Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Management Plan Coast & Heaths Area Suffolk 2013 – 2018 Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2013 – 2018 Contents Forewords 2 – 3 Section 4 55 – 59 Vision statement Section 1 5 – 15 4.1. 20-year Vision statement (2033) 56 Document purpose and introduction 1. Introduction 6 Section 5 61 – 71 Aims, objectives and action plan Section 2 17 – 35 Theme 1 Coast and estuaries 62 Landscape character and special qualities of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Theme 2 Land use and wildlife 63 2.1. Introduction 19 Theme 3 Enjoying the area 67 2.2. Sand dunes and shingle ridges 20 Theme 4 Working together 69 2.3. Saltmarsh and intertidal fl ats 22 Appendices 75 – 88 2.4. Coastal levels 24 Appendix A: Maps 76 2.5. Open coastal and wooded fens 26 Appendix B: State of the AONB statistics 79 2.6. Valley meadowlands 28 Appendix C: Feedback from the Strategic 2.7. Estate sandlands and rolling Environmental Assessment (SEA) process 86 estate sandlands 29 Appendix D: Monitoring Plan 86 2.8. Estate farmlands 32 Appendix E: Partnership operation 2.9. Seascape 34 and commitment 87 Appendix F: Public engagement Section 3 37 – 53 process to develop this Plan 88 Setting the scene – the context and issues 3.1. Introduction 38 3.2. Climate change 38 3.3. Landscape 40 3.4. Theme 1 Coast and estuaries 42 3.5. Theme 2 Land use and wildlife 44 3.6. Theme 3 Enjoying the area 51 3.7. Theme 4 Working together 53 1 Richard Benyon Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty working at a scale that respects (AONBs) are some of our fi nest landscapes. natural systems. They are cherished by residents and visitors alike and allow millions of people from all This management plan also makes the walks of life to understand and connect important connection between people with nature. and nature. I am pleased to hear that local communities have been central I am pleased to see that this management to the development of the plan, and plan demonstrates how AONB will be at the heart of its delivery. From Partnerships can continue to protect volunteers on nature conservation projects these precious environments despite the to businesses working to promote signifi cant challenges they face. With a sustainable tourism, it’s great to hear of changing climate, the increasing demands the enthusiasm and commitment of of a growing population and in diffi cult the local people who hold their AONBs economic times, I believe AONBs represent so dear. just the sort of community driven, collaborative approach needed to ensure AONBs are, and will continue to be, our natural environment is maintained for landscapes of change. Management plans generations to come. such as this are vital in ensuring these changes are for the better. I would like AONB Partnerships have been the to thank all those who were involved in architects of a landscape-scale approach bringing this plan together and I wish to land management. This approach is a you every success in bringing it to fruition. 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 2 Forewords Cllr David Wood Chairman of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Partnership Welcome to the 2013–2018 Management changing face of tourism marketing and Plan for the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area management. of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We have simplifi ed the structure of the This is our third AONB Management Plan Plan and also the themes of work in since the Countryside & Rights of Way the Action Plan. This has resulted in a Act 2000 (CRoW) placed a duty on local document that should be more useable authorities to prepare and publish fi ve- for everyone to work with and will steer yearly plans for AONBs within their area. work to deliver our primary objective, to CRoW also introduced a requirement for conserve and enhance the natural beauty all statutory undertakers such as Local of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths. All the Authorities to have regard to the purpose work of the Partnership is now arranged of AONBs in their areas in discharging any into four themes: Coast and estuaries, function. In legal terms, CRoW put AONBs Land use and wildlife, Enjoying the area, fi rmly on the map, and this Management and Working together. There is a lot to do. Plan shows how important the AONB The next fi ve years will be busier than ever Partnership has become. as we face a range of both challenging The consultation process for this Plan has and exciting issues together. been our most comprehensive so far, with I believe the AONB Partnership is now over 350 (online and written) responses. stronger than it ever has been, with a These have validated much of the activity that the AONB Partnership is already much greater level of engagement and engaged in to keep this area so special, collaboration in the conservation and and so this review has been relatively enhancement of natural beauty. I think light-touch as we acknowledge the we are well placed to meet the inevitable importance of building on the successes challenges and opportunities that lie of the last Plan, published in 2008. Clearly, before us. However, it is not just about the the world moves on and the changes since work of the AONB Partnership. Everyone that time have been incorporated into this has a role to play in looking after the Plan and include issues such as Marine Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB, from local Conservation Zones, the governance communities and farmers, to businesses of decision-making for developments and individuals. Together we really can in the marine environment and the make a difference. 3 Section 1 Document purpose and introduction 5 1. Introduction 1.1. The purpose of this for the period. It sets a framework for any organisation or individual whose document activities will have an impact on the 1.1.1. This Plan sets out the management objectives for the area. It sets targets for objectives for the Suffolk Coast & Heaths action, especially where it is important Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for organisations and/or communities to (AONB) agreed by the local authorities work together or where action might fall within whose areas the AONB falls, and between responsibilities. The Plan also supported by the organisations that make identifi es the need to monitor changes up the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB occurring in the AONB as a result of the Partnership. Section 89 of the Countryside management process. and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW Act) 1.1.3. The Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB requires local authorities to formulate their Management Plan is set in the context policy for the management of AONBs. This of national and local policy and strategy. Management Plan formulates that policy. It has a role in supporting the Local Section 85 of the Act places a duty on Development Frameworks of the local all relevant authorities to have regard to authorities (which themselves contain the objectives contained within this Plan. many references to conserving the AONB) Management Plans for AONBs must be and the developing Marine Plans lead by produced and published every fi ve years, the Marine Management Organisation. and this document replaces the earlier Plan The Plan identifi es issues, aims, objectives for the period 2008–2013. and actions that are relevant to the AONB 1.1.2. The Management Plan has a key and can be underpinned by planning role in supporting and co-ordinating the policy. It is also set within the context of action of the organisations that make up other local plans and strategies, such as the AONB Partnership, including setting Sustainable Community Strategies. The the AONB team’s work programme Plan does not constitute Supplementary Planning Guidance. 6 Document purpose and introduction – Section 1 1.2. What does this Section 3 Setting the scene – document contain? the context and issues An analysis of the main issues affecting or 1.2.1. The Suffolk Coast & Heaths likely to affect the area, and the broader AONB Management Plan is divided policy context. into fi ve sections plus Appendices: Section 4 Vision statement Section 1 Document purpose and introduction The Vision Statement is the centrepiece of this document and sets out an ideal Explains why the Management Plan outcome for the long-term management is needed and provides background of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB information about AONBs, the reason and how it might look in 2033. This for their creation and their place within Management Plan can be considered the context of our protected landscapes. a stepping stone on the way towards This section also contains a review of the achieving that goal. previous Management Plan. Section 5 Aims, objectives Section 2 Landscape character and and action plan special qualities of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Our objectives for 2013–18 and the actions required to achieve them. A description of the landscape of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB and the Appendices A–F special qualities that led to its designation. Map 1: Protected landscapes in England and Wales Key to map Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Parks Heritage Coast Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100023395. 7 1.3. What is an Area 1.5. What does of Outstanding Natural ‘Natural Beauty’ mean? Beauty? 1.5.1. Natural England broadly defi nes 1.3.1.