Adam Donaldson Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Statutory Management Plan 2014 - 2019 Ministerial Foreword Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are some of our This management plan also makes the important connection between people and nature. finest landscapes. They are cherished by residents and visitors alike I am pleased to hear that local communities have been central to the development of the and allow millions of people from all walks of life to understand and plan, and will be at the heart of its delivery. From volunteers on nature conservation connect with nature. projects, to businesses working to promote sustainable tourism, it’s great to hear of the enthusiasm and commitment of the local people who hold their AONBs so dear. I am pleased to see that this management plan demonstrates how AONB Partnerships can continue to protect these precious AONBs are, and will continue to be, landscapes of change. Management plans such as environments despite the significant challenges they face. With a this are vital in ensuring these changes are for the better. I would like to thank all those changing climate, the increasing demands of a growing population who were involved in bringing this plan together and I wish you every success in bringing and in difficult economic times, I believe AONBs represent just the it to fruition. sort of community-driven, collaborative approach needed to ensure our natural environment is maintained for generations to come. AONB Partnerships have been the architects of a landscape-scale approach to land management. This approach is a key feature of the Government’s Natural Environment White Paper and emphasises the need to manage ecosystems in an integrated fashion, Lord de Mauley linking goals on wildlife, water, soil and landscape, and working at a scale that respects Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State natural systems. at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Jon Sparks Jon Sparks Chairman’s Foreword The Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Beauty is an extraordinary place, recognised for its amazing diversity of habitats, and of plants, birds and butterflies. The stunning limestone pavements, ancient woodlands, intimate orchards and meadows and an impressive coastline make this area one of England’s finest landscapes. The area’s future is dependent on people working together to conserve and enhance it. This Management Plan sets out how the AONB Partnership will do this over the next five years and builds on previous significant achievements in caring for this special place. The comprehensive consultation process carried out whilst preparing this Plan validated much of the activity that the AONB Partnership is already engaged in and has helped identify new issues and areas of activity. Many thanks to all those who took part! The Plan reflects a number of significant changes which have occurred over the last five years including publication of the Natural Environment White Paper, adoption of the National Planning Policy Framework and major initiatives such as creation of the Morecambe Bay Limestones and Wetlands Nature Improvement Area and development of Local Nature Partnerships. Partnership working is playing an ever-increasing role in delivering the AONB Management Plan and the AONB Partnership is well placed to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Everyone has a role to play in looking after the Arnside & Silverdale AONB, from local communities and farmers to businesses and individuals. Working together we can make a real difference for this area and its future. Cllr Brian Meakin AONB Partnership Chairman Adam Donaldson Contents 1 Introduction 5 6 Delivering the Plan 68 2 What is special about Arnside & Silverdale AONB? 14 7 Monitoring 70 3 Natural, cultural and social benefits from our special landscape 19 Maps see separate pdf 4 Vision for the future 21 Glossary 72 5 What we want to achieve and why 23 List of abbreviations 74 5.1 An outstanding landscape, rich in wildlife and cultural heritage 25 APPENDICES see separate pdf 5.1a Landscape and seascape 27 5.1b Biodiversity and geodiversity 33 APPENDIX 1 Arnside & Silverdale AONB Partnership Executive Committee members 5.1c Historic landscape 41 APPENDIX 2 Ecosystem services in the Arnside & Silverdale AONB Management Plan Objectives 43 5.2 A thriving, sustainable economy and vibrant communities 44 APPENDIX 3 Indicators 5.2a Development management 46 5.2b Supporting rural growth and livelihoods 48 5.2c Sustainable visitor economy 52 5.2d Sustainable communities 55 Management Plan Objectives 58 5.3 A strong connection between people and the landscape 59 5.3a Enjoying and understanding 61 5.3b Taking action 66 Management Plan Objectives 67 Jon Sparks 1. Introduction Areas of Purpose and context Natural beauty The AONB Family The primary purpose of AONB The natural beauty of an AONB landscape AONB Partnerships from across the country Outstanding designation is to conserve and enhance is partly due to nature and is partly the work together as the AONB Family, sharing the natural beauty of the area1. In pursuing product of many centuries of human experience, promoting good practice and Natural Beauty the primary purpose, account should be modification. It encompasses natural and fostering collaboration. taken of the needs of agriculture, forestry, human factors that together make an area The National Association for AONBs Areas of Outstanding Natural other rural industries and of the economic distinctive and special: geology, climate, (NAAONB) is the voice of the AONB Beauty (AONBs) are particularly and social needs of local communities. soil, plants, animals, communities, Family and represents AONB Partnerships special landscapes whose distinctive Particular regard should be paid to archaeology, buildings, settlements, on national issues including policy and character and natural beauty are promoting sustainable forms of social and historic features, people and the advocacy, communications, training and so outstanding that it is in the economic development that in themselves perceptions of those who visit it. securing resources. The Arnside & nation’s interest to safeguard them. conserve and enhance the environment. The special qualities that make an area Silverdale AONB Partnership is a member Promoting opportunities for recreation is AONBs are unique and irreplaceable worthy of designation are also vulnerable of the NAAONB, supporting the AONB not an objective of designation, but the national assets and along with to a wide range of pressures, for example Family and contributing to and demand for recreation should be met so National Parks represent our from development, recreation, changes in participating in national initiatives. far as this is consistent with the conservation finest countryside. woodland management and agricultural Further information can be found at of natural beauty and the needs of practices, and the effects of climate change. www.landscapesforlife.org.uk There are 46 AONBs throughout agriculture, forestry and other uses. Positive management is therefore required England, Wales and Northern AONBs were brought into being by to conserve and enhance their distinctive Ireland, covering 18% of the the National Parks and Access to the character. land area. Countryside Act 1949. The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000 (Section 89) subsequently strengthened the earlier legislation and placed a statutory duty on local authorities to act jointly to produce Management Plans for AONBs within their boundaries and review them every five years. AONBs are also within a worldwide category of protected areas, designated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Category V – Protected Landscape/Seascapes – ‘protected areas where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic value’. 6 1National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949; confirmed by Section 82 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 !"#$%&'()#*+,- ."+/$ .+&/)7+A Scotland ."+/$ 0,$#1'2."+/$ ;1,)5),+C% +,-2J*),/ 4"*7+A2."+/$ !"#$% 4G)##1, 8),,1,)/ 0#)+/2":2O&$/$+,-1,C2!+$&#+*2;)+&$A Northern ?+C+,2E+**)A 4$#+,C:"#-2?"&C% Ireland 0#,/1-)23 6"7+#-1+, 41*5)#-+*) I"&#,) 61**/ B1,C2": J&**1", !1--)#-+*) Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Arnside Area & Silverdale 9"#)/$2": Areas of Outstanding;"7*+,- Natural Beauty !"#$%&'()(*%+,'"&-+' !"#$%&'()#*+,- Arnside & Silverdale AONB 0,C*)/)A ."+/$ .+&/)7+A Scotland / Republic of ."+/$ Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Ireland .*7A-1+,2 England ?1,<"*,/%1#) !"#$%#&$&&& 0,$#1'2."+/$ @"*-/ !"#:"*=2."+/$ B+,C)2+,- P2.#"7,2."GA#1C%$2 Ancient Woodland ;1,)5),+C% D))2E+**)A +,-2J*),/ 4"*7+A2."+/$ !"#$% +,-2-+$+(+/)2#1C%$/2QRSTU O#-,+,<)24&#5)A2SRRRQVTRWU .+,,"<= ?*A, 4G)##1, 8),,1,)/ .%+/) 4%#"G/%1#) 0#)+/2":2O&$/$+,-1,C2!+$&#+*2;)+&$A Northern ?+C+,2E+**)A61**/ 4$#+,C:"#-2?"&C% 4&>"* =2."+/$2+,-2 6)+$ %/ Ireland I+*5)#, 61**/ 0#,/1-)23 6"7+#-1+, D)-%+' 41*5)#-+*) 61**/ Wales @A) I"&#,) B1,C2": E+*) E+**)A J&**1", ."$/7"*-/ !1--)#-+*) .%1*$)#,/ 9"#)/$2": J"7)# !"#$% ;"7*+,- @)//)H 4&##)A261**/ I),-1G261**/ D"7,/0,C*)/)A !"#$% .#+,("&#,) / Republic of D)5", K&+,$"<=261**/ .%+/) F),$2D"7,/ Ireland 32@)/$ .*7A-1+,2 England ?1,<"*,/%1#) !"#$%#&$&&& ;*+<=-"7, @1*$/%1#) B+,C)2+,- @"*-/ !"#:"*=2."+/$ 61**/ 61C%2@)+*- P2.#"7,2."GA#1C%$2 D"#/)$ D"7,/ D))2E+**)A +,-2-+$+(+/)2#1C%$/2QRSTU L+'+# .%1<%)/$)#26+#("&# O#-,+,<)24&#5)A2SRRRQVTRWU .+,,"<= E+**)A N+/$ ?*A, D)5", M/*)2":2@1C%$ .%+/) 4%#"G/%1#) ."#,7+** 4"&$% 61**/ Suffolk4&>"* =2.Coast"+/$2+,-2 and Heaths 6)+$ %/ D)5", I+*5)#, M/*)/2":24<1**A 61**/ Wales D)-%+' @A) E+*) E+**)A ."$/7"*-/ .%1*$)#,/ J"7)# !"#$% @)//)H 4&##)A261**/ I),-1G261**/ D"7,/ !"#$% .#+,("&#,) D)5", K&+,$"<=261**/ .%+/) F),$2D"7,/ 32@)/$ ;*+<=-"7, @1*$/%1#) 61C%2@)+*- 61**/ D"#/)$ D"7,/ L+'+# .%1<%)/$)#26+#("&# E+**)A N+/$ D)5", M/*)2":2@1C%$ ."#,7+** 4"&$% D)5", M/*)/2":24<1**A Arnside & Silverdale AONB Arnside & Silverdale AONB is a unique landscape of national importance.