National Character 156. West Penwith Area profile: Supporting documents www.gov.uk/natural-england 1 National Character 156. West Penwith Area profile: Supporting documents Introduction National Character Areas map As part of Natural England’s responsibilities as set out in the Natural Environment White Paper1, Biodiversity 20202 and the European Landscape Convention3, we are revising profiles for England’s 159 National Character Areas (NCAs). These are areas that share similar landscape characteristics, and which follow natural lines in the landscape rather than administrative boundaries, making them a good decision-making framework for the natural environment. NCA profiles are guidance documents which can help communities to inform theirdecision-making about the places that they live in and care for. The informationthey contain will support the planning of conservation initiatives at a landscape scale, inform the delivery of Nature Improvement Areas and encourage broader partnership working through Local Nature Partnerships. The profiles will also help to inform choices about how land is managed and can change. Each profile includes a description of the natural and cultural features that shape our landscapes, how the landscape has changed over time, the current key drivers for ongoing change, and a broad analysis of each area’s characteristics and ecosystem services. Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEOs) are suggested, which draw on this integrated information. The SEOs offer guidance on the critical issues, which could help to achieve sustainable growth and a more secure environmental future. 1 The Natural Choice: Securing the Value of Nature, Defra NCA profiles are working documents which draw on current evidence and (2011; URL: www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm80/8082/8082.pdf) 2 knowledge. We will aim to refresh and update them periodically as new Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services, Defra information becomes available to us. (2011; URL: www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13583-biodiversity-strategy-2020-111111.pdf) 3 European Landscape Convention, Council of Europe We would like to hear how useful the NCA profiles are to you. You can contact the (2000; URL: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/176.htm) NCA team by emailing [email protected] 2 National Character 156. West Penwith Area profile: Supporting documents Summary West Penwith is a sparsely populated peninsula, ringed by high cliffs and rising to West Penwith contains one of the best preserved and legible records of high, rocky moorland at its centre. Also known as the Land’s End Peninsula, it is at continuous human occupation of the landscape in Western Europe. The the south-west extremity of England, surrounded on three sides by the pounding surviving and still functional pattern of bronze-age fields, associated with well- waters of the Atlantic Ocean and separated from the rest of Cornwall by a low- preserved settlement and ritual sites, is of international importance and reflects a lying isthmus (land adjacent to the A30 between Hayle and Penzance). The area cultural heritage common along the Atlantic seaboard. This is displayed in many includes the fishing settlement of St Ives and a number of small villages which designated and non-designated historic features, parks and gardens. The area is originated as fishing or mining settlements, but which are now popular tourist characterised by scattered small settlements with main centres at St Ives, St Just, destinations. Access around most of the landscape is by narrow ancient lanes Newlyn and nearby Penzance. bounded by granite walls. The area continues to provide a source of inspiration for artists, writers and Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) accounts for 67 per cent of photographers as the home to the Newlyn School and the artists’ community the area, with 37 per cent focused within the northern coastal area, identified at St Ives. The area also provides inspiration for the many visitors who come to as an Environmentally Sensitive Area. With over 800 ha of nationally and experience the distinctive landscape internationally important nature conservation sites, supported by a further 2,000 and settlement character, and to enjoy ha of high-quality UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitat, the area is a highly the wide range of recreation and valued natural asset. access opportunities including the South West Coast Path, high-quality The entire area is underpinned and influenced by granite geology, the beaches and many water-based westernmost mainland expression of the Cornubian Batholith formed by igneous activities. Some 64 km of the South intrusions through the surrounding Devonian rocks. The granite defines the West Coast Path run around the edge nature of the area: the massive columnar cliffs, tors and clitter slopes, the thin soils of the area including the turning point of high moorland ridge, and the associated mineral veins of tin and copper. It was for many on the 1,014 km journey from the exploitation of these minerals in the 18th and 19th centuries that resulted in Minehead to Studland. globally influential technological advancements. Much of the area now makes up a significant portion of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site, the world-famous St Just Mining District. Click map to enlarge; click again to reduce. 3 National Character 156. West Penwith Area profile: Supporting documents Statements of Environmental Opportunity ■ SEO 1: Conserve, manage and increase understanding of the valuable and interlinked geological and cultural heritage assets including the mining legacy, recognised as part of a World Heritage Site, the distinctive granite tors, prehistoric and later settlements and ritual remains, the unique Cornish hedges and field patterns, which combined produce a unique historic and cultural landscape acknowledged as being of international importance. ■ SEO 2: Manage, restore, link and enhance the area’s rich mosaic of rare and endangered wildlife habitats, enhancing and extending their range where appropriate, while encouraging sustainable agricultural practices which contribute to the soil quality, water quality and habitat condition, as well as the local economy. ■ SEO 3: Conserve the distinctive landscape and settlement character, strong sense of history, high tranquillity levels and long coastal views to the Isles of Scilly and beyond which have led to the area’s designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Carn Calver Mine with relics of the wheel house in the foreground. ■ SEO 4: Sustainably manage the high visitor pressure associated with this distinctive landscape to ensure that the numerous recreation opportunities such as the South West Coast Path and high-quality beaches continue to be enjoyed by the local community and visitors, and develop volunteering opportunities for visitors. 4 National Character 156. West Penwith Area profile: Supporting documents Description Physical and functional links to other National European coastal landscapes. The hard nature of the cliffs results in little erosion Character Areas but equally little absorption of wave energy, meaning that the full force of the Atlantic is often felt in the dune systems within the Cornish Killas NCA. Located at the tip of Cornwall, and lying directly adjacent to only one other National Character Area (NCA), West Penwith has few but nevertheless important transport and agricultural links to the Cornish Killas NCA. There are wide views seaward and across Cornwall which extend on clear days towards Carnmenellis and the Lizard (NCA) and seaward to the Isles of Scilly. The A30 is the principal road connection from and to the area. Similarly, the south-west mainline railway terminates at Penzance, just outside the area, but provides a principal transport connection. Services continue into the NCA through the St Ives branch line and also bus services. The main connections to the Isles of Scilly depart from Penzance and the small airport at St Just. Many of the streams flow directly into the sea, forming narrow, steep-sided valleys to the coast. Some of the rainfall flows from numerous small streams and rivers and is collected in Drift Reservoir, which supplies water for west Cornwall, and particularly Penzance and St Ives. While the Penwith area is a discrete hydrological unit, small amounts of the water from the area flow into and help to support the interests of the Marazion Marsh Special Protection Area (SPA), maintaining important fen and reedbed communities. Rugged, rocky coastline below the hamlet of Rosemergy. Surrounded by the fertile waters of the Atlantic seaboard, the area has many close associations with the maritime environment. These associations are deep-rooted and reflect a common historic and cultural development with other Western 5 National Character 156. West Penwith Area profile: Supporting documents Key characteristics ■ An exposed, open and wind-swept granite plateau forms the core of ■ Buildings constructed from local granite with Cornish slate roofs and the area with boulder-strewn slopes leading to an intricate matrix of located in sheltered dips and pockets, and terraces of miners’ cottages often spectacular sea cliffs, coves and coastal valleys. overlaying earlier settlement present a simple and austere vernacular. ■ Lowland heath, rough species-rich grassland linked by lichen-encrusted ■ The outdoor opportunities presented by beaches,