Cotwolds Hills
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Introduction
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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 ESA extends over 85,000 hectares and lies in the Cotswold Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty. The Western boundary comprises a prominent escarpment with a gentle dip slope and rolling landscape to the East bisected by steep valleys. The major part of the ESA lies in Gloucestershire and also includes small parts of Worcestershire and South Gloucestershire extending from Chipping Sodbury at the Southern end to Broadway in the North.
Description
The diverse landscape is characterised by limestone upland where the dramatic scarp and secluded, steep grassland valleys contrast with the open, expansive cultivated wold tops. The steep escarpment and gently rolling dip slope are dissected and indented by river valleys falling away to the South and South East. Large open arable fields, bounded by dry stone walls characterise the wold tops whilst in the valleys hedges bound the smaller grass fields. Unimproved and semi-improved limestone grassland is located on the steeper slopes of the valleys and escarpment. There is a wealth of archaeological interest ranging from Neolithic Long Barrows and Iron Age Hill Forts to extensive Roman and Romano British Settlements.
Significant Habitats and Species
The Cotswold Hills ESA contains a high proportion ( 2000 hectares) of the remaining unimproved Jurassic limestone grassland in Europe. These grasslands are located on the escarpment and steeper slopes of the valleys and are characterised by short flower rich swards. Orchids, Rock rose, Thyme and Quaking grass are all to be found with a host of other species including the rarer Pasque flower. Butterflies are well represented with a range of habitats supporting amongst others the Duke of Burgundy and Marsh Fritillary. Rare arable plants are being conserved including Cornflowers, Shepherds needle and Broad fruit cornsalad. The ESA also encourages the conservation of farmland birds with corn bunting and skylarks high on the list of priorities.
There are extensive areas of hanging beech woods, many classed as ancient woodland.
ESA Management Options
The management options for the land that can be entered into an ESA agreement for the Cotswold Hills are given in the ERDP documents section of this site, under Annex X of the England Rural Development Programme. This is a whole farm scheme with three basic options to enter land into:
- Option one is for the conservation, maintenance and improvement of
the landscape, wildlife habitats and historical features.
The basic requirements include amongst other features the retention of hedges, walls, woodland, individual trees and management of watercourses. Agreement holders must restore some hedges and drystone walls and payments are available for further optional restoration. Traditional weatherproof farm buildings must be maintained and historical features left undisturbed.
- Management of arable land and grassland is determined through a suite of options dependant on stocking levels, fertiliser use and restrictions on pesticides. Particular emphasis is given to the conservation of species rich permanent grassland.
- Option two provides for the reversion of arable to grassland to enhance wildlife habitats or landscape and historic features
- Option three provides for overwintered stubbles and Conservation Headlands in arable land to help preserve rarer arable plants and improve habitats for farmland birds
Contacts
Project Officer Team
Nichola Jameson Tel: 01905 768900Elizabeth Dack Tel: 01905 768923
Geoff Newman Tel: 01905 768924
Neil Harris Tel: 01905 768921
Jonathan East Tel: 01179 591000
Fax: 01905 768903
Block C, Government Buildings
Whittington Road
Worcester
WR 5 2 LQ
Page last modified: 26 April, 2006
Page published: 10 December, 2002