JCA No. 18 - Howgill Fells
Overall comments (note 1)
The landscape of the Howgill Fells is uniform, with distinctive bare rounded hills. It presents an outward face which is very visible, and any changes would be conspicuous. The S half of the character area is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and the remainder is within the Area of Search for possible extension of the National Park. The Howgill Fells have great integrity, which would be compromised by the introduction of biomass crops, as they would be different in shape, texture and colour to existing landcover. There is little or no opportunity for the landscape to accommodate biomass crops without significant adverse impact.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Steep sided distinctive smooth rounded hills and pronounced ridges and valleys and incised by a number of narrow inaccessible gills. The nearby River Lune Valley provides a contrast with the upland landscape. |
PA – upland landscape with few if any flat lowland areas |
PA – upland landscape with few if any flat lowland areas |
| Woodland (note 6) | The area has very limited tree cover although there are some blocks of coniferous woodland on the lower slopes near Sedbergh. Trees are prominent around villages and farmsteads and along water courses. |
PA - Most of the area has no woodland to help absorb new elements into the landscape |
PA - Most of the area has no woodland to help absorb new elements into the landscape |
| Boundary features (note 7) | Pastures are bounded by stone walls, and confined to the lower areas, whilst the higher areas and moorland are largely unenclosed.
| PA - General lack of enclosure means that biomass crops would have no structure or pattern to fit into |
PA - General lack of enclosure means that biomass crops would have no structure or pattern to fit into |
| Agriculture (note 8) | The area is largely rough grazing for both sheep and cattle. The higher areas have open moorland, whilst the slopes have rough grassland, heather and bracken and are used for grazing.
| PA - Biomass crops would appear very alien in areas of extensive rough grazing |
PA - Biomass crops would appear very alien in areas of extensive rough grazing |
| Settlement and development (note 9) | The area has few settlements due to the inaccessible and exposed landform. There are limited, small hamlets and farmsteadings scattered across the area. |
PA - Farmsteadings where they occur are conspicuous in the bare landscape and their setting would be adversely affected by new crops planted nearby |
PA - Farmsteadings where they occur are conspicuous in the bare landscape and their setting would be adversely affected by new crops planted nearby |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | In terms of semi-natural areas, the moorland is poorly drained and has blanket bog underlain by deep peat which forms an important habitat. Most of the area is covered with acidic grassland. |
PA - Semi-natural habitat is predominant in the uplands |
PA - Semi-natural habitat is predominant in the uplands |
| Historic features (note 11) | Medieval trackways and shielings can be found in many places, especially on the lower western slopes of The Calf and Langdale Fells. Common grazing rights may date back to the 13th century |
PA - The long-established and stable farming culture is reflected in the landscape. Biomass crops would introduce a new element which it would be difficult to accommodate. |
PA - The long-established and stable farming culture is reflected in the landscape. Biomass crops would introduce a new element which it would be difficult to accommodate |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Some small streams flow down the gills, extending from the centre of the area outwards | PA - Narrow steep-sided valleys would be unsuitable |
PA - Narrow steep-sided valleys would be unsuitable |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | The outward facing slopes of the fells are highly visible from nearby major roads. |
PA - The uniform character of the fells is apparent from surrounding areas, and introduction of new elements would have a significant adverse impact on landscape character. |
PA - The uniform character of the fells is apparent from surrounding areas, and introduction of new elements would have a significant adverse impact on landscape character. |
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:
15 March, 2007
Page published: 10 December, 2002