South West Peak
Introduction
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme has now closed to new applicants. Defra introduced a new Environmental Stewardship Scheme on 3 March 2005 which supersedes (with enhancements) the ESA and Countryside Stewardship Schemes. These pages are in the process of being updated to reflect the latest information relating to this ESA.
The South West Peak ESA covers an area of 33,800 hectares and is situated mainly on gritstone rocks at the south-western end of the Pennines. The ESA covers a major part of north Staffordshire and smaller parts of Cheshire and Derbyshire. The White Peak lies to the east, the Chesire Plain to the west, and the Churnet valley to the south. It consists of a moorland plateau about 450m above sea level, rising to over 550 m on Shining Tor and Axe Edge, and is flanked by lower hills and indented by valleys. The whole ESA lies in the Less Favoured Area.
Description
The area is characterised by very small village settlements at the heart of widely scattered small farms. Fields on the inbye tend to be very small, and many are surrounded by drystone walls rather than hedges. There are many field barns in the area and a high proportion of farmsteads have ranges of traditional buildings. The mosaic of vegetation, small fields, traditional farm buildings, historical features, individual trees and woodlands combine to create an area rich in landscape, ecological and historic interest. The farming is based on sheep in the upland plateau and on dairying, with some beef and sheep on grassland in the surrounding hills and valleys.
Significant Habitats and Species
The environmental value of the area lies in the mosaic of core moorland, moorland fringe and farmed upland. There are intricate patterns of dwarf shrub heath, acid grassland and blanket bog within the moorland. The adjoining semi-improved and unimproved grasslands, which include hay meadows and extensive pastures, contain diverse plant communities. The ESA also supports an outstanding assemblage of declining upland breeding birds, including curlew, lapwing, snipe, skylark and twite.
ESA Management Options
The management options for the different landscape types that can be entered into ESA agreements for the South West Peak are given in the ERDP documents section of this site, under Annex X of the England Rural Development Programme. This is a whole farm schemes in which all eligible land must be entered in, there three main management options:
- To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of enclosed land by encouraging traditional management and the recreation of wet areas and other habitats of benefit to upland birds in particular.
- To maintain and enhance the landscape quality of enclosed land through the management of characteristic landscape and historic environment elements, including field boundaries and traditional buildings
- To maintain and enhance the landscape and nature conservation interest of moorland through sensitive management.
- To maintain and enhance the nature conservation and landscape interest of small-scale native woodland.
Contacts
Simon Huguet Tel: 01902 693322
Bill Feanehough Tel: 01902 693409
Denise Lorne Tel: 01902 693232
Fax: 01902 693185
Page last modified: 26 April, 2006
Page published:
10 December, 2002