153 - Bodmin Moor : Analysis: Landscape Attributes & Opportunities

Analysis supporting Statements of Environmental Opportunity

The following analysis section focuses on the landscape attributes and opportunities for this NCA.

Further analysis on ecosytem services for this NCA is contained in the Analysis: Ecosytem Services section.

Landscape attributes

A diverse landscape of uplands often contrasting dramatically from surrounding lowlands.

Justification for selection:

• The upland landscape is particularly distinctive for its granite tors, clitter slopes, windswept moorland, and wooded valleys and combes all of which are highly recognisable by residents and visitors alike.
• The valley landscape around the fringes of the area is equally distinctive and complementary to the windswept uplands.
• A landscape of special scenic qualities and beauty; Cornwall AONB comprises 71 per cent of the NCA.

An open, mainly treeless moorland, with extensive tracts of heather, blanket bog, mire, grass heath and bracken traditionally grazed by cattle.

Justification for selection:

• Important deposits of peat and blanket bog, heaths and moors, much with SSSI status. Many areas are comprised of a mosaic of several BAP priority habitats including; heath, blanket bog, purple moor grass and rush pasture.
• The openness of the area enables long views reinforcing a sense of elevation, remoteness, freedom, and removal from modern bustle.
• Cattle and ponies are traditionally a feature of the grazed moorland although sheep are dominant in number, with hardy breeds being favoured due to their ability to survive in this harsh environment.
• These open habitats support populations of marsh fritillary butterflies and large over wintering populations of golden plover.

A long history of human occupation is evident in the numerous heritage assets to be found across the landscape.

Justification for selection:

• The story of human occupation is told by many, often protected, heritage assets to be found including prehistoric barrows, stone circles, hill-top enclosures and early settlements.
• The south-eastern corner of the NCA contains the Caradon Mining District part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. There are 407 Scheduled Monuments, a wealth of Listed Buildings, and historical remains illustrating continuous human occupation since Neolithic times.
• Cornish hedges are a distinctive feature contributing to the sense of place, as well as being important historical features and wildlife corridors allowing species movement and migration.

A distinct and varied pattern of fields, enclosures and settlements reflecting a long and ongoing history of agricultural activity and dispersed settlement.

Justification for selection:

• Ancient, irregular fields surrounding the moor, enclosed by hedgebanks, occasional stone faced.
• The scarcity of settlement in the open high moorland contributes to the area’s sense of peace and tranquillity, but where it occurs, provides testimony to the long history of human endeavour.
• A unifying vernacular architecture of local stone and simple white-washed dwellings reinforces an historic and traditional sense of place, closely linked to the evolution of the landscape.

A landscape of great tranquillity particularly on the high moorland plateau.

Justification for selection:

• Some 84 per cent of the area is classified as undisturbed in CPRE’s Intrusion Map, with the moors away from the A30 being the most tranquil places.
• Some of the steep-sided, wooded valleys around the fringe of the Moor also provide undisturbed and tranquil places

An extensive network of rights of way and open access land exists.

Justification for selection:

• Open access land and the extensive public rights of way network provide opportunities for exploration of the landscape by foot or on horseback.
• The accessibility of the landscape enables the study and interpretation of the wealth of geodiversity, historic environment and natural history.

A network of small streams feeding into five main rivers that then plunge off the Moor.

Justification for selection:

• Many streams rise on the Moor and then meander through areas of mire and bog before descending over waterfalls and through steep-sided wooded valleys before leaving the NCA for the sea.

Areas of broadleaved woodland and conifer plantation, mainly around the fringe of the Moor, contrast with the open, windswept high ground.

Justification for selection:

• Although only making up less than 3.3 per cent of the area the dark green conifer plantations are prominent landscape features that contrast with the open moorland of the surrounding area.
• Scattered stunted broadleaved woodlands, provide the transition between the open moorland and the more fertile rives valleys that lead off the Moor.

Landscape opportunities

• Conserve the landscape’s local distinctiveness and high levels of tranquillity, with exposed high open moorland and with more intimate wooded valleys, ancient pasture fields, and historic settlements.
• Manage through continued extensive grazing the open heather moor, re-linking remnant areas of heather moorland and maintaining the open character of the landscape. Further extend connectivity by the reversion, where appropriate, of areas of conifer plantation to open moorland when plantations reach maturity.
• Manage and extend the internationally important wetland habitats – blanket bog, valley mire, wet heath and rush pasture – of North and South Moor, to form a strengthened and more climate change-resilient resource.
• Protect from damage and appropriately manage the area’s rich cultural heritage, most notably prehistoric and bronze-age remains, hilltop enclosures and earthworks, and the significant industrial heritage linked to the history of tin and copper mining.
• Sympathetic management practices should be adhered to within the World Heritage Site particularly where they also benefit biodiversity, landscape, culture and economic prosperity complementary to the heritage features and assets.
• Actively manage and expand areas of semi-natural habitat including mire, bog and open moorland communities to re-connect fragmented habitats for the benefit of both common and rare and threatened species.
• Expand the links provided by semi-natural habitats, hedgebanks, walls and valley woodlands to form a connected and resilient network of habitat that can allow species and habitat space to adapt to a changing climate.
• Sympathetically manage any future increases in settlement to ensure that these are complimentary both to the existing settlement pattern and the character of the landscape.
• Increase the opportunities presented through the use of technology, for users of the area to understand and appreciate the unique scenic beauty and special qualities.