international Cranborne Chase. The area contains importance, with dramatic scarps a wealth of archaeological features, and steep-sided, sheltered valleys; including the remains of prehistoric, Roman and medieval settlements, field 4 north and west facing scarp slopes National Cycle Route 26, which with species-rich grassland indented by runs between Dorchester and combes and valleys; Castle Cary; south and east facing dip slopes 4,575 ha of woodland and associated of open, mainly arable land with agricultural land; and occasional downland on steeper valley slopes, isolated farmsteads and clean chalk rivers, which yield good few trees; quantities of fish and game. sheltered valleys, often containing The most significant ‘ecosystem services’ chalk streams, and varied with provided by the Dorset Downs and woodlands, hedged fields, and Cranborne Chase, from which we all flood meadows; benefit, include: woodlands containing ancient hazel clean drinking water, mainly drawn coppice, and substantial parklands; and from the chalk aquifer; timber framed buildings, flint and food and fibre, primarily from cereals clunch walling, and thatched roofing. and sheep; and The Character Area is widely used flood protection, with water storage for recreation and tourism, and in the flood plains providing natural assets include: protection from fluvial flooding. 1,897 km of public rights of way; 7,987 ha of open access land; © Nick Smith 5 Likely impacts of climate change on the Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase Evidence from the UK Climate Impacts Biodiversity, landscape & recreation Programme (2002) shows that the climate in the Dorset Downs and Cranborne The composition of the natural Chase over the coming century is likely to communities that are characteristic of become warmer and wetter in winter, and chalk downland, woodland, streams and hotter and drier in summer. In addition, arable fields will change. For example, the rainfall intensity will probably increase. shallow -rooting beech, which is common Extreme events such as heat waves in Dorset woods, parks and estates, and storms are predicted to increase in does not thrive on dry soils and is likely frequency and severity. to decline, but small -leaved lime needs warmth to set seed and will probably By 2080, if we do not reduce greenhouse increase. Veteran trees of all species are gas emissions, the climate of the area more likely to be felled by storm force may resemble that of Portugal. The mean winds. However, in woods the impact of temperature in January could increase these storms can be positive, creating by 3°C and in July by 6 °C, while average glades that species adapted to sunlight rainfall may decline by 12%. Portugal has can occupy. arid chalk landscapes where the impact of drought, floods, and soil erosion are Diverse natural communities of plants and already being felt, and some parts of the animals are most likely to survive on soils country experience water shortages every and in streams with low nutrient status other year. and in large patches of habitat. Drought and lower summer rainfall is likely to 6 result in a contraction of the chalk stream Changes in the types and varieties of crops, network. Freshwater species will be lost sowing dates, irrigation, pests, diseases from some of the winterbournes (the chalk and soil erosion are all likely. Arable stream headwaters that usually flow only farming may expand into the floodplains in winter), while some perennial streams and valleys in response to longer growing will become seasonal winterbournes. seasons and new crop varieties, with potentially negative impacts on grassland We can expect an increase in and wetland wildlife, landscape character, the popularity of woodland and buried archaeology and access. streamside recreation as people seek shade in the hottest months. Natural resources Human beings could not survive without goods and services derived from the natural environment. For example, up to 80% of the drinking water supplied to towns and villages in this area comes from the chalk aquifer. More rain will fall in winter deluges when the ground is already saturated. This is already happening. An increase in soil erosion can also be expected, resulting in damage to historic features and more silt, nutrients and pesticides washing into rivers.
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