River Tees Rediscovered February 2014 Revised Landscape Conservation November 2016 Action Plan River Tees Rediscovered River Tees Rediscovered Landscape Conservation Action Plan Contents 1 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Vision .................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 The Landscape Area, its Heritage and its People ........................................................ 2 1.3 Scheme Area ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Statement of Significance................................................................................................ 4 1.5 Revison of the Landscape Conservation Action Plan .................................................... 4 1.6 Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 5 2 Landscape Character ........................................................................................................ 7 2.1 Tees Lowlands Landscape Area ...................................................................................... 7 2.2 Tees Lowlands National Character Area ..................................................................... 22 2.3 Natural Heritage ............................................................................................................ 23 2.4 Stakeholders ................................................................................................................... 25 2.5 The Tees and its People ................................................................................................. 27 2.6 Partners Perceptions ....................................................................................................... 31 2.7 A Common Purpose ........................................................................................................ 34 2.8 Proposed Impact of the Scheme ................................................................................... 37 3 The Partnership ..............................................................................................................39 3.1 Partnership Board........................................................................................................... 39 Responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 39 Membership .................................................................................................................... 40 3.2 Thematic Groups ............................................................................................................. 40 Responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 40 Membership .................................................................................................................... 40 3.3 Partnership Forum ........................................................................................................... 40 Responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 40 Membership .................................................................................................................... 40 3.4 Staff Team ....................................................................................................................... 41 Delivery Manager .......................................................................................................... 41 i River Tees Rediscovered Delivery Officer .............................................................................................................. 41 Community and Access Officer ..................................................................................... 41 Finance / Admin Assistant.............................................................................................. 42 3.5 Strengths of the River Tees Rediscovered Partnership ............................................... 42 Diverse and established partnership ........................................................................... 42 Local knowledge of the River Tees Rediscovered Team............................................. 42 Common Purpose ............................................................................................................ 42 3.6 Potential Risks .................................................................................................................. 42 3.7 Management of the Common Fund .............................................................................. 43 4 Threats and Risks to the Area .......................................................................................44 4.1 Development ................................................................................................................... 44 Housing ............................................................................................................................ 44 Business ............................................................................................................................ 45 Brownfield vs Greenfield............................................................................................... 45 Opportunities .................................................................................................................. 45 4.2 Climate Change .............................................................................................................. 46 Risk of flooding from the Tees or Tributaries .............................................................. 46 Risk of Tidal Flooding .................................................................................................... 47 Sea Level Rise and Storm Surges ................................................................................. 47 Hydrological Changes to Wetland Habitats ............................................................... 48 Effects of Freeze/Thaw Weathering on Built Environment ........................................ 48 Opportunities .................................................................................................................. 48 4.3 Recreational Pressures ................................................................................................... 48 Opportunities .................................................................................................................. 49 4.4 Skills and Resources Shortages ..................................................................................... 49 Financial Resources ......................................................................................................... 49 Human Skills and Resources ........................................................................................... 50 Opportunities .................................................................................................................. 51 4.5 Lack of Understanding................................................................................................... 51 Opportunities .................................................................................................................. 51 5 Aim and Objectives of River Tees Rediscovered .........................................................53 5.1 Consultations ................................................................................................................... 53 5.2 Vision ................................................................................................................................ 54 5.3 Aims .................................................................................................................................. 54 ii River Tees Rediscovered 5.4 Storylines ......................................................................................................................... 55 The Tees: The Story Begins ............................................................................................ 55 Crossing the Tees ............................................................................................................ 55 The Tees and its People ................................................................................................. 55 Tees for Transportation .................................................................................................. 55 6 The Projects ....................................................................................................................56 6.1 Recommendations of the Landscape Partnership Board ............................................ 56 6.3 Programme A – Conserving or Restoring .................................................................... 65 A1 Tees Alien Invaders .............................................................................................. 65 A4 Redcar Wildlife .................................................................................................... 65 A5 Wings of the Tees ................................................................................................ 81 A6 Coastal and Wading Birds ...................................................................................... 6.4 Programme