The North Pennines Area of Management Plan Outstanding Natural Beauty 2004-09 A plan for the conservation and enhancement of one of England’s finest landscapes. Contents Page Page Part 1 – Setting the Scene............................................7 Land Use Planning .................................................................................................................................. 45 I What is meant by ‘natural beauty’? ..................................................................................................................8 Supporting Sustainable Land Management .............................................................. 48 I Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty .............................................................................................................8 I Farming in the North Pennines ..................................................................................................................... 48 I What is an AONB Management Plan? .............................................................................................................9 I Moorland Management.................................................................................................................................... 53 I Who is the Plan for?..........................................................................................................................................10 I Forestry and Woodland Management.......................................................................................................... 55 I How this Plan was produced...........................................................................................................................11 I I The Plan’s relationship to other strategies and plans................................................................................12 The Management of Rivers and Wetland .................................................................................................... 56 I How the Plan is structured..............................................................................................................................13 I Public, Statutory and Voluntary Sector Land Management...................................................................... 58 I AONB Policy Guidelines in this Plan.............................................................................................................13 Supporting Sustainable Communities............................................................................. 63 Part 2 – The Natural Beauty of the I Supporting Community Action for the Environment............................................................................... 63 I The Prudent Use of Natural Resources...................................................................................................... 65 North Pennines ................................................................15 I Access to Key Services and Facilities........................................................................................................... 67 An introduction to the North Pennines AONB .....................................................16 I The Provision of Housing to Meet Local Need ........................................................................................ 68 I Landscape Types and their Characteristics .................................................................19 Managing Roads & Traffic, Providing Transport........................................................................................... 69 I Key issues affecting Landscape Types.............................................................................................................25 Influencing the Local, Regional and National Agenda................................... 72 Components of ‘Natural Beauty’ ............................................................................................26 I Hay Meadows and Species Rich Verges.........................................................................................................26 Part 4 – Enjoying & Understanding the I Moorlands – their Wildness and Wildlife......................................................................................................27 I Trees and Woodland..........................................................................................................................................29 North Pennines ................................................................75 I Upland Birds ........................................................................................................................................................31 I Exploring the North Pennines ....................................................................................................................... 76 I A World Class Earth Heritage.........................................................................................................................33 I Tourism and Natural Beauty.......................................................................................................................... 80 I Rivers and Wetland ............................................................................................................................................35 I Fulfilling the Educational Potential of the AONB ...................................................................................... 85 I Walls and Boundary Features..........................................................................................................................37 I I The Historic Environment................................................................................................................................38 Telling the Story ................................................................................................................................................ 86 I A Cultural Landscape ........................................................................................................................................41 Part 5 – Implementation, Monitoring Part 3 – Conserving and Enhancing and Review................................................................... 89 Natural Beauty ..................................................................43 A Vision for the AONB in 2014..................................................................................................44 Part 6 – A Plan for Action .................................. 93 Page 3 Foreword from the Chairman of the North Pennines AONB Partnership, Cllr. Bob Pendlebury O.B.E. D.L Welcome to the North Pennines AONB Management Plan, 2004- 2009.This is the first statutory management plan for the AONB and its production is a requirement of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Its primary aim is to provide a framework for action for the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty and special qualities of the North Pennines AONB. Everyone has a role to play in this work – farmers, foresters, estate managers, business people, public, statutory and voluntary sector bodies, local residents and visitors alike.There will be something in these pages that relates to how you can help conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the North Pennines AONB, to help people grow in enjoyment and understanding of the area and to support those economic and social activities which in themselves contribute to keeping it special. As an AONB, the North Pennines is a national asset, something which we have a duty to conserve and enhance for present and future generations, both locally and nationwide.Additionally, the designation of the area as Britain’s first ‘European Geopark’ and the large areas under international wildlife designations, show the global significance of our wildlife and wild places. The threats to our natural beauty perhaps come more from the piecemeal erosion of rural character than from major development.This needs to be addressed through robust policies and clear action for the conservation of our landscape and the things which collectively make it so special.At the same time we must encourage appropriate development which helps to sustain local communities. This is a difficult balance to strike and a major challenge for all of us. The landscape of the North Pennines is, along with its people, the area’s greatest asset and is likely to be the major factor in its long-term prosperity.The Policy Guidelines and the work proposed in this plan are, in line with the purpose of AONB designation, aimed at the conservation and enhancement of that landscape, its wildlife and its cultural heritage.The work proposed will also support local employment in fields such as landscape contracting, conservation, tourism, building, transport, catering, printing and design. It encourages land-based training for local people and the retention of the skills which have helped to make our landscape so special. It brings forward measures which aim to complement the work of others whose focus is more overtly on economic and social activity. The AONB designation was once seen by many as a barrier to progress.Today, and over the five – year life of this management plan, I hope it can be seen for what it is: a tremendous opportunity to focus effort and investment on our wonderful landscape and to help to support the well-being of local communities. “Looking North East from Milburn towards Cross Fell” – Charlie Hedley © Countryside Agency “Cross Fell, the highest point in England outside the Lake District”