44 - Central Lincolnshire Vale : Natural Capital and Key Ecosystem Services

Introduction

The Central Lincolnshire Vale NCA provides a wide range of benefits to society. Each is derived from the attributes and processes (both natural and cultural features) within the area. These benefits are known collectively as ‘ecosystem services’. The predominant services are summarised below. Further information on ecosystem services provided in the Central Lincolnshire Vale NCA is contained in the ‘Analysis’ section of this website.

What is Natural Capital?

Natural capital means “the elements of nature that directly or indirectly produce value to people, including ecosystems, species, freshwater, land, minerals, the air and oceans, as well as natural processes and functions” (Natural Capital Committee, 2017).

It is helpful to consider natural capital in the form of a logic chain that represents the links between ecosystem assets, services, benefits and value to people. The figure below displays that logic chain. The quantity and quality of ecosystem assets (woodland, bogs, etc) support different types of ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration or water filtration. These ecosystem services then provide different benefits to society, providing value for people. The figure also shows how management interventions, as well as pressures and drivers of change, influence this chain. Other capital inputs are also often needed for people to obtain the benefits from ecosystem services (a simple example is the processing of trees to produce wood products).

As an example, an area of woodland (ecosystem asset) may reduce air pollution created by traffic on a nearby road. This woodland is therefore improving air quality (ecosystem service) in the local area which results in cleaner air and improved health in the adjacent residential street (benefit). This cleaner air has a value because we know it impacts the health and wellbeing of communities.

Sometimes for ease of understanding, economic framing is used to give these benefits a monetary value. The figure below shows how natural capital assets support the provision of ecosystem services, benefits and value. The roots of the tree show how aspects of asset quality are critical to the provision of ecosystem services. The roots also show that geodiversity underpins the ecosystem assets and therefore the ecosystem services and benefits they can provide. It is important to remember that this diagram, and natural capital frameworks more generally, are a simplification of how nature works in practice.

Natural Capital within this NCA

In 2018, Natural England published ‘Natural Capital Indicators: for defining and measuring change in natural capital’ (Lusardi et al., 2018). This report identified key properties of the natural environment vital for the long-term sustainability of benefits, which can act as indicators of change.

These indicators are designed to inform our understanding of the state of our natural assets. The indicators highlight the importance of our natural assets for delivering which ecosystem service and the benefits they provide for society. The indicators and datasets identified in Natural England’s Natural Capital Indicators Project provide the foundation for the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles.

Natural England’s Natural Capital Atlas Profiles provide an “off the shelf” natural capital evidence base for each county or city region. They have a wide variety of uses with more information in the How to Start Using Your Natural Capital Atlas.

The Natural Capital indicators are presented on the map below by broad asset theme, displaying the natural capital within the NCA.

It is noted that not all indicators listed within the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles are included within the map as data is not yet available to measure them. Refer to the “Indicator Gaps and Limitations” of the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles for further information.

Natural Capital Atlas Profiles

The following Natural Capital Atlas Profiles cover counties within this NCA:
 

• 11: East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull and the Humber
• 23: Lincolnshire

Provisioning services (food, fibre and water supply)

Food provision: This is an important area for farming, especially cereal production. Farmland covered 77 per cent of the total area in 2009 and three-quarters of this was under arable production. In recent decades a programme of agricultural improvement has led to an increase in the overall yield of food crops. In some situations this intensification has had an effect on the value of some ecosystem services such as biodiversity, water and soil quality. Farm businesses should seek to employ sustainable agricultural practices in the future to benefit both food provision and the natural environment over the long term.

Timber provision: Total woodland cover in 2011 was 6,273 ha, 8 per cent of total area: of this, 4,074 ha was broadleaved, 1,646 ha coniferous, 51 ha mixed and 501 ha other. The main areas of woodland are Bardney Forest and on the sandy soils of the Coversands and the Fen Edge Gravels. Forestry Commission managed woodlands are significant in the NCA with large coniferous plantations on former heathland sites around Market Rasen and to a lesser extent by Woodhall Spa. There are also some coniferous and mixed Forestry Commission plantations within the Limewoods area on sites of former ancient woodland. Much of this resource is coming to harvesting age.

Water availability: The predominant boulder clay derived soils underlain by mudstone bedrock mean that soil water availability is generally naturally high. Numerous streams drain across the landscape from their source in the Wolds into the main rivers of the Ancholme and Witham. The Lincolnshire Limestone aquifer which underlies the mudstone across most of the Vale is also an important source of water. Water levels in the Ancholme and Witham rivers are artificially maintained by the transfer of water from the River Trent, to support public water supply. There is also a demand for water for irrigation of crops. For information regarding the current state of water availability within this NCA, refer to the Environment Agency (Abstraction Licensing Strategy).

Regulating services (water purification, air quality maintenance and climate regulation)

Regulating soil quality: Given that the soils of the Vale support substantial agricultural production, regulation of soil quality is an important ecosystem service in this NCA. The main soil types, are the base-rich loamy and clayey soils (51 per cent of the NCA), which are easily damaged when wet so there is a need to minimise compaction and capping risk which can cause and exacerbate run-off problems with consequent impacts on water quality. Careful timing of activities is required to reduce this likelihood, while increasing organic matter levels can help to minimise problems. The next main soil types, are the very acid sandy and loamy soils (17 per cent) which have developed over the Coversands and the Fen Edge Gravels. These are easily worked but have a weak structure which can be easily damaged by cultivation making it vulnerable to wind and water erosion with consequent impacts on water quality. Additions of organic matter can increase stability where it is cultivated.

Regulating water quality: For information regarding the current state of water quality within this NCA, refer to the Environment Agency (Draft river basin management plan maps).

Cultural services (inspiration, education and wellbeing)

Sense of history: Sense of history is ingrained in this landscape through the numerous deserted and shrunken medieval villages and the profusion of former monastic sites as well as the area’s traditional buildings, the distinctive Tudor brick tower of Tattershall Castle and the old stone churches of the villages. The numerous ancient woodlands of the Vale also contribute to the sense of history, especially the Limewoods which may have been continuously wooded since the end of the last ice age. While the farming heritage of the Vale is strong, some of the impacts of agricultural improvements and modern commercial agriculture have been negative in terms of the historic character of the NCA, such as the removal of hedgerows and the neglect of farm buildings and other traditional farmland features.

Tranquillity: The Vale’s thinly scattered population, sparse network of quiet minor roads and general lack of urban development mean that tranquillity is significant, with 71 per cent of the area in 2007 classified as undisturbed from urban development, traffic noise and other sources of visual and auditory intrusion. The most tranquil areas are within parts of the Ancholme Valley and in the Bardney Limewoods area.

Recreation: The Vale’s location in close proximity to Lincoln combined with its appealing attributes make its recreation appeal significant. Recreation assets include the Witham corridor green infrastructure link with Lincoln; close proximity of the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB and the Wolds scarp; the Viking Way long-distance footpath and the range of other walking routes; Woodhall Spa resort; the woodlands and heathlands; the suitability of the topography and network of quiet lanes for cycling; and the heritage assets.

Biodiversity: Although the overall extent of semi-natural habitats is extremely limited, the Vale’s remaining habitats support a high diversity of species. Habitats range from acidic grassland, heathland and ancient deciduous woodland to wetland habitats, while its farmland habitats are important to farmland birds. Recent habitat creation in parts of the Vale – such as wet grassland creation within the Ancholme flood plain and woodland creation and habitat linkages within the Limewoods area – are helping to improve biodiversity resource.

Geodiversity: The Vale has a wide diversity of geology, especially its superficial geology and the soils that have arisen. This includes the clayey soils over the main part of the Vale, the sandy soils of the Coversands and Fen Edge Gravels, the lime-rich soils over the chalk of the Wolds and the peaty soils of the upper Ancholme Valley. Other assets include the Wolds scarp, the Lincolnshire Limestone aquifer, the rich fossil fauna of the bedrock mudstones and the sand and gravel deposits.