Tees-Swale Programme Plan Part 1 As Submitted
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Programme Plan Part 1 Foreword, Sir John Lawton CBE FRS In the northern Pennines, the Yorkshire Dales Covering 845km2, Tees-Swale: naturally connected is a unique collaboration between National Park and the North Pennines Area of an AONB Partnership and a National Park Authority, and those who own and manage Outstanding Natural Beauty together cover the the land. It has four principal objectives: largest expanse of semi-natural habitats in • to promote and support farming and land-management practices that are both England. economically viable and lead naturally to nature recovery on a grand scale; Upper Teesdale and Swaledale sit at the heart of • to share knowledge and expertise between farmers, landowners, land managers, and this ecological network. During a rich and conservation agencies; varied history of human occupation covering several thousand years, this place has been • to engage local communities so that they can help shape and share a common vision modified and nurtured by farmers and for the area’s natural heritage; and, last but by no means least, landowners. From the steep-sided valley of • to reach out to visitors and new audiences (particularly those who live in nearby Swaledale in the south, with its iconic hay-barns towns and cities), who, through getting involved in activities of all kinds, can increase set in flower-rich upland hay meadows, to the their appreciation and care for these wonderful landscapes and the people who live more open landscapes of Teesdale in the north, and work here. with its precious and unique flora, and much It is indeed a huge privilege to chair the Programme Board for Tees-Swale: naturally else in between. Today these landscapes offer connected. local people and visitors not only stunning scenery but some extraordinary wildlife. You can, for instance, see more Black Grouse here in a day than anywhere else in England, Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS and it is one of the few places where the bubbling call of curlews is still commonplace. Chairman It is, without question, one of my most favourite places in the whole world. But (imperceptibly to many people) this natural heritage, and the high-nature value farming systems that have sustained it are under threat, in the face of economic pressures and an uncertain future. Their remoteness does not make them immune to the climate and biodiversity crisis, which faces the whole world. If – as a nation - we are to hold on to nature, and support its recovery, this is where we must start — and on a transformational scale. 2 Programme Plan Part 1 Contents Foreword, Sir John Lawton CBE FRS ...................................................................... 2 Executive summary ................................................................................................ 5 1. About this plan .................................................................................................. 8 5. Threatened: wildlife and a unique way of life - risks and opportunities • Habitats and species – condition and connectivity ................................ 45 2. Introduction .................................................................................................... 9 • Political, economic and societal pressures .......................................... 50 • Our Programme Area ............................................................................ 10 • What cannot be replaced or substituted and what cannot be lost ........ 55 • Our Partnership ...................................................................................... 12 6. Vision and objectives 3. What makes this landscape special? • Programme vision – our ambition for the area ...................................... 56 • Statement of significance ...................................................................... 13 • Strategic objectives, rationale, activity to be delivered .......................... 58 • The evolution of our natural heritage .................................................... 14 - A place shaped by farming and mineral extraction ............................ 16 7. Programme governance and management - The Tees and The Swale ...................................................................... 19 • Programme Governance ........................................................................ 60 - Landscape Character .......................................................................... 20 • Programme Management ...................................................................... 61 • What does nature do for us? – ecosystem services and the Tees-Swale landscape .............................................................................................. 26 8. Programme of work, project delivery and evaluation • Project codes .......................................................................................... 63 4. Current influences on the management of the natural heritage • Programme overview ............................................................................ • A nationally important landscape .......................................................... 34 - Nature Recovery. .................................................................................. 64 • Nature conservation designations .......................................................... 36 - Training and Skills ................................................................................ 65 • Historic Environment designations ........................................................ 37 - Access and Engagement ...................................................................... 66 • Farmers and land managers .................................................................. 38 • Case studies • Grouse moor management .................................................................... 39 - Nature Recovery .................................................................................. 67 • Agri-environment schemes .................................................................... 40 - Training and Skills ................................................................................ 68 • A new approach to land management support? .................................... 42 - Access and Engagement ...................................................................... 69 • Who comes to the area (and who doesn’t) ............................................ 43 • Communications .................................................................................... 70 3 • Promoting the work through our DMOs ................................................ 72 • Acknowledging funding ........................................................................ 72 • NLHF outcomes delivered by the projects ............................................ 74 • Key milestones and events ...................................................................... 75 • Holdings to work on in yrs 1 and 2 (map) .............................................. 76 • Overall budget summary ........................................................................ 77 • Outline of financial arrangements .......................................................... 80 • Monitoring and evaluation ...................................................................... 81 • Risk ........................................................................................................ 86 9. A lasting legacy ................................................................................................ 87 10. Appendices • 1: Contents of Programme Plan Part 2 – Project Summaries ................ 91 • 2: Contents of Programme Plan Part 3 .................................................. 92 • 3: Refinement of the Tees-Swale Programme boundary ........................ 94 • 4: Programme Board Terms of Reference .............................................. 95 • 5: Stakeholder Group Terms of Reference ............................................ 97 • 6: Management Group Terms of Reference .......................................... 98 • 7: AONB, National Park and 25 Year Environment Plan delivered through Tees-Swale ............................................................................ 99 • 8: Key Activity in the Development Phase ............................................ 102 11. References ...................................................................................................... 104 4 Executive summary Our Vision for the future this place for the first time or seeing it afresh. They are enjoying new trails and benefiting from innovative interpretation that leaves people knowing more and caring By harnessing the knowledge of local farmers, landowners, land managers and more than when they arrived. A cohort of local schoolchildren have been taken through conservation organisations, Tees-Swale will be the national exemplar of nature-friendly part of their school life with Tees-Swale, learning through fun and discovery. Many other upland farming on a grand scale. This ancient cultural landscape will be enhanced and children have enjoyed learning in the landscape. Local communities are skilled at telling restored for the benefit of wildlife and the people who live, work and play there. Easier the stories of their natural heritage through art of all kinds, and our dales have become to access and explore, with a wealth of natural heritage to enjoy and stories to inspire an outdoor classroom, a stage and a gallery which enriches lives and boosts well-being. people, it will be the natural destination for audiences