A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire - Landscape Strategy

Moorland Plateaux

Moorland Plateaux Character Areas 1a   South Pennine Moors 1b   High Bowland Plateaux

Key Environmental Features

      A perception of remoteness, isolation and wildness because of the altitude, absence of trees and settlement, as well as expansive views;

      Unenclosed mosaic of upland habitats, including blanket bog habitat, wet heathland, dry heathland and acid grassland which together support an internationally important range of bird species.

      Heather moorland and blanket bog is of international importance, supporting a specialist flora and associated fauna (including upland bird communities) and representing a habitat of which the UK has 7-13% of the global resource.

      Important archaeological landscape with much prehistoric interest (burial mounds, cairns) which provides a significant archaeological and paleo-environmental resource.

      Strong cultural associations - powerful influence on and inspiration for the writing of the Bronte sisters, among others.

      Distinctive landform of terraces and gritstone edges reflecting the underlying geology and process of weathering. Frost weathered crags and regoliths are prominent features.

      Quarries and hushings - several natural and quarried locations are geological SSSIs. The limestone hushings are unique nationally.

Local Forces for Change and their Landscape Implications

      Applications for new wind farm developments as these elevated landscapes have the potential for relatively high wind speeds. The Moorland Plateaux are also under pressure for communication masts. Both types of development have the potential to clutter skylines which form a backdrop to views across Lancashire. They may also disrupt the special visual and perceptual qualities of openness, remoteness, wildness and isolation which are associated with this landscape type.

      Abandonment of hill farming due to the ongoing economic pressures on agriculture and the changing structure of agricultural subsidies. This may lead to the loss of grazed upland grass swards. Conversely, such abandonment may lead to an increase and improvement in nature conservation terms to habitats such as blanket bog or heather moor as well as increased diversity in areas of land formerly improved for agriculture.

      Moorland drainage - there are continuing pressures for the drainage of blanket bogs in some areas.

      Pressures for informal recreation which may cause erosion to moorland habitats and important archaeological sites. This is particularly relevant in south east Lancashire (LCA 1a) where the Moorland Plateaux are on the far western fringes of the Pennines. Here the moorland landscapes are often in a slightly degraded condition as they are close to some of the most extensive urban areas in Lancashire.

      Expansion of existing gritstone quarries in Rossendale is likely to occur within currently permitted limits as the planning permissions are extensive and run for long periods. However there is pressure locally for new permissions. Heald Moor near Burnley has extensive areas of incompletely restored open cast coal workings, which it is proposed to rework prior to restoration.

Landscape Strategy for the Moorland Plateaux

Strategy	Recommendations
Conserve the distinctive remote character of the open moor	severely restrict all forms of built development and new quarrying        avoid vertical structures on skylines in applications for communication masts and wind farms        avoid large-scale tree planting - natural regeneration and the planting of native woodlands may occasionally be appropriate on a small-scale in the sheltered valleys or clough heads        ensure that visitor facilities such as car parks, signs and interpretation boards are not located on the Moorland Plateaux and discourage vehicular access
Conserve the valuable mosaic of moorland habitats	recognise and respect the special importance of the blanket bog as a habitat and a unique archaeological or palaeo-environmental resource - the peat should not be further depleted or degraded.        conserve remnant ancient semi-natural woodlands        monitor levels of grazing so that the quality of moorland habitats is conserved        prevent the encroachment of other land uses to reduce the threat of habitat fragmentation        maintain a balance between bracken and acid grassland - avoid the excessive use of herbicides to control bracken where it leads to the degradation of vegetation        educate visitors so that the risk of accidental fires/vandalism is reduced as the peat is particularly susceptible and would take decades to recover
Conserve and manage archaeological sites	undertake more detailed survey, assessment and evaluation of the resource        use the assets of the historic environment to explain the origins and development of moorland        ensure that archaeology is recorded or not disturbed in all land management proposals
Restore eroded areas of moorland where recreation has caused degradation	manage recreation on the fringes of the Moorland Plateaux by deflecting pressures from the more eroded areas and restoring degraded habitats and native woodlands
Restore gritstone quarries	consider opportunities for the phased restoration of gritstone quarries, recognising that they are often prominent landscape features and have an intrinsic archaeological value, and that tree planting will rarely be appropriate        retain striking landscape features and maximise opportunities for ecological and historic benefits
Restore the degraded mosaic of upland habitats	in particular seek to restore areas of degraded blanket bog by changing grazing regimes        fill in moorland drainage grips to reverse the impacts of past drainage and re-establish active blanket bogs        where feasible extend the mosaic of moorland habitats downslope into the Moorland Fringes (landscape type no 4) with the aim of creating a softer transition between the grazed pastures and the upland moors.

Potential Local Indicators for Monitoring Landscape Change on the Moorland Plateaux