National Character 62. Cheshire Sandstone Ridge Area profile: Supporting documents www.naturalengland.org.uk 1 National Character 62. Cheshire Sandstone Ridge Area profile: Supporting documents Introduction National Character Areas map As part of Natural England’s responsibilities as set out in the Natural Environment White Paper,1 Biodiversity 20202 and the European Landscape Convention,3 we are revising profiles for England’s 159 National Character Areas North (NCAs). These are areas that share similar landscape characteristics, and which East follow natural lines in the landscape rather than administrative boundaries, making them a good decision-making framework for the natural environment. Yorkshire & The North Humber NCA profiles are guidance documents which can help communities to inform West their decision-making about the places that they live in and care for. The information they contain will support the planning of conservation initiatives at a East landscape scale, inform the delivery of Nature Improvement Areas and encourage Midlands broader partnership working through Local Nature Partnerships. The profiles will West also help to inform choices about how land is managed and can change. Midlands East of Each profile includes a description of the natural and cultural features England that shape our landscapes, how the landscape has changed over time, the current key drivers for ongoing change, and a broad analysis of each London area’s characteristics and ecosystem services. Statements of Environmental South East Opportunity (SEOs) are suggested, which draw on this integrated information. South West The SEOs offer guidance on the critical issues, which could help to achieve sustainable growth and a more secure environmental future. NCA profiles are working documents which draw on current evidence and knowledge. We will aim to refresh and update them periodically as new 1 The Natural Choice: Securing the Value of Nature, Defra information becomes available to us. (2011; URL: www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm80/8082/8082.pdf) 2 Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services, Defra (2011; URL: www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13583-biodiversity-strategy-2020-111111.pdf) We would like to hear how useful the NCA profiles are to you. You can contact the 3 European Landscape Convention, Council of Europe NCA team by [email protected]. (2000; URL: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/176.htm) 2 National Character 62. Cheshire Sandstone Ridge Area profile: Supporting documents Summary of bog, known as mosses. Some are associated with the development of schwingmoor which is an advancing, floating raft of bog moss. The meres The Cheshire Sandstone Ridge National Character Area (NCA) is situated and mosses of the north-west Midlands form a geographically discrete series between Malpas and Frodsham and is surrounded on all sides by the of nationally important lowland open water and peatland sites, the finest Shropshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire Plain NCA, except to the north, where examples of which are considered to be of international importance. the ridge drops into the Mersey Valley NCA. It is a discontinuous ridge, but is very prominent, rising sharply from the gently rolling topography of the Lowland heathland was once more widespread, but now exists only in surrounding NCAs. discrete areas, for example Bickerton Hill SSSI and Little Budworth Common SSSI. There are also fragmented remnants of lowland meadow dispersed The topography provided by the reddish-pink Triassic sandstone ridge has throughout the NCA. been exploited for centuries, as evidenced by the remains of defensive fortifications and artefacts from the Bronze and Iron Ages, and the Saxon Good links to the road network and its proximity to the M56 and M6 mean and Roman periods. The fortifications were linked by a track which now that the demand for land for housing, agriculture and mineral extraction forms part of the Sandstone Trail along the ridge, offering expansive views to is likely to increase. This has the potential to further fragment habitats walkers. A number of communication masts are prominently located on the and change settlement patterns and the vernacular, but can also provide highest ground and are visible over a wide area, and a war memorial stands at opportunities to create a high- the northern tip of the NCA, providing a distinctive local landmark. quality built environment with multifunctional green space with links Compared with the surrounding plain, the NCA has a strong mosaic of to the rural area. broadleaved mixed woodland comprising ancient woodland and some post- medieval conifer plantations, with large blocks of commercially managed conifers to the east. Remnants of a Royal Hunting Forest survive at Delamere and placenames such as Old Pale and New Pale indicate the locations of medieval deer parks. A thick layer of glacial till covers the lower slopes of the ridge and the surrounding plain is punctuated by numerous ponds and meres. Subsequent Click map to enlarge; click again to reduce colonisation by vegetation has resulted in the establishment of large areas Click map to enlarge; click again to reduce 3 National Character 62. Cheshire Sandstone Ridge Area profile: Supporting documents Statements of Environmental Opportunities: ■ SEO 1: Manage and enhance the rivers, streams and wetland habitats, including flood plain grazing marsh and wet woodland, protecting them from diffuse pollution and maintaining the integrity and unique conditions for the preservation of the lakes and standing waters of internationally important sites such as Oak Mere and Abbots Moss to benefit water availability, water quality, landscape character, biodiversity and climate regulation. ■ SEO 2: Manage and expand areas of semi-natural woodland, restore and reinstate hedgerows and hedgerow trees, protect and restore ancient woodland, for example in the Delamere Forest Park and throughout the Mersey Forest, thus reducing habitat fragmentation to benefit landscape character, biodiversity, resource protection and climate regulation while enhancing the recreational, educational and experiential qualities of the NCA. ■ SEO 3: Protect and manage the geological sites, with an emphasis on demonstrating the strong link between geology and its influence on landscape and industrial development, and promoting greater understanding of the link between wildlife and geodiversity, particularly in the distribution of habitats and species, recognising the importance of former extraction sites for both geodiversity and biodiversity. ■ SEO 4: Manage and, where appropriate, expand areas of characteristic Oak Mere, a shallow lake formed where three kettle holes coalesced, is unique heathland and other priority habitats, including lowland meadows among the Midland meres. The water is acidic, but compared with other acidic lakes is slightly nutrient-rich. It contains an outstanding assemblage of aquatic plants and lowland grassland, thus reducing habitat fragmentation to benefit and animals. The rarely found qualities of the lake water, its associated shoreweed- landscape character, sense of place, biodiversity and resource protection dominated, aquatic plant community and its invertebrate assemblages are reasons for its Ramsar and SAC designations. while enhancing the recreational and experiential qualities of the NCA. 4 National Character 62. Cheshire Sandstone Ridge Area profile: Supporting documents Description and industrial water supply outside the NCA. An area extending from Tarporley to Frodsham is underlain by sediments of the Sherwood Sandstone Physical and functional links to other National Group that forms the Weaver aquifer. Water is abstracted from the aquifer Character Areas outside the NCA but outcrops of sandstone within the NCA provide limited recharge areas to the aquifer. The Cheshire Sandstone Ridge National Character Area (NCA) extends from the The NCA is crossed by the Shropshire Union Canal which runs west to east Mersey Valley NCA that forms its north-western boundary and trends south linking Ellesmere in the Mersey Valley NCA to Wolverhampton in the Mid into the surrounding Shropshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire Plain NCA. It is a Severn Sandstone Plateau NCA. The area has good connections to the road discontinuous ridge that reappears as groups of small hills within the latter NCA network and is crossed by a number of A roads that link the city of Chester – at Nesscliffe, Grinshill and Hawkstone Park – but is very prominent, rising with Nantwich and Northwich in the neighbouring NCA. The M56 and M6 sharply from the gently rolling topography of the plain, reaching heights of 123 pass close to the NCA. The Sandstone Trail – a long-distance footpath – m at Helsby and 227 m at Raw Head in the Peckforton Hills. stretches for 55 km and offers elevated views across the NCA before crossing into the Shropshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire Plain NCA. The National Cycle The ridge affords expansive, long-distance views out of the NCA to the hills of Network route 70 also crosses the NCA. the Clwydian Range in Wales to the west and to the peaks of the South West Peak NCA to the east. Locations at the northern and southern ends of the ridge afford views of the Mersey Valley and the Shropshire Hills NCAs respectively. The views provide a wider appreciation of the strong contrast in landscape character and topography between the ridge and the surrounding plain. The lower slopes of the