LI Award Submission LPR04

Submission to Landscape Institute Awards 2013 1
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Submission to Landscape Institute Awards 2013
www.naturalengland.org.uk
National Character Area Project: a new integrated framework for landscape planning
Category of Submission: Landscape, Policy and Research

Contents
1. Introduction
2. Aim and objectives
3. Policy context
4. Methodology – national context
5. Methodology – integration
6. Research and development
7. Evidence base
8. Structure and content – what National Character Area
profiles look like and how to use them
9. The audiences
10. Uses and applications
11. The future 2 – contributing to the development of the
art and science of landscape architecture
Foreword
The National Character Area statements have their roots in the past (the Joint Character Areas) but they are pointing firmly to the future. Our
intensive programme of refining the NCA framework and updating the profiles is a bold and forward looking project, and central to our vision for
responding to the challenges facing the natural and cultural environment.
The NCAs are truly local statements of evidence about all aspects of the local landscape and natural environment, explaining and illustrating the
local landscape, biodiversity, geology, cultural heritage, and even elements of the local economy. They are presented clearly and crisply and in a
user-friendly format, and should be useful to environmental and planning professionals and local communities alike – to enable both to make the
best local choices about the challenges and opportunities facing people and the natural environment.
With our statutory purpose to conserve and enhance landscapes, Natural England is uniquely placed to lead on this work, which we do by
using the full range of our specialist scientific and local skills in landscape, wildlife conservation, geodiversity, historic environment, access and
engagement, ecosystem approach and climate change. The NCAs form a fundamental underpinning of our own integrated and partnership
approach to delivery for the natural environment through our major programmes such as Biodiversity 2020, our statutory planning role, and our
wider delivery of advice and incentives to land managers in the Rural Development Programme for England.
The work also makes a fundamental contribution to our role in implementing the European Landscape Convention, as it informs the protection,
management and planning of England’s landscapes and provides a very user-friendly framework for local people to understand their landscape
and engage in the decisions which affect it. This support to people’s sense of local ‘place’ is central to the government’s localism agenda, and our
own refreshed focus on local delivery.
We have not and could not have done this work alone. We are hugely grateful to many local and national partners for their support in writing
National Character Area profiles, and in helping us pilot their use and spread the message. Within Natural England, although led by our landscape
community, this has been a programme which has used skills, local knowledge and specialist understanding from right across the organisation.
Jim Smyllie
Executive Director - People, Landscape and Biodiversity
Natural England

Image 2: NCA 125 South Downs.

Entry Form
I have read the entry requirements for the Landscape Institute Awards
2013 and wish to enter the named scheme which complies to the
submission in all respects. I can confirm that this entry is correct and
accurate to the best of my knowledge.
I have checked the entry materials and agree to all aspects of them
being subjected to the judging process. I agree that all images and copy
may be used in any Landscape Institute publications, published to any
format in the UK or overseas and I confirm that there are no restrictions
or fees payable for reproducing any photographs or any other submitted
materials. I agree to the publication of the judges’ comments.
Name of Scheme/Project
Category of submission:
Landscape, Policy and Research
Details of Entrant who will act as contact for submission
Name: Chris Bolton CMLI
Position: Head of Profession, Landscape
E-mail: chris.bolton@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone number: 0300 060 0587 (07831 437032)
Details of LI professional member responsible for production of work
Name: Alison Chapman CMLI
Landscape Institute membership number: 17414
E-mail: Alison.chapman@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone number: 0300 060 2930
Signature:
Client / Owner Authority
Name: Natural England
Capacity: Government Adviser on the Natural Environment
Address: Natural England, Foundry House, 3 Millsands, Riverside
Exchange, Sheffield.
Postcode: S3 8NH
Signature:
The entrant will serve as the main contact for the submission and will
receive all correspondence related to the Landscape Institute Awards 2013.
Scheme details:
Complete client and project team: The project is led by the National
Character Area Framework Co-ordination and Development team,
working with a team of authors in the Landscape Scale Delivery Unit,
Landscape and Biodiversity, Natural England. The project is supported
by a range of specialist advisers from across Natural England and
by a graphics and web production team within Natural England.
The services of an editing company, Accuracy Matters support the
proofreading of the profiles.
Site / subject information: The project involves an innovative
approach to integrating a range of updated information about the
natural environment by creating new profiles for England’s 159
National Character Areas (NCAs). The project uses a well established
map of NCAs, each defined by a unique combination of landscape,
biodiversity, geodiversity and cultural attributes and economic
activity. The NCA boundaries follow natural lines in the landscape
rather than administrative boundaries, making them a good decision
making framework for the natural environment. This submission
includes a full body of work from the principles, evidence and
analysis, and supporting research to the authoring and embedding
work associated with the profiles for each NCA.
Size of site: England (countrywide)
Date of practical completion for scheme and / or each phase (if the
scheme is in phases please give this date for each phase):
65 NCA profile descriptions have been published since July 2012;
others are being published in a rolling programme, with the complete
set of 159 profiles scheduled for publication by April 2014. Key facts
and data for every profile were published in July 2012. These are being
incorporated into the full profiles on publication.
We have submitted this project at this stage because the product
design and methodology is complete and we have achieved a
significant body of work which is dynamic, ongoing and already
influencing decision-makers and projects on the ground. We also
hope that the submission at this stage will assist with embedding the
work more widely within the landscape, planning and other sectors.
Date of end of defects for scheme and / or each phase (if the scheme
is in phases please give this date for each phase): N/A
Pleasenotethatifanyoftheabovedatesareafter1July2013thescheme
/thatphaseisnoteligibleforentryintheDesigncategories(SmallScale
PrivateDevelopment,SmallScalePublicDevelopment,MediumScale
PrivateDevelopment,MediumScalePublicDevelopment,LargeScalePrivate
Development,LargeScalePublicDevelopment)forthe2013Awards.
Brief:
Natural England’s work centres on the conservation and
enhancement of the natural environment, including its characteristic
landscapes, and to carry out our role successfully we need to reach
out to a wide range of partners and communities. We want to provide
information and analysis that will help people and organisations
across England understand more about our natural environment and,
through working together, look after it for future generations.
To this end, Natural England is revising England’s 159 National Character
Area Profiles, including (for the first time) Statements of Environmental
Opportunity. This will make integrated environmental evidence and
analysis available to anyone involved in planning and decision making
that affects England’s natural environment. In so doing, Natural England
is helping to deliver the Natural Environment White Paper, Biodiversity
2020 and the European Landscape Convention.
The new NCA profiles focus on integrating a wide range of
environmental information for each character area, including a
description of the landscape and a summary of key ecosystem services
that benefit people, wildlife and the economy. They identify potential
opportunities for positive environmental change and provide the best
available information and evidence as a context for local decision
making and action.
The NCA profiles are also part of a broad ‘offer’ to partners across
England by providing contextual evidence to help support and
inform local initiatives.
Landscape Institute Awards 2013
Entry Reference Number
LPR04
National Character Area (NCA) Project: a new integrated
framework for landscape planning.

Page 1 of 2

Budgets: Since 2010, the project has drawn on evidence from
commissioned research projects; however, the preparation of the
National Character Area profiles has been carried out largely in-house
using the skills and expertise of a wide range of staff, with valuable
advice and feedback from partners. Natural England has a small
budget of £30K in 2013/14 to cover a proof reading contract and local
community involvement and awareness raising events.
Contract / programme / phasing details: The complete NCA profiles
are being published in a rolling programme which takes into account
those NCAs in which Natural England is most actively involved
through a range of partnership initiatives and activities. All the
profiles will be available free on the internet by April 2014. To date
(July 2013) 65 full profiles have been published alongside the key facts
and data for all 159 NCAs.
Any other relevant facts: To ensure we are reflecting the views of the
local experts and communities, we are inviting their comments on
every draft NCA profile before publication. We also work with our
partners (e.g. CPRE, RSPB, National Parks and AONBs, Local Authorities
and Local Nature Partnerships) to develop and promote the wider
application and use of the profiles.
Please provide, in no more than 600 words, the following:
1. Purpose: describe the project requirements, scope, context,
philosophy and intent.
2. Role of the Landscape Architect: describe the precise role and
responsibility of the LI professional member and the role of all other
significant participants including owner or client.
3. Significance: explain the project’s relevance to the client, the
profession, the public and the environment. Describe how the project
meets the criteria for judging in the appropriate category and why it
is worthy of an award.
4. Innovation: explain how the scheme is unique or special, together
with any unusual or demanding problems which were solved.
5. Why this scheme deserves to win an award
England is part of a small island nation with finite resources. It is
facing a range of pressures with the potential to impact significantly
on the natural environment and rapidly change the character of our
diverse landscapes. In this context our strategic project, preparing
and embedding evidence-based, integrated profiles for the 159
National Character Area (NCA) profiles, is timely and relevant. We
are already influencing decision-making and engaging with local
communities to test our findings against their local aspirations for the
natural environment.
The project philosophy centres on both making evidence accessible
and also integration - bringing ideas, knowledge, and people together
through multi-disciplinary working in order to conserve and enhance
the natural environment. Strategically, this starts with aligning the
aims of our work relating to, for example, the European Landscape
Convention, Biodiversity 2020 and the UK Geodiversity Action Plan.
Each NCA profile brings together many contributions into a
consistent format designed to be viewed online; they meld the
elements which contribute to the landscape character and function
in a place - biodiversity, geodiversity, the historic environment, are
considered alongside ecosystem services. The information contained
in each profiles supports the planning of conservation initiatives at a
landscape scale, and encourages partnership working. The strategic
Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEOs) are innovative and
provide a useful starting point for conversations between people in
existing and potential new partnerships.
Our landscape professionals are a key resource in this project
working strategically to help raise the level of capability in landscape
skills among colleagues. With their cross-cutting knowledge
and experience, they work with every NCA author, to ensure the
landscape character descriptions and other environmental topics,
are effectively described and integrated to form a strong overarching
sense of place, with clear summaries of the ecosystem services,
pressures and forces for change. They lead on embedding the NCA
product internally and with partners through a range of activities,
including presenting at Landscape Institute CPD training events to
update delegates on the scope, vision and progress of the NCA work.
Defra is the client for this project as it is included in our commitments
to implementing the Natural Environment White Paper; however, the
audience is much wider, including all organisations and communities
who play a role in conserving the natural environment. We have
consulted widely, explaining that the evidence in the NCA framework
can help others work together to achieve their objectives for example
by reaching consensus and sharing resources. While the contextual
information and opportunities contained in the NCA profiles
are relatively strategic, they provide ‘hooks’ that underpin local
initiatives; for example by supporting funding bids for local projects.
Challenges have included resourcing a project of such strategic
ambition; however our partners have helped enormously in their
contributions and support. Also, we have adjusted our approach to
fit with more recent changes in government, policy priorities and
structural changes in Natural England, and a structural reform of
Natural England itself. Overall, the challenges have forged an even
more robust product.
We believe that the NCA project deserves to win an award in the
landscape policy and research category because it:
■ Champions an evidence-based, integrated approach that pushes
the boundaries of strategic landscape planning.
■ Is at the forefront of environmental thinking by making the links
between Landscape and the Ecosystem Approach
■ Brings together the latest evidence applicable to influence policy,
and inform further research; all accessible to communities from
international to local scales.
■ Sign-posts the opportunities that empower local communities to
take action locally.
Should you win an Award the winning scheme will be featured
promotional material and publicised by our press office. Please
provide a complete list of all contractors and partners whom you
would like to be credited in publicity material in the space below.
Please note that space is limited so restrict your credits to the MAIN
contributors only and please do not give individual names for each
team involved.
Staff within Natural England:
NCA project co-ordination team
NCA authors
Technical Advice Group specialists and local advisers
Graphics and web publication team
Communications team
External partners and NCA stakeholders
Accuracy Matters for editing and proof writing services
Entry Reference Number
LPR04
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1 Introduction
National Character Areas (NCAs) divide England into 159 distinct
natural areas. Each is defined by a unique combination of landscape,
biodiversity, geodiversity and cultural and economic activity.
Their boundaries follow natural lines in the landscape rather than
administrative boundaries, making them a good decision making
framework for the natural environment. Originally published in the
late 1990s, NCA profiles have been widely used, particularly by the
landscape sector, to underpin knowledge about, management and
shaping of the landscape character of England.
In June 2011, we were commissioned to deliver two landscape
commitments in the Natural Environment White Paper (2011); to
update and improve the consistency of the national landscape
character area profiles and integrate information on the ecosystem
goods and services they provide, and; to work with local communities
in a number of areas throughout England to support local
engagement in landscape planning. This was a marked shift in how
the NCAs would be updated and presented to meet a wider audience
for local decision making and prompt positive action for people
and the natural environment. The new profiles needed to cover the
breadth of environmental interests within a landscape framework.
They needed to identify potential opportunities for positive
environmental change, and provide the best available information
and evidence as a context for local decision making and action.
This is an ambitious programme of work. Not
least because we have opted to author and
publish the profiles in-house at the same time as
testing their worth with key stakeholders,
partners and their projects. We are also working
with local communities in certain pilot areas of
the country. To date all the key facts and data have been
published for all 159 profiles and more than a third of the
full profiles. The complete set will be available in 2014.
The new profiles will lead and guide the planning and
development of projects at a number of levels from
local community to sub-regional and national levels.
The published documents can be
viewed and downloaded from the Natural
England website.
2 Aim and objectives
Aim
Using landscape as the framework to integrate social, environment, economic and cultural factors, the new National Character Area profiles
are guidance documents that help to achieve a more sustainable future for people, places and natural resources, protecting and building on
the diverse and distinctive landscapes of England.
Some key objectives:
■ To celebrate the broad range of distinct and unique landscapes
in England and embrace the continuation of positive landscape
change.
■ To provide evidenced based information about the natural
environment and enable joint working and sharing of expertise
and resources across a range of sectors.
■ To inform place making through for example, planning
decisions, Neighbourhood Plans, Landscape Character
Assessments.
■ To inform landscape scale projects such as Nature
Improvement Areas and green infrastructure projects, and
provide better connections between them.
■ To support economic activity that goes hand in hand with
sustainable development.
■ To provide a description of the key ecosystem services
within each character area, promoting an understanding of
how these benefit people, wildlife and the economy.
■ To inform decisions about how we manage our land to
secure the ecosystems services we rely on.
■ To identify potential opportunities for positive
environmental change and provide the best available
information and evidence as a context for local decision
making and action.
■ To underpin our knowledge and understanding of the
landscape around us and use the NCAs as a national
geographical framework.
■ To help us predict and monitor change in the landscape.
■ To inform funding bids such as for Heritage Lottery Funding.
Image 3: The National Character Map of England.
Image 4: Landscape has many layers, both natural and cultural.

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3 Policy context
Foundations for an integrated approach
England’s 159 Character Areas were first mapped and described
through the Countryside Commission’s Countryside Character
Initiative using a method piloted in The New Map of England: a
Celebration of the South Western Landscape (1994). The approach
aimed to encourage greater understanding and active management
of the countryside and areas designated as being of national
importance. It highlighted the rich diversity of England’s landscapes,
laying the foundation for a character based approach to landscape
conservation and enhancement. It brought together a range of
environmental interests and encouraged integrated working.
The Character Area descriptions were matched to English Nature’s
Natural Area profiles. A historical dimension was added by English
Heritage. The resultant integrated Joint Character Areas were
illustrated on a map entitled The Character of England: landscape,
wildlife and natural features.
■ The National Character Area (NCA) work builds on this integrated
approach to assessing the character of the landscape.
■ Boundaries to NCAs follow natural rather than administrative lines
in the landscape, making them an appropriate decision-making
framework for the natural environment.
The Rural White Paper (2000) highlighted the need for a better
understanding of the state of the countryside, how it was being
transformed and how it mattered to people. The White Paper stressed
the need for future monitoring and made a commitment to publish
an indicator of change in countryside quality that would take account
of biodiversity, tranquillity, heritage, and landscape character. In
response:
The Countryside Agency’s Countryside Quality Counts (CQC) project,
with expert input from Nottingham University, constructed an
indicator of change in countryside quality using the Joint Character
Areas of England as a spatial framework for reporting change over the
period 1990 to 2003.
■ Natural England have used the CQC findings in the updated
NCA profiles to maintain this evidence baseline and inform
future monitoring work and policy development across land
management and land use sectors.
European Landscape Convention (ELC)
Natural England, under the Natural Environment and Rural
Communities Act (2006), has a general purpose “...to ensure that the
natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the
benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to
sustainable development”. Since 2007 we have a role in implementing
the European Landscape Convention on behalf of Defra. The ELC
is the international treaty dedicated to promoting appropriate
protection, management and planning of all landscapes. It includes
a requirement for member states to identify their landscapes and
define Landscape Quality Objectives (LQOs) in a way that reflects local
aspirations.
■ The NCA profiles include information drawn from national and
local data to help inform and guide the preparation of Statements
of Environmental Opportunity; our LQOs.
■ The preparation process for NCA profiles includes wide
consultation and pilot work in local
engagement. This helps deliver
many aspects of our
statutory role and our
obligations under the
ELC, including the
reflection of local
aspirations.
Natural Environment White Paper and Biodiversity 2020
The Natural Environment White Paper (2011) is a key driver for our
work. It is a bold and ambitious vision for the natural environment
over the next 50 years, backed up with practical action to help
deliver that ambition. The NCA framework is helping Natural England
deliver on two of our NEWP commitments:
■ To work with local communities to support local engagement in
local planning.
■ To work with civil society to update all 159 of the National
Character Area profiles.
Biodiversity 2020 sets out how the quality of our environment on
land and at sea will be improved over the next ten years. It builds on
the successes secured in the last two decades.
■ The NCA profiles provide evidence on species and habitats to
support Biodiversity 2020 initiatives which aim to adopt a more
integrated large-scale approach to conservation, put people at
the heart of biodiversity policy, reduce environmental pressures
and improve our knowledge.
■ The current NCA framework also recognises the importance of
understanding the relationship between the terrestrial, coastal
and marine environments, especially relevant with regard to our
obligations under the Climate Change Act (2008) and Marine and
Coastal Access Act (2009).

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UK Geodiversity Action Plan (UKGAP)
The UKGAP provides a shared context and direction for geodiversity
action through a common aim, themes, and targets which link
national, regional and local activities. Within Natural England and
through working closely with partners the NCA profiles:
■ Reinforce the importance of SSSI and local sites of geological
interest.
■ Provide context and opportunities for conserving geodiversity at
the broad scale, directly contributing to the management of
geological sites, areas and wider landscapes.
UK National Ecosystem Assessment
The UK NEA provides the first comprehensive analysis of the
value provided to society by the United Kingdom’s natural
environment and of the role it plays in our continuing economic
prosperity. It puts our natural assets on a par with traditional
economic markets by setting out both the monetary and non-
monetary benefits to people provided by the environment.
■ The NCAs adopt an ecosystems services approach drawing on
themes and evidence contained in the UK NEA. They provide an
overview and introduction to the subject at a landscape scale.
The NCA profiles make links between the ELC, the Convention on
Biological Diversity, an ecosystems approach drawing on the UK
National Ecosystem Assessment and the UK Geodiversity Action
Plan. Making the most of synergies are key to achieving more
integrated results on the ground.
Localism Act and the National Planning Policy Framework
Recent reforms in local government and spatial planning are
influencing the way we work in partnership and how we make
our evidence available to local communities. The Localism Act
(2011) has encouraged a shift towards local communities having
more responsibility for decisions affecting their local places.
Communities require access to relevant evidence about the natural
environment to do this. The National Planning Policy Framework
(NPPF) recognises the aspirations of the Natural Environment White
Paper including placing emphasis on local plans and strategies
under-pinned by supporting evidence.
The NCA profiles:
■ Provide context to inform the making of distinctive places; The
NPPF makes it clear that landscape conservation is a strategic
priority. The NCA profiles provide an invaluable resource for
setting the landscape context, and highlighting opportunities for
its enhancement, in local plans.
■ Influence green infrastructure strategies, for example by giving
an overview of the natural, physical and cultural links between
rural and urban areas.
■ Support and strengthen Natural England’s role as statutory
advisers on National Strategic Infrastructure Projects, and
development affected by Environmental Impact Assessment
regulations, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, and
Landscape (and Seascape) Character Assessments.
CAP reform and agri-environment schemes
The EU Common Agricultural Policy is currently under review with
a new 7 year cycle commencing in 2014. ‘Pillar 2’ of the Rural
Development Regulation provides support for farmers and land
managers through grants, incentive schemes, and advice to enhance
the natural environment, the quality of rural life, and to support
rural businesses. The NCA profiles:
■ Inform scheme reviews, design and targeting, encouraging
strategies which take an integrated, landscape scale approach.
■ Provide an evidence base to target, manage and monitor the
impact of agri-environment schemes and will inform the New
Environmental Land Management Scheme (NELMS).
■ Offer strategic advice on the content of agri-environment
scheme agreements and help to link agreements together across
landscapes and wildlife habitats.
4 Methodology – national context
Preparing the methodology for the revision, updating and
development of the National Character Area profiles began in
2009. The drivers behind the methodology are identified in the
preceding section. The methodology is comparatively simple:
draw on the wealth of knowledge and expertise within Natural
England and among our partners to create integrated descriptions of
distinct areas of landscape, and identify where opportunities for
protecting, managing and planning for change exist.
The production of the new profiles has been an iterative process as
we have trialled and tested the work. We have learnt from the
authoring process and from our continuous engagement with
partners and internal specialists, and adapted the methodology
accordingly.
Early research and pilot work
The principles of integration, landscape context and place lie firmly
behind the approach to developing the NCA profiles and their
Statements of Environmental Opportunity. Several strands of
research work were started at the beginning of the process under
a wider development project known as LIANE (Landscape – an
Integrated Approach in Natural England).
■ Early research and pilot work during 2009/10 helped to guide
the emerging approach to updating the NCAs, and explore how
landscape character could be conserved and enhanced and
ecosystem services delivered effectively1
.
■ Initial research explored the availability of relevant data sets
and attempted an initial analysis of ecosystem services related
evidence by NCA.
■ The methodology for the revised NCA profiles subsequently
evolved through further development and wider engagement of
staff across Natural England. It became more refined, drawing
upon new evidence and data, and improved methods of joint
working and communicating information.

1 Updating England’s Character Areas: Pilot study to enhance their future use, including
their role in the monitoring of landscape change. Land Use Consultants & Natural England –
Unpublished, 2010

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5 Methodology – integration
The National Character Area project has provided an opportunity
for us to develop and present our work, guidance and evidence in
an integrated way. The NCAs provide a ‘first-stop-shop’ for our
partners, the wider community and our own staff.
In order to achieve this we needed a group within Natural England
to bring genuine cross-function and cross-specialism integration
and an NCA Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was established. The
purpose of the group was to ensure we had the right balance
of content, to provide individual specialist groups with a mechanism
to check we had represented their area correctly, and as a means of
communicating messages back to teams and specialists, thereby
closing the circle of learning and informing.
The TAG ensures the final product is fully integrated and works to
meet our Evidence Strategic Standard2
required across all of Natural
England’s interests.
The full range of specialist disciplines within Natural England
contributing to the NCA project:
■ Landscape.
■ Geodiversity.
■ Biodiversity – habitats and species.
■ Historic environment.
■ Access and engagement.
■ Climate change.
■ Land use planning.
■ Agricultural land management.
■ Marine and coastal.
■ Soils.
■ Hydrology.
■ Ecosystem services.
Once the direction of the project was agreed and signed off by the
group, its focus changed to providing a mechanism for specialists
to input to the content of each NCA. TAG members help with the
process of managing wider input of technical and local advice from
their respective teams through an online comment gathering process.
Resources are tight and time limited across the organisation, but this
process makes sure that local understanding is combined with
specialist knowledge from across the organisation, feeding into the
profiles to make them as robust as possible.
Integrating the ecosystems services approach
The ecosystem approach makes explicit our interdependent
relationship with the natural environment. It is described under the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as “a strategy for the
integrated management of land, water and living resources that
promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way”.
This approach advocates working across the whole ecosystem,
recognising that the natural environment is valuable to people and
society, and that there is a need for people to be involved in
decisions about sustainable management and their environment.
The ecosystems approach is about managing the environment so
that all components are considered in a holistic process, while
recognising how people use and value their natural resources.
Although a relatively new approach, we felt it was important to
integrate this method in the NCA profiles; to bring together
landscape assets and attributes with a discussion around the
services and functions the landscape was providing for society.
Incorporating this innovative approach into drafting of the NCA
profiles was challenging and involved our specialists developing
a new methodology based on the UK National Ecosystem
Assessment document3
.
The benefits of incorporating an ecosystem approach are that:
■ It enables us to combine our statutory purpose and delivery with
other benefits and outcomes; for landscape, biodiversity, soil and
water resources, geodiversity, the historic environment, access,
engagement with communities, enjoyment, health and wellbeing
and land use.
■ It considers outcomes and impacts for the environment and
people together rather than separately.
■ It can be applied in many contexts and at different scales,
making it easy for partners to apply to local landscapes, or to see
the national value of the service.
■ It provides the first ever analysis of the functionality of individual
ecosystem services in individual landscapes.
Experiential and cultural ecosystem services
One of the challenges in the early development phases of updating
the NCA profiles was to consider the ways in which experiential
aspects and cultural services benefits associated with landscape
could be identified and captured in each character area. The scale
of the project and resources did not provide scope to directly
engage with local communities in every NCA.
2 http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/7699291?category=3769710 3 UK National Ecosystem Assessment document. Defra 2011. http://uknea.unep-wcmc.org/
Image 5: The ecosystem services are divided in regulating provisioning and
cultural services.
Image 6: The new NCA profiles integrate landscape with the ecosystem services.

1 72 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11
To explore how this might be approached, two phases of in-depth
social research were commissioned and undertaken across 14 NCAs4
.
The research included a combination of public focus groups and
in-depth family interviews. Based on the commonalities of cultural
services experienced by people in different landscapes, this
qualitative and richly informative research has provided a number
of tools:
■ A framework and method for better understanding and
classifying how different cultural services are being provided
through the public’s interaction with the various features and
characteristics of our landscapes.
■ A methodology that can be applied at more local levels,
especially where landscape character assessments are available
or are being undertaken (even though the study was developed
in the context of NCAs).
■ Findings relevant to the UK National Ecosystem Assessment
evidence base and to wider applications in landscape planning
for understanding and assessing cultural ecosystem services5
.
Close working with other agencies integrating their agendas
We have been keen to involve our partners from the beginning of
the project, both in the high level discussions around the format
of the profiles and in the local level detail and content of each
profile. In the early development of the project comments were
received from many partner organisations, either supporting the
format, or suggesting improvements. These were taken into
consideration and helped strengthen the methodology.
Integration of local knowledge and expertise is something we value
and a programme of ‘comment gathering’ was included in our method
from the beginning of the project. Every NCA is shared in draft with
an agreed, extensive list of partners, including Environment Agency,
Forest Commission, RSPB, Local Authorities, NFU, CLA, English Heritage,
British Geological Survey, National Trust, Wildlife Trust and many
others. We look for support for the Statements of Environmental
Opportunity and factual accuracy. We need to be sure we can all work
together in delivering the aspirations in the NCAs. We are also keen to
incorporate local knowledge.
We have developed particularly close links with some partner
organisations that are keen to use the NCA framework in their own work:
■ In addition to comprehensive comments on every NCA, English
Heritage are developing an extensive suite of complementary
historic environment related documents and research.
■ We are working with the Environment Agency to ensure new data
relating to the Water Framework Directive is provided to authors
and is incorporated in all profiles.
■ The Forestry Commission have used the NCA framework as the
basis of their Woodland Potential Calculator, which is in turn
being used to inform the NCA drafts.
■ Supporting Heritage Lottery Fund Landscape Partnership bids
by helping applicants understand how landscape character
assessment works, in highlighting the main issues and
opportunities in an area and bringing together all the aspects of
the landscape that contribute to creating unique places.
(These points are expanded upon in Section 6: Research and
collaboration with key partners)
Integrating the comments of local communities
At the centre of our approach to this work is the intention to bring
together environmental information to make it accessible to local
communities. We have always sought to respond to comments and
suggestions from local communities. We have run a number of ‘local
landscape pilot workshops’ at different community levels with
support from partners such as CPRE, to explore how different
interest groups benefit from and use the NCA profiles. Some of
these are described in Section 10. The ‘NCA mailbox’ also gives
professionals and members of the public the opportunity to provide
feedback, and we frequently get comments from individuals,
parish councils and community groups offering additional local
knowledge and evidence. This is then incorporated into the text.
NCA author training and guidance
A fundamental part of our approach to this work has been to use
locally placed staff in our Landscape Scale Delivery teams in
drafting the NCA profiles. They are closely engaged with partner
organisations in each area and often have considerable local
knowledge. They bring to the work a vast range of skills and
specialism. To ensure a common and consistent approach to writing
the profiles we produced an author’s writing guidance document
and we have run an ongoing programme of author training. The
author guidance is the embodiment of our methodology. It
introduces each section of a profile, explaining why that section is in
the NCA, where authors need to go to research information, and how
to write the section. It includes checklists, ‘tips’, document links, and
best practice examples. The size of the guidance document is
testament to the amount of research an NCA author will do, the
complexity of the task and the length we have gone to achieve a
thorough and consistent approach when authoring NCA Profiles.
NOTE: The author guidance is included in this award submission as
additional material to demonstrate the method of NCA authoring.
Publication process
The final stages of the process see every NCA proofread by external
contractors and Natural England to ensure a consistent, professional
standard. Photographs are collected, many taken specifically to
illustrate the content of the profile, others sourced from our staff
and partner organisations. The documents are transformed from
‘Word’ format into a graphic format, and published on our website.
At this final stage the striking cover page, OS base map and photos
are brought together by our in-house graphic design team to
produce an interactive, user-friendly, updated NCA profile; a point of
great pride for all authors and supporting staff alike.
4 Experiencing Landscapes: Capturing the cultural services and experiential qualities of
landscape. Research Box, Land Use Consultants and Rick Minter – NECR024, Natural England 2009.
5 Experiencing Landscapes: Towards a decision-making framework for cultural services and
experiential qualities. Research Box, Land Use Consultants and Rick Minter – NECR045, Natural
England 2011. Further research in Natural England (known as EcoLAP) is currently taking place on
how landscape and cultural services valued by the public can be better integrated into the design
of ecological networks.
Image 7: NCA 159 Lundy.

1 72 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11
6 Research and development
Research and development have been an underpinning component in
the evolvement of the approach to updating the National Character
Area profiles. The profiles and the NCA geographic and spatial framework
as a whole provide a strong platform upon which to focus and develop
new research, identify and fill evidence gaps and advancing monitoring
opportunities at a strategic scale. The NCAs’ integrated evidence is a basis
for advancing knowledge, approaches and opportunities for strategic
integrated landscape and biodiversity management and for the planning
of multifunctional landscapes and places.
Landscape change – a spatial framework for evidence, monitoring
and targeting
Being able to monitor and evaluate change across England’s landscapes
is crucial to our role as adviser to government on landscape, and making
up to date evidence about change more widely available. We
commissioned research in 2010 that describes a complex picture in terms
of the pattern and pace of change in the landscape since 1940. This has
been shaped by a range of natural, social and economic drivers6
. The
overall lessons are that it is important to maintain surveillance through
indicators of change, to identify trends and to monitor our interventions,
such as agri-environment schemes and spatial planning advice. This will
inform, adjust and improve our responses. The NCAs are a spatial
framework for surveillance and monitoring;
■ Providing a strategic landscape context, natural environment
information base and a geographic spatial reference for the analysis
of evidence, monitoring studies and as an aid to inform targeting.
■ Providing context and baseline data for specific places, including
the Statements of Environmental Opportunity against which any
identified change can be evaluated.
■ Informing locally defined Landscape Quality and Ecosystem Service
Objectives so that local communities can engage with landscape
change and how it matters to them.
■ Opening opportunities for ‘citizen science’; public participation
approaches to collecting and evaluating local data about change,
building in cultural and experiential factors.
■ Providing context for case studies focussing on specific themes
such as the impacts of different types of development on landscape
character.
Integrated landscape monitoring
The Countryside Quality Counts (CQC) project was set up in response
to the Rural White Paper (2000), which asked for an indicator of how
England’s landscapes were changing. The NCA framework, referred to
as Joint Character Areas at the time, was used to report on changes in
landscape character and quality across the two periods of 1990 to 1998
and 1999 to 2003. The methodology included quantitative analysis of
data and qualitative judgements about the significance of change. For
each NCA an indicator of change was established. This was based on
evidence about and analysis of whether the landscape character and
quality of the area was deemed to be enhancing, maintained, neglected
or diverging. It also considered whether the character was stable or
changing and if it was consistent with the vision for the NCA or not. The
CQC indicators and evidence published in 2007 remain an essential
England wide landscape baseline for any further monitoring, especially
at the NCA scale7
.
In 2009/10 research work was undertaken as a potential follow on
to Countryside Quality Counts and as a move towards integrated
landscape monitoring. The pilot work used an emerging NCA profile
and Statements of Environmental Opportunity in the analysis. The
Character and Quality of England’s Landscapes (CQuEL) pilot work aim
was to provide a methodology to gather place-based
evidence about the character and
function of landscapes
and the provision and
quality of selected
ecosystem services8
.
Evaluating landscape impacts of Environmental Stewardship
As part of Defra’s research programme associated with the Rural
Development Programme for England, current research is focussed on
how to maximise benefits for landscape through Environmental
Stewardship (ES). The study is developing and testing a robust,
repeatable and comprehensive evaluation framework for reporting
and monitoring the direct and cumulative effects of ES on the
maintenance and enhancement of landscape character and quality. It
includes the selection of sample landscapes for analysis at various spatial
scales. The research includes 18 NCAs, across three broad agricultural
landscape types, as the basis of its analysis9
. The findings are:
■ Demonstrating what ES has achieved so far for landscape at the NCA
scale, and showing where landscape objectives and thresholds are
not being met.
■ Providing analysis which can directly inform the further
development of NCA Statements of Environmental Opportunity
(SEO).
■ Recognising that the SEO identify integrated priorities, the evidence
can be used alongside other desired outcomes - to identify those
Environmental Stewardship options that can deliver for the
landscape as well as meet other priorities.
6 England’s Changing Landscapes: A review of landscape change in England since 1940, Land
Use Consultants 2010. To be published shortly by Natural England.
7 Tracking Change in the Character of the English Landscape 1999-2003. NE42 Haines-Young
R. 2007
8 Reports published at http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/landscape/cquel.aspx
9 Monitoring the effects of Environmental Stewardship on Landscape Character and Quality
(BD5303). Land Use Consultants with Julie Martin Associates, Countryscape, Fabis and Prof.
Carys Swanwick – Natural England, Unpublished June 2013

1 72 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11
Climate change adaptation
NCAs have been used as the basis of research to understand their
vulnerability to climate change and the implications and opportunities
for landscape adaptation11
. Four pilot studies were undertaken in the
following NCAs; Cumbria High Fells, Shropshire Hills, Dorset Downs and
Cranbourne Chase, and The Broads.
The project developed a methodology that used bioclimatic data,
information from national experts and workshops with external
stakeholders to understand the relative importance and specific potential
consequences of climate risks in different landscapes. Each study
identified a series of local responses to climate risks to help guide our
conservation work. They provide information that can help local
communities make decisions for the natural environment in their area.
Studies have now been completed in a further eight NCAs. Further
research is anticipated. The outcomes of this research have also been
used to aid the climate change risks in the overall programme of updating
NCA profiles.
Research and collaboration with key partners
Collaboration with key partners is providing opportunities for developing
mutually beneficial research and evidence and greater understanding of
the factors that influence and shape our landscapes.
■ English Heritage sees the NCAs as an opportunity to advance
their own research and evidence nationally. They are also
providing technical advice and input to updating individual NCA
profiles. Supporting research from English Heritage includes the
development of Farmstead and Landscape Statements and new
Historical Analysis for each NCA, drawing upon new research as well
as existing historic environment and archaeological research and
evidence12
. This is also seen as an opportunity to aid the integration
of historic environment issues into the strategic development of an
ecosystems approach in England.
■ We are using the NCA framework and profiles with the Forestry
Commission as a context for consultation in relation to their
Woodland Potential Calculator13
. The Woodland Potential Calculator
is a web-based tool which presents information on woodland,
forestry, landscape, land use and the natural environment, by
National Character Area, and shows existing land cover and land
quality. It provides context for local discussions about the level of
woodland creation that could be accommodated in different places.
■ Working with the Environment Agency to explore the connections
between catchment-based approaches to water management,
in support of Water Framework Directive, and the strategic
landscape context and evidence provided by NCA profiles. There are
opportunities for further research and development to link the NCA
Statements of Environmental Opportunity into catchment-based
approaches.
10 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biodiversity-2020-a-strategy-for-england-
s-wildlife-and-ecosystem-services
12 This is being provided by English Heritage’s Historic Environment Intelligence Team,
Characterisation Team and Heritage Protection Team.
13 http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-8xwbuf
Habitat restoration potential
Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services10
contains an ambition to secure “…an increase in the overall extent of priority habitats by at least 200,000 ha”. Following an initial assessment of how this
might be apportioned between 24 of the priority habitats, NCAs were used as the spatial framework in the production of individual habitat maps. These draw upon several sources of information, ranging from an
earlier assessment of the importance of individual Natural Areas for certain habitats to the Statements of Environmental Opportunity contained within the current NCA profiles. Each map shows the potential relative density of a
specific habitat by NCA. Collectively, they present just one scenario for how the 200,000 ha might look when spread across the country, but provide useful insights into the challenges that need to be faced if the target
is to be met. The maps are open to revision, and are intended to act as a starting point for discussions between those charged with delivering the national target and those working locally in individual NCAs.
11 http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/climateandenergy/climatechange/adaptation/
naturalengland.aspx

1 72 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11
7 Evidence base
Each National Character Area profile is underpinned by existing re-
search, published documents and primary data as a sound evidence
base. An indication, though not exhaustive, of the range and extent
of evidence and data used for each NCA is shown here. This broad
evidence base has informed the integrated approach to description
and analysis and the development of each SEO. We collected na-
tionally consistent datasets for a number of key natural and cultural
themes that underpin the structure of the landscape. This data is
published within the profiles as a ‘supporting document’.
Every profile draws on locally available information as well as na-
tional data. Where available we have drawn on publications such as
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Park management
plans and local biodiversity strategies and surveys
Key facts and data
We selected a range of data from our own sources and from a num-
ber of other organisations, such as the Forestry Commission, Envi-
ronment Agency, English Heritage, Campaign for the Protection of
Rural England and the British Geological Survey. This data is arranged
into eleven themes;
■ Landscape and nature conservation designations
■ Landform, geology and soils
■ Key waterbodies and catchments
■ Trees and woodland
■ Boundary features and patterns
■ Agriculture
■ Key habitats and species
■ Settlement and development patterns
■ Key historic sites and features
■ Recreation and access
■ Experiential qualities
The themes present data ‘cut’ specifically to each NCA. The data pro-
vides factual evidence, such as heights, lengths and areas of com-
ponents of the landscape. It can be used as baseline evidence for
future research and monitoring. Some of the data, for example the
agricultural census and tranquillity data already illustrates change
and trends in the landscape.
Shaping places and delivering multifunctional landscapes
The Landscape Institute’s Green Infrastructure Position Statement
makes clear the need to understand the bigger picture, the strategic
landscape context and the underlying opportunities to deliver multiple
benefits. The integration and evidence behind the NCAs is clearly
relevant, supportive and provides a wealth of information to aid the
implementation of green infrastructure approaches.
The NCA profiles and green infrastructure principles bring new
opportunities to advance our research and knowledge towards the
attainment of multifunctional landscapes. We have good
understanding about the role that landscape and natural environment
features and attributes play in helping to support landscape functions
and deliver ecosystem services;however, there are further research and
development opportunities to further reveal the interactions between
different attributes as well as interactions between different landscape
functions14
. Such an understanding may require both hard and soft
systems, taking account of cultural interests, public perceptions and
preferences as well as governance issues. In turn, the planning, design
and management of new or restored landscapes can help to create the
right conditions for a virtuous circle of investment and care, maximising
environmental, economic and social benefits and the creation of locally
distinctive and multifunctional landscapes15
.
The UK National Ecosystem Assessment sets out a strong argument about
the value of ecosystem services to society and the economy. The NCA
profiles, including the Statements of Environmental Opportunity, are
translating what this means in real places, through real landscapes,
revealing opportunities for delivering restored or new ecosystem services
while conserving and enhancing our landscapes. We are continuing to
develop research that links NEA and NCAs including:
■ Spatially mapping the potential for ecosystem services at an
England wide level.
■ Exploring opportunities to spatially map the Statements of
Environmental Opportunity for each NCA, to better visualise,
represent and communicate the connections between ecosystem
services and their beneficiaries. This will also help those who are
developing spatial planning and development policies, strategically
and locally, and for direct practical use for local communities and
partners to help target and prioritise their actions. “People want to be reconnected with nature and they want to
transform underused land to produce clean air and clean water, good
micro-climates and good food. At the same time, they want to be
protected from flooding and they want access to land for health and
wellbeing.....” (Merrick Denton Thompson OBE, CMLI)
14 The Development of Approaches to Facilitate Judgement on Landscape Change Options,
M. Roe, P. Selman & C. Swanwick - Unpublished report to Natural England, 2010.
15 Selman, P. ‘Sustainable Landscape Planning – The Reconnection Agenda, Routledge, 2013
Image 8: NCA 142 Somerset Levels and Moors.

1 72 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11
Description
The Yorkshire Dales are part of the chain of Pennine uplands that runs down
the centre of northern England, forming a near continuous belt of moorland
and upland pastures. The high ground of the National Character Area (NCA)
provides impressive views of surrounding NCAs, and the dramatic topography,
combined with high rainfall, gives the area an important role as the headwater
of many of Yorkshire’s major rivers.
The distinctive rounded hills of the Howgill Fells, with the lower Orton Fells
beyond, are visible to the west from the higher land of the western Dales. There
are geological links with the Orton Fells, with the same Carboniferous
Limestone forming the pavements of Great Asby Scar. Looking north-west from
the wide, windswept moors above Swaledale, Cross Fell, the highest point in
the Pennines, is visible. Little Dunn Fell and Great Dunn Fell, with the distinctive
radar station right on top, are also visible. To the east, the Yorkshire Dales
gradually blend in with the more wooded side slopes of the Pennine Dales
Fringe which drop down to the fertile farmland of the Vale of York and Vale of
Mowbray. On a clear day, the hills of the North York Moors and the chimneys
and industry of Teesside can be seen.
Most of the large rivers which have their source in the Yorkshire Dales flow to
the east through the Pennine Fringe and into the Vale of York. The Swale, Ure
and Nidd all feed into the larger River Ouse which flows through the City of
York, with the River Wharfe joining the Ouse downstream at Cawood before
then flowing out to sea through the Humber Estuary. The River Ribble flows
south-west from the western Yorkshire Dales into the neighbouring Bowland
Fringe area and beyond into the Irish Sea. Reservoirs in the south of the area
supply water to the Bradford area.
Physical and functional links to other National
Character Areas
Kilnsey Crag and River Wharfe from the Dales Way at Conistone showing the strong
influence of local geology on buildings and walls.
5
21. Yorkshire Dales
Supporting documents
National Character
Area profile:
Key facts
and data
Analysis
DescriptionIntroduction & Summary Opportunities
Landscape
change
1
21. Yorkshire Dales
National Character
Area profile:
Ecosystem service analysis
The following section shows the analysis used to determine key ecosystem service opportunities within the area. These opportunities have been combined with the analysis of
landscape opportunities to create Statements of Environmental Opportunity.
Please note that the following analysis is based upon available data and current understanding of ecosystem services. It does not represent a comprehensive local assessment.
Quality and quantity of data for each service is variable locally and many of the services listed are not yet fully researched or understood. Therefore the analysis and opportunities
may change upon publication of further evidence and better understanding of the inter-relationship between services at a local level.
6
Agricultural June Census Survey, Defra (2000, 2009) 7
Agricultural Land Classification, Defra (2002) 8
Natural England (2010)
Service
Assets/
attributes: main
contributors
to service State Mainbeneficiary Analysis Opportunities
Principal
services offered
by opportunities
Food
provision
Soils
Semi-natural
habitats
(grassland and
moorland)
Water courses
Livestock (meat
and dairy)
70,000 cattle (beef
and dairy) and 778,000
sheep6
. 73 per cent of
the land is Agricultural
Grade 5.7
Regional Livestock farming is an important activity
in the area, contributing to employment,
economy and maintenance of rare habitats.
Poor soils, topography and the harsh climate
give very little opportunity for growing
arable crops. Almost 73 per cent of the NCA
is grade 5 with over 23 per cent grade 4.8
Various projects and schemes have given
support to traditional livestock production
in the area, to secure a range of benefits. A
large proportion of land has been in agri-
environment schemes since the late 1980s.
The Limestone Country project, from 2002-
2007, encouraged local farmers to graze with
traditional cattle breeds rather than sheep, to
benefit grassland flowers and helped farmers
Continued on next page...
Ensure that future agri-environment
schemes are used to best effect to
preserve the wildlife-rich habitats and
traditional skills associated with meat
and dairy production.
Support farmers in promoting the
environmental value and high quality
of meat and dairy products from
traditional systems, emphasising the
special qualities of the area.
Promote the use of new technology
and best practice, to increase food
production and farm profitability while
reducing/avoiding potential detrimental
impacts on the local environment.
Food provision
Biodiversity
Genetic diversity
Climateregulation
Sense of place
Biodiversity
Genetic diversity
Regulating soil
erosion
Regulating water
quality
45
21. Yorkshire Dales
National Character
Area profile:
Key facts
and data
Analysis
Landscape
change
Supporting document 1: Key facts and data
1. Landscape and nature conservation designations
71 per cent of the area or 170,809 ha falls within the Yorkshire Dales National Park
(YDNP). 17 per cent of the area or 39,195 ha falls within the Nidderdale Area of
Outstanding National Beauty (AONB).
Management Plans for the protected landscape can be found at:
http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk
http://www.nidderdaleaonb.org.uk
Source: Natural England (2011)
Please note: Part of this NCA is affected by an Order extending the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
This will not take effect unless confirmed by the Secretary of State. Please see
www.naturalengland.org.uk/lakestodales for current status.
1.1 Designated nature conservation sites
The NCA includes the following statutory nature conservation designations:
Tier Designation Name
Area
(ha)
% of
NCA
European Special Area of
Conservation (SAC)
Malham Tarn SAC;
North Pennine
Moors SAC; Ingle-
borough Com-
plex SAC; Craven
Limestone Com-
plex SAC; North
Pennine Dales
Meadows SAC; Ox
Close SAC; Asby
Complex SAC;
River Eden SAC
59,385 25
National National Nature
Reserve (NNR)
Ingleborough
NNR; Malham Tarn
NNR; New House
Farm, Malham
NNR; Scoska Wood
NNR Ling Gill NNR
1,214 1
Site of Special
Scientific Interest
(SSSI)
A total of 113 sites
wholly or partly
within the NCA
71,088 30
Source: Natural England (2011)
Please Note: (i) Designated areas may overlap (ii) all figures are cut to Mean High Water Line,
designations that span coastal areas/views below this line will not be included.
Area of Yorkshire Dales National Character Area
(NCA): 239,983 ha
Tier Designation Name
Area
(ha)
% of
NCA
International Ramsar Malham Tarn 287 <1
European Special Protection
Area (SPA)
North Pennine
Moors SPA
47,944 20
22
21. Yorkshire Dales
National Character
Area profile:
Key facts
and data
Analysis
Landscape
change
Countryside Character descriptions (Countryside Agency)
Natural Area profiles
(Natural England)
Environmental Stewardship
target statements
Countryside Quality Counts
indicator statements
Experiencing landscapes research
Environmental Stewardship
Monitoring data (Genesis)
English Heritage Historic Analysis (by NCA)
National Ecosystem Assessment
National Park and AONB
Management Plans
Climate change scenarios for
coastal habitats
Climate change vulnerability
studies (by NCA)
EA Catchment Abstraction Strategy
EH World Heritage Sites, Battlefields,
Scheduled Monuments, Historic Parks and
Gardens data
Ecosystem Services
evidence summaries
(prepared for each NCA)
Carbon storage by habitat data
Heritage at Risk Registers
Environment Agency Flood
Management Plans
Catchment Sensitive Framing
Priority Catchments
River Basin Management Plans
Mapped GIS datasets by NCA
(40 digitised layers of primary data)
Greenspace and Green
Infrastructure Strategies
Rights of Way Improvement Plans
Shoreline Management Plans
Priority NCAs for farmland birds
SSSI condition data
Habitat restoration potential
maps (by NCA)
English Heritage HELM Database
Biomass Potential Maps and
Energy Crops Scheme
JNCC data for UK biodiversity/designations
CPRE Tranquillity, Dark Skies and
Intrusion Map data
Common Land, Open Country and
Public Rights of Way data
River Network data
Source Protection Zones data
National Trails data
Ancient Woodland Inventory data
Nature Conservation
designations data - SSSI, NNR,
SPA, SAC and Ramsar
NSRI National Soils Map for
England and Wales
Defra Agricultural Land
Classification data
Defra Agricultural Census data
Biodiversity Priority Habitat data
and Section 41 Species data
Soilscapes data
British Geological Society maps and data
FC National Inventory of
Woodland and Trees
FC Woodland Potential Calculator
Regional Landscape Character
Frameworks
UK Geodiversity Action Plan and
Regional Action Plans
Local Habitat Action Plans
Local Landscape Character
Assessments and Strategies
Historic Landscape
Characterisation
Other locally sourced data
within each NCA
Biodiversity Opportunity Maps
English Heritage Historic Profiles
Regional Biodiversity Strategies
Marine Natural Areas
Relevant academic research and
journal articles
Image 9: NCA project Evidence Base.

1 72 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11
Introduction
As part of Natural England’s responsibilities as set out in the Natural Environment
White Paper1
, Biodiversity 20202
and the European Landscape Convention3
, we are
revising profiles for England’s 159 National Character Areas (NCAs). These are areas
that share similar landscape characteristics, and which follow natural lines in the
landscape rather than administrative boundaries, making them a good decision-
making framework for the natural environment.
NCA profiles are guidance documents which can help communities to inform their
decision-making about the places that they live in and care for. The information
they contain will support the planning of conservation initiatives at a landscape
scale, inform the delivery of Nature Improvement Areas and encourage broader
partnership working through Local Nature Partnerships. The profiles will also help
to inform choices about how land is managed and can change.
Each profile includes a description of the natural and cultural features that shape
our landscapes, how the landscape has changed over time, the current key
drivers for ongoing change, and a broad analysis of each area’s characteristics
and ecosystem services. Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEOs) are
suggested, which draw on this integrated information. The SEOs offer guidance
on the critical issues, which could help to achieve sustainable growth and a more
secure environmental future.
NCA profiles are working documents which draw on current evidence and
knowledge. We will aim to refresh and update them periodically as new
information becomes available to us.
We would like to hear how useful the NCA profiles are to you. You can contact the
NCA team by emailing ncaprofiles@naturalengland.org.uk
Yorkshire
& The
Humber
Yorkshire
& The
Humber
North
East
North
East
North
West
North
West
West
Midlands
West
Midlands
East
Midlands
East
Midlands
East of
England
East of
England
South EastSouth East
LondonLondon
South WestSouth West
National Character Areas map
1
The Natural Choice: Securing the Value of Nature, Defra
(2011; URL: www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm80/8082/8082.pdf)
2
Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services, Defra
(2011; URL: www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13583-biodiversity-strategy-2020-111111.pdf)
3
European Landscape Convention, Council of Europe
(2000; URL: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/176.htm)
2
40. Holderness
National Character
Area profile:
Key facts
and data
Analysis
Landscape
change
8 Structure and content – what National Character
Area profiles look like and how to use them
The new suite of NCA profiles are being published in an interactive,
web based format. This makes them easy to find, just “two clicks”
from the Natural England homepage, and also very easy to use.
Each profile opens to a striking cover page with an image of the
character area and tabs for each of the six sections of the profile.
Clicking on these tabs allows users to go straight to the section they
need, making the documents simple to navigate. If the user wishes
to explore the full profile to know more about the area, scrolling will
take them through each section of the document.
Introduction and Summary
Every profile begins with an introduction explaining why we have
undertaken this work and how they may be used. The page includes
links to the key policy drivers behind the project and a link to our
NCA mailbox, should questions need to be answered.
The following “summary” page gives an overview of the area, starting
with a broad summary of the landscape character, the significant
features, and key ecosystem services and main pressures. There is
an OS based map and the headline Statements of Environmental
Opportunity.
Description
In recognition that no area operates in isolation, the description
section begins by introducing the physical and functional links to
other NCAs. This is specifically concerned with how the NCA relates
visually and functionally with adjacent NCAs and, where relevant,
the marine environment. In some cases relationships may be
with NCAs at some distance from the NCA in question. Describing
the physical and functional relationships between NCAs is of
particular importance when considering ecosystem services as the
beneficiaries of certain services, for example the regulation of water
quality, may not be in the same NCA.
A bullet point list of key characteristics follows, maintaining the
format of the original Countryside Commission descriptions. These
are short, concise and over-arching descriptions of the character of
the landscape, building a clear picture of the NCA in the reader’s mind.
Next is a substantial description of the landscape character. This
section updates and replaces the original character descriptions
in the existing NCA documents. As the section mainly containing
the landscape character description, it is a significant part of the
new NCA profiles. The description includes a summary of all the
component parts of the landscape; geology, soils, woodland,
habitats, species, land use, the historic environment, settlement
pattern, building materials and recreation and access assets. While
the previous descriptions had little emphasis on biodiversity and
were not inclusive of seascape, the updated descriptions remedy
this, ensuring biodiversity is an integral asset in the description, and
ensuring the links with the coast and seascape beyond are outlined.
In the section describing the landscape through time we describe how
the area has evolved as a result of natural forces and the interaction of
people with the natural environment. This is critical for showing the
role of geodiversity in shaping character. It follows a chronological
timeline beginning with the geological foundations, following
logically through history with influence of different periods layered to
show the changing landscape, finishing with the present day. We have
and continue to work closely with English Heritage to ensure we best
represent the historical aspects of the landscape.
The final section under this tab highlights the key ecosystem services
within the NCA, introduced by a short explanation of the value it
brings to the area.
1
21. Yorkshire Dales
National Character
Area profile:
Description
Physical and functional links to other National
Character Areas
The Tees Lowlands National Character Area (NCA) forms a broad, low-lying plain
framed to wide views to the south-east towards the North Yorkshire Moors and
Cleveland Hills NCA, which rises dramatically in a steep escarpment. To the west,
the land rises gradually into the Pennine Dales Fringe NCA. The Tees Lowlands
NCA merges with the more undulating Durham Coalfield Pennine Fringe and the
Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau NCAs to the north, and with the Vale of
Mowbray NCA to the south. The low-lying mouth of the River Tees gives way to a
dynamic coastline of unstable cliffs to the north-west and south-east.
The River Tees has its origin in the high fells of the North Pennines to the west,
while its major tributary, the River Leven, rises in the Cleveland Hills to the south.
Management of both of these upland areas therefore has the potential to have an
impact on fluvial processes in the Tees Lowlands. The surrounding uplands are also
breeding areas for wading birds which occur on the Tees Estuary in large numbers
during the winter.
There are a number of major transport corridors through the NCA. The East Coast
Main Line railway, the A1(M) motorway and A19 trunk road provide links through
the Vale of Mowbray NCA to the south, and northwards to the Tyne and Wear
conurbations and beyond.
Wide views are afforded from the steep escarpment of the Cleveland Hills over the broad,
low-lying plain to the industrial development beyond.
5
23. Tees Lowlands
National Character
Area profile:
Key facts
and data
Analysis
Landscape
change
Summary
Click map to enlarge; click again to reduce.
4
Adur and Ouse Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy, Environment Agency (March
2005) (accessed March 2013; URL: http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/
GESO0305BVIG-E-E.pdf)
3
The South Downs National Character Area (NCA) comprises a ‘whale-backed’
spine of chalk stretching from the Hampshire Downs in the west to the coastal
cliffs of Beachy Head in East Sussex; two per cent of the coastline between
Eastbourne and Seaford is recognised as Heritage Coast. The majority of the area
falls within the South Downs National Park, a recognition of its natural beauty
and importance for access and recreation, and allowing for local decision-
making processes to manage this nationally important area. Some eight per cent
of the NCA is classified as urban, comprising the coastal conurbation of Brighton
and Hove in the east. The South Downs NCA is an extremely diverse and complex
landscape with considerable local variation representing physical, historical and
economic influences; much of it has been formed and maintained by human
activity, in particular in agriculture and forestry.
This is a landscape of contrasts. Dramatic white chalk cliffs and downland create
a sense of openness. Enclosure and remoteness can be found in woodland and
even in close proximity to urban areas. This NCA provides a rich variety of wildlife
and habitats; rare and internationally important species, such as the Duke of
Burgundy butterfly, mature elms and rare ground-nesting birds all benefit from
the characteristic mixed farming systems. Recreational activities within the NCA
include cycling, walking and horse riding on the South Downs Way National Trail
which follows the ridge of the northern scarp and provides extensive panoramic
views. National Park status enhances the NCA’s recreational opportunities.
The Brighton groundwater management unit is the principal chalk aquifer
supplying Brighton and surrounding areas. It has been identified as being
under significant stress and is classified as having ‘no water available’, as is
the River Ouse water resource management unit (WRMU). The River Adur
WRMU, however, is classified as having ‘water available’. 4
In the west of the NCA, groundwater in the chalk feeds many of the rivers,
streams and wetlands in the area and provides most of the water abstracted
for public supply. The porosity of chalk is one of its most notable properties.
Rain is largely absorbed through tiny, connected pores instead of lying on the
surface and forming rivers, lakes and ponds. Rain water moves through the
thin chalk soils and slowly replenishes the chalk aquifer below.
125. South Downs
National Character
Area profile:
120
Wealden
Greensand
120
Wealden
Greensand
121
Low
Weald
121
Low Weald
124
Pevensey
Levels
130
Hamsphire
Downs
128
South
Hampshire
Lowlands
126
South
Coast Plain
126
South Coast Plain
106
Severn &
Avon Vales
Chichester
Harbour
High
Weald
South
Downs
South
Downs
National Character Area 125
South Downs
Note: In most instances, the NCA boundary is not
precisely mapped and should be considered as a
zone of transition between NCAs.
East Section
West Section
0 10km
NCA 125 boundary
Other NCA boundary
Area outside NCA 125
National Park
Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO.
Crown copyright and database right 2011. All rights reserved.
Natural England OS licence number 100022021
c
Key facts
and data
Analysis
Landscape
change

1 72 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11
Uses of the Description tab
Some examples of expected uses for the Summary and Description sections are;
■ As a robust evidence base to inform and support local projects and initiatives across the whole of England.
■ To consider alongside proposed projects and developments, for example green infrastructure projects, large planning proposals or
landscape scale nature conservation projects, to ensure they are in keeping with the character of the area, and identify what changes
could be made to conserve and enhance landscape character.
■ To inform local Landscape Character Assessments and Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments and ensure good join up from national
to local level.
■ As a framework for ourselves and partners to use across all our environmental interests.
Statements of Environmental Opportunity
Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEO) are the focal point of the NCA profiles; the point at which the descriptive, analytical and
data sections are brought together. They provide a concise outline of the key, locally specific actions that will help protect, manage and
plan for the future of assets and services that are valued, unique, or have unrealised potential. The main thrust of the SEO is an integrated
approach. They consider the multi-functional actions which bring benefits for landscape and biodiversity for its intrinsic worth, but also for
the effective functionality of the ecosystem services and their benefit to society.
Each NCA has three to five headline opportunities, introduced with a title giving an overview of the assets and services in focus, and
expanded upon in bullet points beneath. These give locally specific advice and guidance on the most significant opportunities in the NCA.
The SEO are based on the descriptive and analytical text throughout the other sections of the document and consequently the evidence
base motivating the SEO can be found throughout all parts of the profile.
Landscape change
This section examines the recent trends, pressures and
opportunities in each NCA. It contributes to the development of the
SEO as they need to address pressures and detrimental influences on
the landscape, and highlight opportunities arising from changes and
trends which could be positive. Landscape change has two sections.
’Recent change and trends’ highlights change across a range of
environmental topics such as woodland, semi-natural habitats and
agriculture; underpinned by Countryside Quality Counts and other
evidence. The description of ‘drivers of change’ looks forward at
likely pressures, including growth in demand for housing, minerals,
infrastructure developments and access and recreation pressures.
This section also examines the potential impacts of climate change
on the landscape and features of the NCA with a view to seeking
ways to mitigating these impacts through the integrated SEO.
32
48: Trent and Belvoir Vales
National Character
Area profile:
Recent changes and trends
Trees and woodlands
■ Assessment of 1999 to 2003 data indicates some enhancement in the levels
of woodland cover in the NCA.
■ Between 1999 and 2003 an area equivalent to 6 per cent of the 1999 total
stock was approved for new planting under a woodland grant scheme
agreement (304 ha). Most of this new planting was in scattered blocks on
the sandy soils west of Lincoln.
■ The total woodland area in 1999 was 4,962 ha. This had increased to 7,738
ha by 2011; however, part of this increase is due to greater accuracy in the
recording of woodland.
Boundary features
■ Assessment of hedgerows between 1999 and 2003 concluded that
poor hedgerow condition has been commonplace across the area with
hedgerows often excessively trimmed and gappy and that the few surviving
trees were often in poor condition.
■ Between 1999 and 2003 only 61 km of hedgerows within the NCA were under
hedgerow management agri-environment scheme agreements.
■ Management of hedgerows has improved in recent years with 3,814 km
under agri-environment scheme hedgerow management and maintenance
agreements as at January 2013.
■ While management of existing hedgerows has improved, planting of new
hedgerows and restoration of hedgerows remains limited. Between 1999
and 2003 only 107 km of hedgerows were planted and/or restored under
agri-environment agreements and between 2006 and January 2013 this had
dropped to just 70 km.
Agriculture
■ Agricultural changes that took place in the NCA between 2000 and 2009
are quantified in Defra’s Agricultural Census data. Changes include the total
number of farm holdings in the NCA dropped from 1,491 to 1,407 and total
farmland area decreased from 144,801 ha to 135,826 ha. The area of farmland
under cereals decreased from 72,658 ha to 60,523 ha oilseeds increased
from 13,928 ha to 22,976 ha. The area of farmland classified as ‘grass and
uncropped land’ decreased from 36,131 ha to 32,009 ha (24 per cent of all
farmland). Note that the 2000 figures include set aside land whereas the
2010 figures do not. The number of cattle decreased from 52,465 to 45,138;
number of sheep decreased from 84,179 to 58,393; and number of pigs
decreased from 124,287 to 61,776. The total farm labour force in the NCA
decreased from 4,358 to 3,447.
■ The Vale of Belvoir has seen a steady decline in permanent pasture and
conversion to arable uses. Increases in horse ownership across the NCA
have led to some permanent pasture being used as horse paddocks. There
has been pig and poultry unit expansion and upgrade across the NCA.
Supporting document 2: Landscape change
Key facts
and data
Analysis
Landscape
change
Uses for the Statements of Environmental Opportunity
Some examples of expected uses for the SEO are;
■ As conversation starters.
■ For supporting the work of others, to guide, inspire and support
local groups and partnerships with their environmental
conservation initiatives.
■ Initiating and informing landscape-scale project and delivery
work, for example by highlight opportunities for green
infrastructure, habitat expansion and accessible greenspace.
■ To inform decision-making when considering planning
applications and planning conditions.
■ To guide responses to strategic planning consultations, develop
priorities for landscape scale projects and funding applications,
and to inform management plans.
■ The supporting documents.
■ The remaining three tabs form the supporting documents; the
data, evidence and analysis which underpin the judgements in
the opportunities.
For example, by:
■ Conserving through careful management the historic environment of this
area, including its designated and undesignated historic assets, and the
landscape’s potential to reveal the prehistoric and later archaeology of
land use and settlement.
■ Minimising disturbance and damage to archaeological sites resulting
from cultivation, adopting shallow cultivation techniques in the sands
and gravels around the edge of the former glacial lake (Lake Pickering)
and the ‘ladder settlement’.
■ Minimising disturbance and damage to the peatland archaeology of
the internationally important Star Carr site and surrounds by restoring
hydrological integrity and preserving palaeo-environmental deposits in
wetland areas, and hence contributing to climate mitigation, regulating
water flow and restoring the wetland landscape.
■ Using palaeo-environmental evidence of past climate and vegetation
change in the Vale and human response to this to better inform current
and future decision making on land use and landscape change.
■ Developing approaches to interpret the varied soils of the Vale, explaining
how these interacted with hydrology and vegetation, to tell the story of
how soils have been adapted and changed by human intervention.
■ Ensuring that successional vegetation on important geological exposures
is actively managed so that the exposures remain visible.
■ Where possible, maintaining natural coastal processes, allowing the
natural ‘balancing’ of the coastline in line with its biodiversity and
geological and recreational value, and ensuring the supply of sediment to
downdrift coastlines, thus protecting both natural and man-made assets.
■ Ensuring that new development respects historic settlement patterns
and features, addressing the decline of historic buildings by repairing and
restoring them using traditional materials.
■ Strengthening historic field patterns through hedgerow or wet ditch
restoration and management, especially of early enclosure field systems,
hence strengthening wildlife corridors and other ecosystem services.
■ Conserving through appropriate management local historic features such
as traditional farmsteads, the ridge and furrow earthworks on upland
fringe pasture, and the linear strip fields east and west of Pickering,
thereby maintaining sense of place and understanding of cultural history,
historic environment and land management.
■ Taking opportunities to increase public awareness of the historic
importance of the Vale, encouraging educational links with local schools
and colleges, using activities such as the Star Carr Project excavations to
spotlight the Vale’s hidden past and interpret its drained landscape.
■ Promoting awareness of geological, geomorphological and soils features
including the former Lake Pickering, the nationally important exposures at
High Red Cliffs, Red Cliff and Gristhorpe Bay, and the cliffs and foreshore
between Scarborough and Cayton Bay, improving the long-term prognosis
for these important geological sites by ensuring that underlying factors
influencing their condition are properly understood and managed
appropriately, for example dynamic coastal processes and scrub succession.
SEO 2: Protect and enhance the historic landscape and geodiversity of the Vale, promoting greater understanding of this to inform current and future decisions
on how the landscape is used.
16
26. Vale of Pickering
National Character
Area profile:
Key facts
and data
Analysis
Landscape
change

1 72 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11
Key facts and data
For the first time, a range of environmental data across numerous
different topics has been brought together and ‘cut’ to NCAs. This
gives readers and users easy access to a database of facts about
their area. The full suite of 159 completed key facts documents was
published in July 2012 as a preliminary tool to offer to customers
during the process of updating the full profiles. They provide facts
about the spatial distribution, type and quantity of components
and features within the NCA and include topics such as geology,
soils, woodland, semi-natural habitats, agricultural statistics, levels
of tranquillity and access and recreation facilities. Data is based
upon nationally available datasets and qualitative research, and GIS
data layers have been brought together to support the information
in this section. Data sources are referenced fully in the supporting
document available on the internet.
Analysis – landscape attributes underpinning the profile and SEO
The final tab contains background and analytical information and
is intended for those who want more detailed information and are
keen to investigate the evidence behind the summary sections at the
front of the document.
The first part identifies landscape attributes and opportunities for
enhancing the landscape. These are critical in defining the landscape
characteristics; landscape in its holistic sense, incorporating
biodiversity, geodiversity, landscape character and the historic
environment. This section draws out what attributes define the
‘sense of place’ of an NCA, as well as highlighting the area’s most
valuable attributes. It justifies why these attributes are important to
the NCA. The information is tabulated for ease of use and to inform
the creation of ‘landscape opportunities’. These focus only on the
natural and cultural attributes, which are then used to inform and
underpin the SEO.
Analysis – ecosystems services approach underpinning the profile
and SEO
Ecosystem services describe the benefits people obtain from the
natural world. These can be classified as supporting, provisioning,
regulating and cultural services. The ecosystem service approach
is essentially about seeking to ensure that the right environmental
outcomes occur in the right locations to deliver the greatest range of
benefits to society.
We have selected a range of provisioning, regulating and cultural
ecosystem services for the NCA profiles. This includes provision
of food, water and timber, regulation of soil and water quality
and erosion, sense of place, sense of history, biodiversity and
geodiversity among others. We have provided a description of the
main assets underpinning each service, identifying their current
state, the scale at which they operate, analysis of what may be
influencing them and what opportunities exist for enhancing
each service. Where a service is making a major contribution in an
NCA, or has the potential to make a significant contribution, these
opportunities are taken forward and integrated into the SEO.
Ecosystem services analysis and SEO cross impact matrix
This matrix illustrates the relationship between SEO and ecosystem
services. It adheres to the UK National Ecosystem Assessment, and
has a similar style of cross-impact matrix. In it we predict the likely
direction of change an SEO may bring and our levels of confidence
associated with this.
Uses for the Ecosystem Service analysis
■ As a conversation starter, a first attempt to detail locally specific
information for each ecosystem service across the whole
country.
■ To provide a clear indication of the key services in an area to help
users ensure these are conserved and enhanced.
■ To ensure key services are not damaged as a result of
inappropriate actions.
NOTE: A printed copy of a full NCA profile is included with the
award submission as additional material. We would also very much
encourage readers to go to the website to view a profile online as the
interactive nature of the online versions is very user friendly.
Service
Assets/
attributes:
main
contributors
to service State Mainbeneficiary Analysis Opportunities
Principal services
offered by
opportunities
Timber
provision
The pine and
broadleaf
woodlands of
Thetford Forest
cover nearly
20 per cent of
the NCA and
are managed
for timber
alongside other
interests.
Soils
Over a quarter of the
character area (28 per
cent) is woodland, which
is predominantly made
up of large commercial
conifer plantations on
historic heathland sites. The
woodland sites are managed
to benefit wildlife with felling
undertaken to produce
areas of open heath habitat.
About 32 per cent of this
woodland is broadleaved
woodland, and of this 2.6 per
cent is recorded as ancient
semi-natural woodland.
The commercial woodland
areas, known as ‘Thetford
Forest’. The woodlands
are major producers of
softwood products (for
example for construction,
fencing materials). Thetford
Forest includes multiple use
areas for recreation, wildlife
conservation and timber
production.
National The timber woodland sites of Thetford Forest
are an important wildlife resource supporting
rare plants, invertebrates, bats and birds
as well as providing a popular recreational
resource for the public which is supported by
the freely-draining soils.
An increase in timber production could
increase the varied mosaic of habitats with
more heathland and acid grassland creation
within the felled forest clearings. Further
tree planting could also increase climate
change regulation through increased carbon
sequestration and bring local benefits
to renewable energy through biomass
production from forest waste being used to
locally generate heat and energy. An increase
in timber provision would require new land
presently not wooded to be planted and
this land would need to be appropriately
identified so as not to affect other important
habitats (heathland/grassland and wetlands),
food provision or areas of archaeological
resource. There may be potential for new
woodland sites on marginal agricultural land
and land bordering existing woodland.
There are opportunities to further
enhance woodland management
to improve biodiversity, refresh
landscape features, provide
sustainable heating fuel, recreate
historic land use, create profit and
secure jobs.
There are opportunities to
contribute to energy security
through the provision of low-
carbon bio fuels.
There are opportunities to ensure
continued careful planning of
felling and woodland management
to retain the variety of different
woodland structures and transitions
to heath and woodland edge
habitats for the benefit of wildlife
as well as providing year-round
recreational opportunities on the
freely-draining soils of the forest.
There may also be opportunities
to increase timber production
through further tree planting
within appropriate settings.
Timber provision
Biomass energy
Biodiversity
Recreation
Climateregulation
Sense of place
55
85. The Brecks
National Character
Area profile:
Key facts
and data
Analysis
Landscape
change
Supporting document 3: Analysis supporting Statements of
Environmental Opportunity
45
The following analysis shows the projected impact of Statement of Environmental Opportunity on ecosystem service provision:
Statement of Environmental Opportunity
Ecosystem Service
Foodprovision
Timberprovision
Wateravailability
Geneticdiversity
Biomassprovision
Climateregulation
Regulatingwaterquality
Regulatingwaterflow
Regulatingsoilquality
Regulatingsoilerosion
Pollination
Pestregulation
Regulatingcoastalerosion
Senseofplace/inspiration
Senseofhistory
Tranquility
Recreation
Biodiversity
Geodiversity
SEO 1: Conserve, enhance and increase public awareness of the distinctive heritage landscape of
the Brecks, which is of national and international significance through securing and expanding
its unique and varied habitat mosaic, protecting and managing its sensitive periglacial landscape
and enhancing sustainable recreation opportunities.
SEO 2: Manage the Brecks’ distinctive agricultural landscape to benefit biodiversity, soil and water
quality, by promoting sustainable but productive farming practices, that are able to adapt to
changing agricultural economics, the considerable challenge of climate change and the increasing
water stress within the NCA.
*** *** ** *** *** ** ** ** ** ** *** *** *** *** ** *** *** ***
*** *** ** *** ** ** *** *** *** *** ** ** ** ** *** *** *** **
Note: Arrows shown in the table above indicate anticipated impact on service delivery: = Increase = Slight Increase = No change = Slight Decrease = Decrease. Asterisks denote
confidence in projection (*low **medium***high) ° symbol denotes where insufficient information on the likely impact is available.
Dark plum = National Importance; Mid plum = Regional Importance; Light plum = Local Importance
85. The Brecks
National Character
Area profile:
Key facts
and data
Analysis
Landscape
change

1 72 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11
9 Audiences
A broad constituency
The NCA profiles make evidence available to a wide audience. One of
the aims is to enable the conservation of the natural environment to
be a focus for joint working, sharing expertise and resources across
a range of sectors including government and public bodies, non-
government and voluntary organisations, local community groups,
business and education.
■ The NCA profiles are being updated as one of our commitments
to implement the Natural Environment White Paper, supporting
Biodiversity 2020 and our obligations under the European
Landscape Convention. In this context, the work helps to bridge
audiences from national and local scales.
■ Users of the information in the profiles range across politicians,
strategists, practitioners, students and researchers, and
individuals with a broad interest in the natural environment.
■ An established audience exists to build from, as the previous
Character Area descriptions were widely used, especially in local
landscape and planning sectors.
Bringing different perspectives together
The NCA profiles draw together a lot of information into one
document. This will be of great value to users who require a more
in-depth understanding of a place. Many advisers and consultants
working ‘in the field’ will want to absorb all the evidence to gain
an integrated picture of the landscapes they are engaged with on
a day to day basis. Equally, as the profiles are available online as
interactive documents, different types of information can quickly
be retrieved. For example, the underpinning key facts and data or
Statements of Environmental Opportunity could be a starting point
for local communities or educators planning new projects as well as
strategists involved with setting targets or monitoring change.
■ From whatever direction they are approached, the NCA profiles
have the potential to bring together different types of audiences
around a core body of evidence to tackle common issues and
help reach consensus.
■ The NCA profiles have the potential to inform people’s
perceptions of a place and broaden aspirations.
Engaging with the audience
The following section provides examples of how we are embedding
the NCA profiles though engaging with communities of interest and
of place. Ultimately it will be through audiences participating in and
using the profiles that positive outcomes will be achieved on the
ground, and that profiles remain proactive and up-to-date.
Image 10: NCA 54 Manchester Pennine Fringe.

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