Planning

• Archaeology and Heritage
• Beyond LA21
• Countryside
• Community Projects Guide
• Development Control
• Ecology
• Forest of Bowland
• Forestry
• Grants
• Green Tourism
• Lancashire Environment 2002
  • Foreward
  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction
  • Summary - What the indicators show
  • Bathing Water Quality
  • River Water Quality
  • Lead in Drinking Water
  • Radioactivity
  • Waste and Recycling
  • Landscape Character
  • Landscape - Historic Change
  • Landscape - Woodlands
  • Landscape - Ponds
  • Landscape - Farm Size and Type
  • Countryside
  • Heritage Assets
  • Wildlife
  • Traffic Levels
  • Global Atmosphere
  • Air Quality
  • Quality of the Urban Environment - Housing Condition
  • Quality of the Urban Environment - Urban Extent
  • Quality of the Urban Environment - Noise
  • Environmental & Social Deprivation
  • References
  • Appendix - How the indicators have been measured
  • Lancashire Environment 2002: What do you think?
• Landscape
• Minerals and Waste
• REMADE in Lancashire
• Public Rights of Way
• Ranger Service
• Rural Partnership
• School Grounds Development
• Structure Plan
• Waste Management

Lancashire Environment 2002

Countryside

There has been a steady year on year increase in the number of Countryside Stewardship agreements with 444 in place by 1999. These will ensure that farmers are managing their land for the benefit of wildlife and the landscape on the 6,426ha covered by the agreements.

The figures reveal that the condition of the public rights of way network compares favourably to the national situation with regard to paths being well signposted and the percentage of the network being easily accessible.

As with landscape issues,we do not have a set of indicators which can be used to assess qualitative change in the management or character of the countryside.These will have to be developed.

A new methodology for measuring the condition of the public rights of way network was introduced in 2001/02 which will allow for better comparison of performance (see Appendix for details).

The first draft of the proposed access area map for Lancashire has been published.This is the start of the process which will result in public access being granted on large areas of the countryside.

What is the role of LCC and other agencies?

LCC has a wide ranging role on countryside management which includes managing the public rights of way network and the provision of a countryside management service.

LCC also manages a number of country parks and other recreation areas in the county, and works with a wide range of partners, including farmers, landowners and other agencies, to promote access to the Lancashire countryside.

The Countryside Agency are responsible for managing the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

A = percentage of footpaths and other rights of way which were signposted where they leave a road.

B = percentage of paths easy to use by members of the public.