Landscape conservation

Landscape conservation

1. Landscape Protection

   • Conserving the aesthetic appeal involves the maintenance of natural and human features that give the countryside its character (in-field trees, stone walls, hedgerows, woodlands, ditches, banks, ponds and river features.) Some need active management (counteracting succession), others protection from damaging activities.

2. Landscape enhancement

   • Restoration and development of countryside features can enhance character (planting small woodland, replacing conifer with mixed indigenous, riverbank management and meander restoration.)

3. Visitor management

   • Careful provision of facilities that don't damage character (paths, waymarks, car parks, information and recreation facilities.) Designed to fit surroundings with traditional/local materials/designs.
   • Sand/gravel/stone paths, wooden buildings and signs, divided car parks with banks and hedges to disguise their size, grass with protective matting.
   • Provision of facilities attract public, keeping them away from sites that could by damaged. 'Honeypot sites.' Protect sensitive wildlife sites and prevent congestion and disturbance.

4. Governmental organisations

   • Natural England
     • Designating areas for landscape conservation, set controls and regulations, ban damaging activities and promote beneficial ones.
     • National Parks
       • Individual National Parks managed by own National Park authority.
       • Conserve, enhance natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage, promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment, maintain rural economy.
       • Managed through controlling activities of landowners through planning and development restrictions and management agreements as they do not own the National Parks.
       • Some controversial developments take place if for the 'greater national good' overriding local needs. (Military training, reservoirs, quarrying for china clay/limestone, conifer plantations, tourism developments, energy.)
       • Erosion: soil erosion from walkers, restrict damage by redirecting visitors away or by the use of resistant surfaces. Congestion: increases pollution, encourage public transport. Disturbance of wildlife: repeated disturbance causes breeding failure, restriction of areas. Litter: harm wildlife. Displacement of local community: holiday and retirement homes, reduces housing available and increases prices, restrictions on development and housing built specifically for locals. Recreational conflicts: boat speed limits, time and space zoning.
     • Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
       • Designated for landscape qualities for purpose of conserving and enhancing natural beauty. Areas of scenic and recreational amenity value. More intensively used than National Parks, economic activities, rural industry and residential areas are more important. Fewer opportunities for open air recreation and rights of public access are not an aim.
       • Proposals for development are controlled by planning regulations, more restrictive than other areas, less strict than National Parks. Housing developments may be permitted but only to satisfy local housing needs. Expansion of existing local industry may be permitted but new industry is not.
     • Heritage Coasts
       • Finest stretches of undeveloped coastline, needs to be protected from development for scenic amenity value and public access may be increased.
     • National Trails/Long-Distance Footpaths
       • Establish public right of way through landscape of great scenic value, created by linking footpaths, bridleways and minor roads to produce routes for walkers.
   • DEFRA
     • Agri-environmental schemes (ESS) could influence farmland and have an impact on aesthetic appeal. Some intended to maintain historically important features of landscape others to protect wildlife, also affecting appearance.

5. Local Authorites

   • Country Parks
     • Areas of land, in or near urban centres, intended to provide informal recreational opportunities for public. Many are abandoned or redeveloped derelict industrial sites or have other uses such as plantations or reservoirs.
   • Urban green spaces
     • Valuable facility for people that may rarely see the countryside. Visitor and habitat management apply.

6. Non-governmental organisations

   • National Trust
     • Protection of threatened coastline, countryside and buildings from uncontrolled development for public enjoyment.
     • Neptune Coastline Campaign
       • Purchase and protection of important coastlines, protection of historically important buildings and countryside. Important habitats are managed or created for wildlife with the use of traditional techniques (organic farming), encourage use of public transport and sell local produce.