Description:
In 2008, a detailed methodology and baseline information was produced to instigate a programme of landscape monitoring in the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The baseline information collected for this ‘Phase 1’ study was supplemented by a range of other information about the AONB, collected and presented interactively in the Cornwall AONB Atlas which was launched in early 2010 (http://www.cornwallaonb.org.uk/research). Both Phase 1 of the AONB Monitoring Project and the AONB Atlas provide the primary evidence base for the current AONB Management Plan (2011-2016), and helped shape the policies and actions set out in the strategic chapters of the Plan. In 2013, the AONB Unit undertook the Management Plan review and re-visited the baseline landscape information collected in both Phase 1 and the AONB Atlas under a new ‘Phase 2’ of the Monitoring Project. This allowed for an analysis of landscape change over the five-year period since 2008, capturing new trends impacting on the landscapes of the AONB and providing up-to-date evidence about the state of the AONB for the Management Plan review.
Originator:
Cornwall, Tamar Valley and Isles of Scilly AONB and Land Use Consultants
Is this an existing or new approach to measuring landscape change?:
Existing
Aspect of landscape:
Spatial coverage:
AONB wide but broken down for phase one as its twelve AONB sections, a specially defined set of 23 ‘Landscape Monitoring Units (LMUs)’ to – at the smallest scale – 47 sample squares (1km2). This was streamlined as part of phase two to the 12 AONB sections and the AONB as a whole.
Landscape Character Type:
Geographical unit:
See spatial coverage
Frequency of measure:
5 years
Indicator:
6 themes: Planning and development; Farming, food and forestry; Biodiversity and geodiversity; Heritage and culture; Community and economy; Transport and access
Resource requirements:
Mostly available data.
Establishment cost:
Significant (additional resources staff and cash over £15k)
Any other comments:
This is a very detailed approach which yields detailed results, worth considering but could be costly
Ongoing operational cost:
Potentially significant
Ongoing reporting cost:
Potentially significant
Data source:
Planning and development:
Cornwall Council Planning Records (2008 – 2013); CPRE Star Count Maps 2013; Department of Energy and Climate Change: RESTATS renewable energy database; Renewable UK: onshore wind energy database; Microsoft (2012) World Imagery photos; Cornwall Aerial Photos (2005); Cornwall and Scilly Historic Environment Record: Conservation Areas (2013
Farming, food and forestry:
Defra June Survey of Agriculture 2007 and 2010. Detailed breakdown within AONB provided by Defra Farming Statistics team; Forestry Commission (2000) National Inventory of Woodland and Trees; Forestry Commission (2013) National Forest Inventory; Natural England (2007) Ancient Woodland Inventory; Natural England (2012) Ancient Woodland Inventory; Natural England (2012) Energy Crops Scheme; Natural England ES GIS data 2009 (Cornwall AONB Atlas); NE Protected Landscapes Monitoring Framework 2013; Forestry Commission English Woodland Grant Scheme data (Cornwall AONB Atlas 2009)
Biodiversity and geodiversity:
Natural England (2003) Saline lagoons; Natural England (2004) Mudflat; Natural England (2004) Coast Sand Dunes; Natural England (2008) Deciduous Woodland BAP Priority Habitat Inventory for England V2.0; Natural England (2008) Maritime Cliffs and Slope BAP Priority Habitat Inventory for England V2.0; Natural England (2010) Special Areas of Conservation; Natural England (2010) National Nature Reserves; Natural England (2011) Fen BAP Priority Habitat; Natural England (2011) Reedbed BAP Priority Habitat Inventory for England V2.0; Natural England (2011) Lowland Heath BAP Priority Habitat Inventory for England V2.0; Natural England (2012) SSSI; RSPB (2000) Internationally Important Bird Areas; Natural England (2012) Coastal Vegetated Shingle BAP Priority Habitat Inventory for England V2.3; Natural England (2012) Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh BAP Priority Habitat; Natural England (2012) Purple Moor Grass and Rush Pasture BAP Priority Habitat Inventory for England V2.2; Natural England (2012) Traditional Orchards BAP Priority Habitat Inventory for England V2.2; ERCCIS (2013) County Wildlife Sites; ERCCIS (2013) County Geological Sites; NE Protected Landscapes Monitoring Framework 2013
Heritage and culture:
English Heritage (2013) Scheduled Monuments; English Heritage (2013) Listed Buildings; English Heritage (2013) Registered Parks and Gardens; English Heritage (2012) World Heritage Sites; Cornwall Historic Environment Service (2013, 2009 and 2008) Historic Environment Record; English Heritage (2012) Heritage at Risk; NE Protected Landscapes Monitoring Framework 2013
Community and economy:
Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee (2009) Fishing Vessel Survey of Cornish Ports and Harbours; Cornwall Council Maritime Manager (pers comms); ONS Census 2001 and 2011; Land Registry sales data 2011 (as reported in the Cornwall AONB Economic Profile, DEFRA Rural Statistics Unit, 2012; Cornwall Council’s Neighbourhood Profiles Map: % of second homes (31.8.12); CACI Paycheck data, mid-year estimates 2010-11 (as reported in the Cornwall AONB Economic Profile, DEFRA Rural Statistics Unit, 2012); Labour Force Survey 2010, Office for National Statistics; Inter-Departmental Business Register, 2010/11, Enterprise level (as reported in the Cornwall AONB Economic Profile, DEFRA Rural Statistics Unit, 2012); Communities and Local Government Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010
Transport and access:
Natural England (2009 and 2010) Registered Common land; Natural England (2009 and 2011) Access Layer; Sustrans (2009 and 2012) National Cycle Network; Cornwall Council (2009 and 2013) Rights of Way; Plymouth University (2013) Field survey work
Submitted by:
Jemma
Countryscape
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