JCA No. 8 - Cumbria High Fells
Overall comments (note 1)
This highly valued mountainous character area, mostly designated as National Park, has few areas which are physically suited to biomass crops, and there is little scope for planting which would not adversely change the character.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | High fells, with deep U-shaped glaciated valleys forming steep open fell sides with rocky outcrops. The volcanic rock in the Sca Fell Range provides rugged, spectacular scenery whilst the Skiddaw group forms smooth sided mountains. Scree slopes are common, with U-shaped valleys, hanging valleys and corries higher on the mountains. Lakes and tarns are found throughout the area. |
PA - The only possible locations for biomass crops would be valley bottoms, but there is very limited flat land. |
PA - The only possible locations for biomass crops would be valley bottoms, but there is very limited flat land |
| Woodland (note 6) | There are relatively few trees on the exposed higher land. Large individual trees surround lakes. On the more sheltered sites there are extensive areas of ancient, semi-natural broadleaved, mixed and conifer woodlands. |
N -The extensive woodlands found in many lower areas contrast with the farmland and high fells, creating harmonious scenes. Further woody planting could have an adverse impact. |
N – The pale colour of Miscanthus in winter would contrast strongly with woodlands, and could appear alien in the landscape. |
| Boundary features (note 7) | Boundaries are formed by stone walls, with hedgerows and hedgerow trees in the valleys. |
PA - Although hedgerows could help to assimilate biomass crops, the small-scale field pattern and locally distinctive boundaries would be obscured. |
PA - Although hedgerows could help to assimilate biomass crops, the small-scale field pattern and locally distinctive boundaries would be obscured. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | There is largely unimproved rough grazing land in the higher areas, with semi-improved and improved pasture and rectilinear fields in the valleys. The decline in stock densities is changing the landscape however. |
PA - Biomass crops would be an alien element in this predominantly pastoral area where there is a mosaic of different types of grazing. |
PA - Biomass crops would be an alien element in this predominantly pastoral area. |
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Agricultural settlements are found in the valleys. The valleys also contain market towns, which have expanded in response to the area’s popularity for tourism and recreation. |
PA - Biomass crops should not be planted where they would affect the setting of towns and villages, which depend on tourism. |
PA - Biomass crops should not be planted where they would affect the setting of towns and villages, which depend on tourism. |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Mires, marshy grasslands and reed swamp in low-lying areas are valued semi-natural habitats. |
PA - Avoid semi-natural habitats. |
PA - Avoid semi-natural habitats. |
| Historic features (note 11) | The area has a rich heritage of archaeological sites |
PA - Not all sites are known, and care would need to be taken in locating crops. |
PA - Not all sites are known, and care would need to be taken in locating crops. |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Linear watercourses are lined with broadleaved trees and shrubs. Lakes are surrounded by relatively open land. |
PA - Biomass crops should not be planted where they would affect the setting of lakes or natural watercourses. |
PA - Biomass crops should not be planted where they would affect the setting of lakes or natural watercourses. |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | There are outstanding views towards, outwards, and within the area, with viewpoints ranging from highly enclosed to high, exposed and open. |
PA - All parts of the area are visited and there is little scope for planting biomass crops where they would not affect viewpoints. |
PA - There is little scope for planting biomass crops where they would not affect viewpoints. |
The information contained in the above table and accompanying footnotes has been produced by Natural England, on behalf of Defra, to assess opportunities and optimum sitings of energy crops
1. Overall comments
This section summarises the key characteristics of the JCA and the potential impacts and issues concerned with energy crop planting. It aims to provide an overall indication of the suitability for biomass crop establishment. In JCAs where the physical characteristics are so extreme that it is unlikely that land managers will want to plant biomass crops this is generally noted.
2. Generic landscape characteristics
The headings are based on those used in Natural England’s Countryside Quality Counts (CQC) project, with the addition of ‘topography’ and ‘views and inter-visibility’. They provide a way of breaking down the physical and visual qualities that help to make up the landscape. The potential impacts of energy crops have been assessed against this common framework.
3. Key landscape characteristics
This section aims to highlight for each of the generic categories, the specific landscape features and characteristics within each JCA that may be relevant to the growing of energy crops
4. Potential effects
This section summarises the main potential effects of SRC and miscanthus on each of the key landscape characteristics and features. In making the assessment we considered both the presence or absence of crops, and the the effects of scale and pattern in the landscape. Where the impacts are likely to differ between SRC and miscanthus this has been noted. Although it is very difficult to estimate impacts at such a general level we have attempted to assess whether the landscape impact could be beneficial, neutral or adverse, as follows:
- PB - Potentially beneficial
- N - Neutral
- PA - Potentially adverse
5. Topography
Topography, or landform, is often one of the main influences on landscape character, particularly in hilly or upland areas. We have summarised the overall topography of each area, together with an explanation of any specific or exceptional areas or major landform types. Topography will influence how obtrusive energy crops might be in some areas, or how they might fit in well in others.
6. Woodland
This covers all types of woodland, from ancient and semi-natural woodlands to commercial plantations, and includes broadleaved, conifer and mixed woodlands. As well as woodland type, we are interested in the pattern and scale of woodlands and how woodland cover varies across the JCA. In some areas there are close associations between specific types of woodland and particular landforms. Issues of concern include how biomass crops might contribute to or impact on local patterns of woodland cover, and what layouts or scale might be appropriate.
7. Boundary features
These include all forms of traditional boundaries, including hedgerows, stone walls and ditches. We are also interested in field patterns, particularly where these are of historic importance or are distinctive to the area. Issues considered included whether the establishment, growth or harvesting of energy crops could have an impact on traditional and valuable boundaries, either through direct damage (eg to allow access for farm machinery) or by obscuring or affecting the integrity of existing field patterns.
8. Agriculture
Agriculture includes arable, pasture (livestock), horticulture and mixed farming. In areas that are already intensively cropped, energy crops are likely to be less of an issue, and the impacts could be beneficial or neutral depending on scale. Adverse impacts are more likely in pastoral areas, particularly in low intensity, unimproved grassland areas. In areas where there is an existing underlying trend from grass to arable, the assessment has taken account of any existing landscape and land management priorities that may exist.
9. Settlement and development.
This covers population centres, roads, other infrastructure and mineral workings. In most cases energy crops are unlikely to have a significant impacts. However, in some cases there may be issues concerning the scale or pattern of planting where this would impact on the character of the local road network, or significantly affect the setting of towns or villages.
10. Semi-natural habitats
In this section we are concerned with the presence or absence, scale, and pattern of semi-natural habitats, other than woodland which is covered under 6. In general, many impacts will only be apparent at the detailed site level, which is outside the scope of this exercise. We have only commented where it is likely that biomass crops would impact on semi-natural habitats that are an integral part of the landscape.
11. Historic features.
Historic features refer not just to visible monuments and remains, but also historic areas such as parks and battlefields. As well as the presence or absence of features, we are interested in their density and pattern of distribution, and whether they are above or below ground. Specific, extensive archaeological or historic landscapes are noted. Issues considered included whether planting would obscure or damage historic sites, or whether it would affect the setting or integrity of a historic site. It is important to note that historic remains are extremely widespread and many have not been fully recorded. At this scale we have only referred to obvious sites and concentrations of sites. More detailed site assessment will normally be necessary.
12. Rivers and coasts
Water plays a key role in determining landform and defining landscape character. Issues of concern include whether energy crops could obscure watercourses or disrupt drainage patterns, and any hydrological and coastal management issues.
13. Views and inter-visibility
In some JCAs, views in, out or across an area are a key characteristic of the landscape. These may be broad, sweeping views or local, intimate ones. A key concern will be whether biomass crops would obscure or otherwise have an impact on the nature of these views.
Page last modified: 11 May 2007
Page published: 11 May 2007