Dorset AONB Management Plan 2014-2019
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DOrseT AreA Of OuTstandiNg NaturAL BeAuTy A frAMework fOr The fuTure AONB MANAgeMeNT Plan 2014 - 2019 Contents OUR VISION 2 4. POLICY FRAMEWORK 26 1. INTRODUCTION 5 4A. NATURAL BEAUTY & HERITAGE 30 What is an area of outstanding natural Beauty? 6 4a.1 LANDSCAPe QUALITY 31 this ManageMent Plan 9 4a.2 BIODIVERSITY 38 Key challenges for the dorset AONB 10 4a.3 GEODIVERSITY 50 Key concePts Within this Plan 13 4a.4 COAST & SEA 56 2. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 16 4a.5 HISTORIC & BUILT ENVIRONMent 62 contrast and diversity – a MicrocosM of 4a.6 CULTURAL landscaPe 72 england’s finest landscaPes 17 4B. LIVING, WORKING & ENJOYING 78 Wildlife of national and international significance… 18 4B.1 LAND MANAGEMent & LOCAL PRODUCTS 80 a living textBooK and historical record of rural england… 19 4B.2 EXPLORING, enJOYING & LEARNING 90 a rich legacy of cultural associations… 19 4B.3 PLANNING, highWAYS & INFRASTRUCTURE 100 3. LANDSCAPE & SEASCAPE CHARACTER 20 4B.4 COMMUNITY ACTION 110 landscaPe character tyPes 22 5. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING & REVIEW 116 transition to the sea: coastal seascaPe character hoW Will the Plan Be delivered? 117 tyPes Within the AONB 24 hoW does the AONB teaM oPerate? 117 landscaPe condition 25 delivery PrinciPles 117 landscaPe scale delivery 118 Monitoring 119 revieW 119 1 our Vision 2 The Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership is working towards a future in which: • Local people and visitors are inspired by • A diverse farming and forestry sector the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty thrives in the AONB, underpinning the (AONB) landscape and are actively sustainable management of landscape, involved in enjoying and caring for it. natural resources, wildlife and heritage. • The character, beauty and diversity of • Communities in the AONB enjoy the AONB landscape are enhanced, sustainable economic and social with tranquil areas and unspoilt prosperity, with better service provision panoramic views. and a high quality of life, benefiting from, shaping decisions about, and The landscape is carefully managed to • contributing to the area’s outstanding protect, enhance and make best use environmental quality. of the natural resources and services it provides and to ensure that these are • The AONB is able to adapt to undiminished for future generations. the changing climate and AONB management actively contributes to Wildlife in the AONB thrives, with large, • efforts to mitigate further climate well-connected habitats supporting change. more viable species populations. All people are equally able to access the The coastline of the AONB, which • • AONB in a sustainable way, enjoying is a World Heritage Site, is valued the recreational and lifelong learning and enjoyed, retaining its natural and opportunities it has to offer and undeveloped character and with a benefits to wellbeing and high quality thriving marine environment. local products that a sensitively farmed • Greater understanding of the historic and managed landscape can provide. environment of the AONB has revealed The AONB’s management is an much about the evolution of the • inspirational example to others. landscape, and a higher value is placed on caring for our heritage and culture. 3 Minister’s 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 for natural environment and science 4 1. introduCtion 5 what is an area of outstanding natural Beauty? PurPoses and duties Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are nationally AONBs are designated under the National Parks The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 tion important protected landscapes. Dorset is one of 46 AONBs and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The confirmed the significance of AONBs and created C purposes of the AONB designation were updated improved arrangements for their management. in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Together with the and confirmed by the Countryside Commission There are three key sections of the Act for 13 National Parks, these make up our finest countryside and in 1991 as follows: AONBs: are protected in the national interest for future generations. • The primary purpose of the designation is to • Section 85 places a statutory duty on all AONBs are also recognised internationally by the International conserve and enhance natural beauty. ‘relevant authorities’ to have regard to the purpose of conserving and enhancing natural In pursuing the primary purpose, account Union for the Conservation of Nature as part of the global • beauty when discharging any function 1.introdu should be taken of the needs of agriculture, family of protected areas. affecting land in AONBs. forestry, other rural industries and the economic and social needs of local • Section 89 places a statutory duty on local communities. Particular regard should be paid planning authorities to act jointly to produce to promoting sustainable forms of social and a Management Plan for each AONB in their economic development that in themselves administrative area. conserve and enhance the environment. • Section 90 describes the notification required • Recreation is not an objective of designation, during the AONB Management Plan-making but the demand for recreation should be met process so far as this is consistent with the conservation In June 2000 the Government confirmed that of natural beauty and the needs of agriculture, the importance and protection of AONBs are forestry and other uses. equivalent to those of National Parks. 6 the dorset AONB The Dorset AONB was designated in 1959 and is the fifth largest AONB in the country. It covers 1,129 square kilometres, approximately 42% of the county. The AONB stretches from Lyme Regis in the west, along the coast to Poole Harbour in the east, and north to Hambledon Hill near Blandford Forum. It covers over half of Poole Harbour, including Brownsea and the smaller islands. Outside of Poole Harbour and the Fleet, the designated area ends at mean low water. The Dorset AONB also includes small areas in Somerset and Devon. The Dorset AONB has approximately 70,000 people living within it and 1.35 million people living within 20 miles of the boundary. A number of market and coastal towns lie within the AONB, including Lyme Regis, Bridport, Beaminster and Swanage. 7 Context of the dorset AONB It is important to understand the wider tion context of the AONB in order to manage C it most effectively. The Dorset AONB lies within an area known for its outstanding environmental quality. To the east are the internationally important urban heaths around Poole and Bournemouth and the New Forest National Park. To the 1.introdu northeast, the Dorset AONB shares a boundary with the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB near Blandford. To the west lie the Blackdown Hills AONB and the East Devon AONB which meets the Dorset AONB at Lyme Regis and includes the eastern section of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The surrounding countryside in Dorset, while not being covered by landscape designations, is still of extremely high quality. To the north lies the Blackmore Vale, to the As a coastal protected landscape, management east the Frome and Piddle Valleys and to of the Dorset AONB must also take into the south the Isle of Portland. Significant account the special issues relating to its links and growing urban populations adjacent to the marine environment. Harbour, estuarine to the AONB at Dorchester, Weymouth, and intertidal areas lie within the boundary; Yeovil, Taunton and the Poole-Bournemouth activities within these as well as out at sea can conurbation look to the AONB as an area for have significant implications for the character leisure and recreation. and qualities of the AONB. 8 Managing the dorset AONB this ManageMent Plan The majority of the Dorset AONB is in private The AONB Partnership also works with the what is the Plan for? who is the Plan for? ownership and actively farmed (over 70%). The Health & Wellbeing Board, and Local Enterprise This plan is for guiding and inspiring action The AONB Management Plan is just that Dorset AONB Partnership has influence over Partnership and Local Nature Partnerships, that will bring us closer to achieving the vision. – a plan for the AONB area.