High Peak Moors Vision and Plan The next 50 years and beyond Contents Summary 4 Glossary 8 Foreword 9 1 Our vision 10 2 Why do this? 14 3 The guiding framework 16 4 Timeline 18 5 Historic and working landscapes 19 6 Access and recreation 26 7 Wildlife and conservation 31 8 Carbon, water and climate change 38 9 Specific suggestions for further consideration or action 40 10 Appendix 1: Current policy, guidance, initiatives and relevant partnerships 42 11 Appendix 2: Land capability 44 12 Appendix 3: A potted history of the moors 47 13 Appendix 4: Consultees 49 High Peak Moors Vision & Plan 3 Summary The Vision To take the best from our shared inheritance, understanding and skills to create an inspirational 21st-century moorland landscape of restored and healthy natural habitats. The area will be a model for future upland moorland and moorland fringe management that delivers excellent landscape- scale conservation and restoration; is rich in wildlife and cultural heritage; and provides excellent access, sustainable livelihoods and wider public benefits. Management of the area will be based on constructive, forward- looking partnerships with tenants, communities, organisations and users. 4 The National Trust Why do this? The last 20 years have seen huge and ongoing changes in the way the Peak District moors are managed and restored and we’ve made significant progress. Most of the current land management agreements for these moors ended in 2013. We have a real opportunity to look at this area as a whole landscape and develop people’s relationships with the land. So now is the time to review the work that has taken place, take account of current circumstances and new priorities and explore what further changes are needed to take forward the management of these fragile and rare habitats. We are doing this in consultation with the many people who value and have an interest in these moors as part of our aim that everyone should feel like a member of the Trust. Penistone Barnsley Oldham A628 Stocksbridge Manchester Derwent Glossop Snake Sheffield Kinder Stockport A57 Hayfield A624 Edale Bamford Chapel-en-le-Frith PEAK DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK Macclesfield Buxton Chesterfield High Peak Moors project area The Guiding Framework This Vision and Plan is informed by national and local policies and objectives, from the National Trust (for example ‘Our land; for ever for everyone’), partners, as well as Government (e.g. Natural Environment White Paper) and the growing recognition of the importance of upland land management for carbon storage, water quality and water regulation. In the Peak District, ten ‘Guiding Principles for Land Management’ have been created by the National Trust to deliver these objectives and steer future land management so that it produces the widest possible public benefit in a sustainable way. High Peak Moors Vision & Plan 5 What’s happened so far? The High Peak Moors Vision and Plan Project started in October 2011. Initial consultation with National Trust tenants was followed by four Public ‘Your Moors, Your Ideas’ workshops, which 250 people attended. People were also able to give us their ideas via the website. Over 950 comments were received which fed into the production of a draft plan which went out for public consultation in October 2012. Over 430 comments were received on the draft plan. We have also consulted and taken advice from a range of organisations and experts representing a wide variety of interests. These comments and opinions have been taken into account in producing this final plan and our standalone summary document - ‘Our Vision for the High Peak Moors’. We intend to keep the proposals in this document under review and will change our plans in the light of ongoing consultation, further experience and information. Blocking gullies with small dams to trap water and reduce peat erosion. 6 The National Trust Some key elements of the vision and plan From all the inputs received, we have proposed a range of outcomes and actions that we think will achieve our vision. We think the following are particularly important as they highlight some of the main things we value or need to change: People being inspired The National Trust manages the moors for ever, for everyone. Close to some of England’s largest cities, the moors provide an exciting outdoor experience to thousands of people each year. We want to help people from a wider range of backgrounds to enjoy the moors and ensure that all users have an inspirational visit People looking after the land The moors are a working landscape shaped by man’s activity and provide a living for members of the local community. The National Trust wants to work in partnership with local land managers who support our vision and want to help us deliver it Vibrant wildlife, including birds of prey The moors are an amazing place for wildlife and are protected by national and international designations. The full range of native wildlife should be present, including birds of prey, which are currently under-represented. Generally speaking, sheep reductions achieved under the Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme mean that grazing levels are now right for the blanket bog. However, some cloughs and slopes are over-grazed and changes in management are required to help the dwarf shrubs in these areas recover Secure and healthy peat bogs The blanket bog is a massive carbon store which we want to protect and enhance. We’re keen to continue the ambitious programme of work to rewet and revegetate the bog to make it a better carbon store, better for water quality, better for wildlife and more resilient to wildfire. Burning will be phased out from blanket bog, unless it is required for fire risk management More trees and shrubs in the valleys and cloughs Over the next 25 years we would like to see native woodland regenerate in cloughs and on valley sides. This will provide landscape and wildlife benefits, as well as helping to stabilise soils and enhance water quality High Peak Moors Vision & Plan 7 Glossary CAP Common Agricultural Policy CROW Countryside and Rights of Way (Act) ESA Environmentally Sensitive Area EWGS English Woodland Grant Scheme HLS Higher Level Stewardship HP High Peak Inbye Land below the moorland wall IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature MFF Moors for the Future NE Natural England NT National Trust PD Peak District PDNPA Peak District National Park Authority RSPB Royal Society for the Protection of Birds SAC Special Area of Conservation SPA Special Protection Area SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest UELS Upland Entry Level Scheme 8 The National Trust Foreword Welcome to the Vision and Plan for the High Peak Moors. This sets out the National Trust’s vision for the area, and proposes broadly how that vision can be achieved, with and for people. The National Trust is responsible for taking care, on behalf of the nation, of some of the country’s most spectacular places and for passing these places onto future generations to enjoy. The High Peak Moors is one such place. We want to work in partnership with and support sustainable farm businesses, other land management interests and the many people, groups and organizations that share our aspiration to reconnect people with land, and, in particular, with the breathtaking and inspirational High Peak Moors. Involving tenants, partner organisations and all those who use the moors for business or pleasure, we aim to restore the landscape and habitats, provide fantastic access to a wild place, deliver better water quality and care for the carbon in these upland soils. This plan has been produced in close consultation with a wide range of tenants, local people, users, partner organisations, experts and neighbours. We’re keen to continue to involve all who have an interest in the moors as we implement the plan. A sister document ‘Our Vision for the High Peak Moors - the next 50 years and beyond’ can be downloaded from the project website www.high-peak-moors.co.uk or is available by phoning 01433 670368 or emailing [email protected]. This sets out in a more generally accessible and summary form what makes the moors special, our aspiration for them, and the five key elements of the vision. Jon Stewart General Manager, National Trust If you have any queries about the plan or the project please contact: Dark Peak Area Office, Edale End, Hope Valley, S33 6RF Tel: 01433 670368 Email: [email protected] You can also get in touch via the ‘contact us’ section of our website: www.high-peak-moors.co.uk/contact-us High Peak Moors Vision & Plan 9 1 Our vision To take the best from our shared inheritance, understanding and skills to create an inspirational 21st-century moorland landscape of restored and healthy natural habitats. The area will be a model for future upland moorland and moorland fringe management that delivers excellent landscape- scale conservation and restoration; is rich in wildlife and cultural heritage; and provides excellent access, sustainable livelihoods and wider public benefits. Management of the area will be based on constructive, forward- looking partnerships with tenants, communities, organisations and users. Areas of bare peat will become vegetated again with mosses, grasses and dwarf shrubs. This wet blanket bog will soak up water like a sponge, reducing the risk of damaging flash floods and locking up carbon as new peat forms. Artist’s impression of what future change may look like 10 The National Trust The heather-dominated, dry peat will become wetter. This will allow sphagnum mosses, cotton grasses and other dwarf shrubs to flourish and provide better habitat for moorland wading birds and the insect food that their chicks need.