Issues For Lancashire

Landscape and Habitat Quality, and Species Diversity

In Lancashire, there are a number of distinctive natural and man-made landscape features including areas of limestone pavement, coastal estuaries, high fells and drystone walls. However, Lancashire’s landscape has undergone substantial changes over the last 150 years. A major reason for this is increasing pressures from the expansion of towns and cities in the region. Notable changes include draining of the mossland areas of West Lancashire, and the intensification of agricultural practice across Fylde and West Lancashire.

Woodland cover in the region has been dramatically affected by human development. There is approximately 4.6% woodland cover in Lancashire. This is a relatively low figure when compared to the average 8% woodland cover for England. In addition to this, ancient woodlands represent under a quarter of the total woodland cover in Lancashire, with the vast majority of these ancient woodland sites being small: over 50% are less than 5ha and 80% less than 10ha. These sites are further threatened by housing and road developments, and degradation caused by neglect and poor management.

Although recently there has been an increase in the area developed for woodland in Lancashire, much of this is focused in the Ribble Valley, and Lancaster, whereas areas such as Fylde have very little cover and continue to witness decline.

The intensification of agriculture and the expansion of towns and cities in the region have resulted in habitats becoming increasingly more fragmented. There has been a loss of woodland, traditional features such as drystone walls and hedgerows, and other important habitats such as herb-rich grasslands. This fragmentation of habitats in Lancashire has had a significant impact on wildlife. A number of animal and plant species have become extinct in Lancashire in the last 100 years, including the Dormouse, Marsh Gentian, Pine Martin, and the Large Copper Butterfly. There are currently many more species at risk of extinction in the Lancashire area.

Sustainable Rural Land Management

Lancashire has a diverse rural landscape, however many areas are increasingly experiencing pressure.

Agriculture represents a major land use in rural Lancashire, with around 217,000 ha or 72% of the total land area being under farming use. The types of farming in the region vary. The most productive land is in West Lancashire, and supports intensive arable farming, while the lowland areas of the Fylde Plain and Ribble and Lune Valleys are important for dairy faming. Cattle and sheep rearing is the major farming type in the upland regions.

Since the Second World War, agriculture in Lancashire has become more intensive and more specialised. These modern intensive farming practices have had a huge impact on Lancashire’s landscape and biodiversity. Environmental impacts include: a loss of important habitats, changes to soil management, and the release of pollutants like fertilisers and pesticides. This has resulted in a number of species becoming extinct in Lancashire.

Tourism is also important in many parts of rural Lancashire, with many tourist areas being designated as protected sites, for example the Forest of Bowland, and the West Pennine Moors. It is therefore vital that tourism at these sites does not threaten the natural landscape character.

Coastal Environment

Lancashire has a huge coastal resource, with 95% of the Lancashire coastline designated as being of international importance. Together, these sites support over a million waders and wildfowl during the winter months or during passage migration periods. In total this amounts to almost 25% of the total UK estuarine resource. Important coastal areas include Morecambe Bay, which is one of the largest Special Protection Areas (SPA) in Europe; Leighton Moss; and the Ribble Estuary.

However, these areas are under threat through pollution, over exploitation and development pressures. These could potentially have a devastating effect upon the biodiversity resource of the county, if not the nation.

In addition to this, any future rise in sea level caused by climate change would also have an effect on the regions coastal habitats. Arguably the rarest habitat in Lancashire, the Upper Salt Marsh is under threat from any rise in sea level.

The Townscape and Historic Environment

The richness of Lancashire's heritage plays an influential part in its sense of identity. It is therefore important that we make sure measures are in place to protect and enhance it.