Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty State of the AONB Report: 2019 (Draft) Prepared by Arnside & Silverdale AONB Partnership 1 Arnside & Silverdale AONB State of the AONB Report: 2019 Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Indicators .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 2 An outstanding landscape, rich in natural and cultural heritage .............................................................................. 4 2.1 Landscape and seascape ................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.1 Landscape characterisation/quality .......................................................................................................... 4 2.1.2 Farmed landscape ..................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1.3 Woodland landscape ................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1.4 Development ........................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Biodiversity...................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 Designated sites ...................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2 Priority habitats ....................................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3 Species..................................................................................................................................................... 17 2.3 Geodiversity .................................................................................................................................................... 19 2.3.1 Geology ................................................................................................................................................... 19 2.3.2 Soils ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 2.4 Water Environment......................................................................................................................................... 22 2.4.1 Water quality .......................................................................................................................................... 22 2.4.2 Bathing water quality .............................................................................................................................. 23 2.4.3 Water Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 24 2.4.4 Flood risk ................................................................................................................................................. 24 2.5 Historic Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 26 2.6 Tranquillity ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 2.7 Air quality ........................................................................................................................................................ 29 3 Vibrant and sustainable Communities .................................................................................................................... 30 3.1 Sustainable communities ................................................................................................................................ 30 3.1.1 Population – Demographics .................................................................................................................... 30 3.1.2 Indices of Multiple Deprivation ............................................................................................................... 31 3.1.3 Housing ................................................................................................................................................... 31 3.1.4 Local services........................................................................................................................................... 32 3.2 Local Economy ................................................................................................................................................ 33 3.2.1 Employment ............................................................................................................................................ 33 3.2.2 Farming, Forestry and Land Management .............................................................................................. 34 3.2.3 Sustainable visitor economy ................................................................................................................... 36 3.2.4 Skills for the future/skills development .................................................................................................. 37 3.3 Community engagement and volunteering .................................................................................................... 37 4 A strong connection between people and the landscape ...................................................................................... 38 2 Arnside & Silverdale AONB State of the AONB Report: 2019 4.1 Enjoyment and understanding ........................................................................................................................ 38 4.1.1 Effective communication ........................................................................................................................ 38 4.1.2 Events and Learning ................................................................................................................................ 39 4.2 Access and Recreation .................................................................................................................................... 40 4.2.1 Countryside Access ................................................................................................................................. 40 4.3 Health and wellbeing ...................................................................................................................................... 42 5 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................................. 43 3 Arnside & Silverdale AONB State of the AONB Report: 2019 Introduction 1.1 Background The State of the AONB Report has drawn upon all available data sources to produce an evidence base to underpin the new Arnside & Silverdale AONB Management Plan, 2019–24. The agreed indicators provide a snapshot view of the area and provide a baseline for future AONB condition monitoring. Where possible trends, since publication of the previous Arnside & Silverdale AONB Management Plan 2014-19, have been analysed and reasons explored. The Arnside & Silverdale AONB State of the AONB Research and Report Projects: Habitats, Species and Biodiversity (2012) and Historic Environment (2013), and the Environment Report (2014) provided evidence to support the 2014-19 Management Plan and comparisons have been made between the new data and data presented in these reports. 1.2 Indicators In preparation of the State of the AONB Report, the indicators included in the 2014 Environment Report and the AONB Management Plan 2014-19 were reviewed and potential new indicators identified. The availability of new data and its potential usefulness to inform the current picture of the AONB condition was taken into account and also consideration of the range of natural capital within the AONB and understanding the state of the natural capital assets and ecosystem services. There are a number of recommendations made for additional indicators, see section 5. A summary of the indicators and current data are set out in Section 6. 2 An outstanding landscape, rich in natural and cultural heritage 2.1 Landscape and seascape 2.1.1 Landscape characterisation/quality Background The landscape and seascape character assessment (LSCA) of the Arnside & Silverdale AONB was published in 20151. The LSCA identified 6 landscape character types within the AONB – See Figure 1. The assessment identifies and describes the key elements and qualities that make up the distinctive landscape character and seascape of the AONB and classifies its distinctive character types and areas. The assessment also identifies the inherent sensitivity of the AONB’s landscape and seascape character and sets out guidelines for future management of each of the landscape character types. The Landscape and Seascape