73 - Charnwood : Analysis: Ecosystem Services

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Arable fields
• Dairy farms
• Pasture
• Soils

State – Between 2000 and 2009 there was a small reduction in grazing livestock units. The numbers of dairy farms and cereal farms increased slightly. Cattle are the most numerous livestock within this landscape.

The pasture farmland supports an important dairy and livestock industry.

Some 75 per cent of the area is classified as Grade 3, with only 7 per cent classified as Grade 2 and another 7 per cent as Grade 4.

Slightly acid, loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage cover 35% of the NCA. Slowly permeable, seasonally wet, acid, loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage cover 4% and freely draining, slightly acid, loamy soils cover 1%.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The landscape is mainly pastoral and supports an important dairy industry. This industry, along with arable farming, provides multiple benefits in terms of maintaining the level of food production, preserving the historic landscape character and for biodiversity. The numbers of livestock could potentially put pressure on the watercourses and soil quality.

Opportunities – Working with land managers and farmers to support pastoral food production and the multiple benefits it brings for biodiversity, soil quality, carbon storage, water quality, water availability and landscape.

Enhancing historic landscapes by working with land managers to alter cultivation practices to avoid damaging historic landscape patterns and buried archaeology, while maintaining levels of food production.

Promoting the management of traditional field boundaries including drystone walls, parliamentary enclosure patterns and species-rich hedgerows.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Food provision
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place
• Sense of history
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Conifer plantations
• National Forest area
• Woodlands
• Soils

State – Existing woodland cover represents 16% of the NCA.

Area of conifer plantation: 302 ha (2%).

Area of broadleaf woodland: 1,971 ha (11%).

Some 58% of Charnwood is within The National Forest. Woodland planting is taking place within the NCA thanks to The National Forest.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Existing woodland cover within the NCA is high (16%), however the area of conifer plantation (primary timber source) is fairly low (2%). Much of the conifer woodland is on ancient sites, which means that this will only be a one-off resource. The area of broadleaf woodland is high (11%), so there is scope for lots of low-grade timber such as firewood.

Thanks to initiatives like The National Forest, woodland cover (particularly broadleaved) is likely to increase.

This will not only be beneficial for biodiversity, soil quality, soil erosion and water quality, but also for recreation and as a potential local source of wood fuel.

Opportunities – Extending and creating native woodlands throughout Charnwood through the use of planting, regeneration and the restoration of previous ancient woodland sites. This could take place in areas where it will not undermine other existing and future biodiversity resources, or compromise the distinctive land use mosaic that gives the area its unique character.

Promoting sustainable woodland management practices, such as coppicing, pollarding, and rotational wood fuel production, to increase carbon storage and sequestration, and to improve the resilience of woodlands to climate change.

Supporting The National Forest incentives to increase appropriate woodland creation and restoration, and open up woodland access routes to the public. Extending woodland around settlements and infrastructure developments, to reduce light pollution, sound pollution and the visual impacts of further urbanisation. Using the by-products of timber as a local source of wood fuel.

Sensitively designing woodland creation so as not to reduce the limited arable land, or obscure valued views and rock exposures.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Timber provision
• Recreation
• Climate regulation
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Biomass energy
• Sense of place

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Blackbrook, Swithland, Thornton and Cropston reservoirs
• The reservoirs are supplied by the River Lin

State – There are some issues with sedimentation.

Cropston and Swithland reservoirs are fed by the River Lin. Abstraction can also take place from the Rothley Brook to supply Cropston Reservoir. Blackbrook Reservoir is fed by Black Brook.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – At Cropston Reservoir the pressures affecting water quality are pesticides, such as metaldehyde (a molluscicide), and nutrients from agriculture and rural land management.

Supply of water to Leicester and surrounding locations is required. This will only increase, as expansion is taking place in Leicester and the surrounding towns.

Opportunities – Protecting and managing the supply of water to the reservoirs that provide water for Leicester and surrounding areas.

Managing present siltation problems, which are contributing to the reduced capacity of Cropston Reservoir.

Continuing to manage Cropston Reservoir, aiming to protect and enhance catchments.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Water availability
• Biodiversity
• Regulating water quality
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rare breed cattle, sheep and pigs

State – Traditional animal breeds (such as Hebridean sheep, English Longhorn cattle, and other cattle and pigs) are a feature of some farms.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Maintaining rare breeds is important for food security and for maintaining genetic diversity.

Hardy, adaptable rare breeds can also aid future land management through conservation grazing. This will help to maintain a sense of place and increase biodiversity.

Opportunities – Supporting both existing and new rare and ancient breed farms, for local food production and conservation grazing.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Genetic diversity
• Food production
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Woodland

State – The soils in the east lend themselves to high yields of miscanthus.

The existing woodland cover is at 16%.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – High potential for the provision of biomass, both through bringing unmanaged woodland under management, and as a by-product of commercial timber production.

Generally, the NCA has medium potential for short rotation coppice, but there are some areas of high potential around Coalville and in the area between Markfield and Swithland. Potential miscanthus yield is generally medium, although there is an area of high yield in the east of the NCA, to the south of Loughborough and north of Leicester. This needs to be done sensitively so as to maintain Charnwood’s characteristic land-use mix and not to reduce the already- limited arable land, or obscure valued views ,and rock exposures, or cause detriment to buried archaeology.

Opportunities – Where appropriate, working with The National Forest and others to develop the potential for coppice and/or pollard management to produce a supply of biomass material.

Growing renewable energy crops adjacent to existing woodland, to reduce the visual impacts and concentrate sources of supply.

Supporting The National Forest Company in promoting wood fuel as a source of renewable green energy.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biomass energy
• Climate regulation
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Biodiversity
• Timber provision

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Existing woodlands.
• New woodland planting – The National Forest. Permanent pasture.
• Soils

State – 16% of the area is woodland and 11% of that is broadleaved.

The mineral soils covering much of the NCA have low carbon levels (generally between 0% and 5%).

Permanent pasture, found throughout much of the area, provides improved soil carbon storage capacity.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – While, at present, 16% of Charnwood is covered by mature woodland, a significant area of new woodland has been created as part of The National Forest. This will mature to make a large contribution to climate regulation, as it improves soil structure.

Carbon sequestration and storage in mineral soils can be raised by improving soil structure, steadily increasing organic matter inputs, and by reducing the frequency/ area of cultivation. Soil carbon and soil carbon storage will be higher under areas of woodland, permanent pasture and heathland.

Opportunities – Increasing woodland and maintaining heathland in good condition to benefit carbon storage in soils.

Increasing woodland planting to provide carbon sequestration. Increasing woodland management (such as coppicing and pollarding) to increase both sequestration and the resilience of woodlands to climate change.

Ensuring that any new woodland planting is generally appropriate, making a contribution to increasing the overall woodland coverage in the region and integrating new development into the landscape, as well as boosting carbon storage.

Encouraging the maintenance of permanent pasture to increase soil carbon storage, with a subsequent improvement in soil quality.

Encouraging minimum tillage to limit the release of carbon.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Climate regulation
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodlands, hedgerows, buffer strips
• Rivers, streams and reservoirs
• Soils

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

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Water quality is particularly important in Cropston Reservoir, which provides water for the surrounding area. Buffering watercourses and reservoirs, slowing the pathway of run-off, could have significant impacts on regulating soil erosion and subsequent sedimentation, biodiversity and soil quality.

At Cropston Reservoir the pressures affecting water quality are pesticides, such as metaldehyde (a molluscicide), and nutrients from agriculture and rural land management.

Opportunities – Woodland planting, increasing the amount of riparian vegetation and strengthening hedgerow networks (particularly cross-slope hedgerows), will all aid in the capture of chemicals and nutrients before they enter the groundwater. They will also filter or slow sediments and organic matter, preventing them from travelling into the watercourses feeding the main reservoirs.

Managing agricultural land through extensive grazing (where possible)  particularly adjacent to watercourses. Reducing fertiliser inputs to improve the quality of the water flowing into the streams.

Providing buffer strips of semi-natural vegetation around the reservoirs, and increasing the quantity of reedbeds to naturally filter the water.

Targeting the use of agri-environment schemes to deliver water framework directive priorities.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating water quality
• Biodiversity
• Water availability
• Sense of place
• Recreation
• Climate regulation
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water flow
• Biomass energy

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Reservoirs, rivers, streams and ponds
• Woodlands and hedgerows
• Permanent pasture
• Soils

State – The main catchment within the NCA is that of the River Trent. The Environment Agency flood risk map indicates that, for much of the NCA, flood risk is minimal. This is because of the elevation of the NCA and the general lack of major watercourses, although there is some localised risk of flooding associated with Cropston Reservoir.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The suggested approach to flood risk management includes investigating land use changes that will reduce run-off rates. This may also lessen soil erosion on cultivated land, and identify locations where flood attenuation ponds or wetland areas could be developed. There would be associated habitat improvement and potential sites for Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitat creation.

The acid, loamy and clayey soils with poor drainage also contribute to the increased run-off rates.

The existing network of hedgerows, extensive areas of woodland and permanent pasture can also contribute to the reduction in water flow rates and increased water infiltration.

Opportunities – Conserving and extending riparian habitats such as bogs, marshes, reedbeds and wet alder woodland along the streams and surrounding the reservoirs.

Increasing woodland creation and restoration, and strengthening hedgerow networks. Maintaining areas of permanent pasture.

Reducing water infiltration, encouraging good soil management and reducing poaching and compaction.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating water quality
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils, woodlands, heathlands and hedgerows

State – This area has five main soil types. Slightly acid, loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage cover 35% of the NCA. Slowly permeable, seasonally wet, acid, loamy and clayey soils also cover 35%. Slowly permeable, seasonally wet, slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils cover 23%. Lime-rich, loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage cover 4% and freely draining, slightly acid, loamy soils cover 1%.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The slightly acid, loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage (covering 35%) are easily poached by livestock and compacted by machinery when the soil is wet. Weak topsoil structures can easily be damaged. Careful timing of activities is required to reduce the likelihood of soil compaction.

The slowly permeable, seasonally wet, acid, loamy and clayey soils (35%) and the slowly permeable, seasonally wet, slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils (23%) are at risk of diffuse pollution and flooding, as a result of poor water infiltration. Soils are easily damaged when wet, and therefore it is important to minimise compaction and/or capping risk, which will tend to exacerbate run-off problems. These soils may have limited potential for increasing organic matter levels through management interventions.

Opportunities – Increasing woodland/heathland cover, ensuring appropriate grazing levels to prevent erosion and compaction.

Encouraging best farming practices – reducing stocking rate and machinery operations on more vulnerable soils during protracted wet periods, encouraging permanent leys to improve soil structure, minimising cultivation, and steadily increasing organic matter content.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating water quality
• Biodiversity
• Water availability

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodlands
• Hedgerows
• Wet woodlands
• Reedbeds
• Pasture

State – Some soil types found in the NCA are at risk of erosion, particularly the loamy soils with impeded drainage, and those on steeper slopes and adjacent to watercourses.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Soils are easily compacted by machinery or livestock if accessed when wet, increasing the risks of soil erosion by surface water run-off, especially on steeper slopes.

The potential for soil erosion is exacerbated where organic matter levels are low after repeated and frequent arable cultivation, or where soils are compacted. There is the potential for wind erosion on some coarse-textured cultivated variants.

Opportunities – Increasing woodland and shelterbelts, and restoring ‘gappy’ hedgerows and drystone walls that are in poor condition, to act as wind breaks and bind the soil.

Managing and increasing riparian habitats (including reedbeds and wet woodland) to reduce soil erosion rates and to capture migrating soils before they enter the reservoirs and streams.

Working with farmers and landowners to choose options within agri-environment schemes that will help to regulate soil erosion.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil erosion
• Biodiversity
• Water quality
• Water availability
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil quality
• Sense of place

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Lowland heath
• Species-rich hedgerows
• Arable margins

State – There are 494 ha of lowland heath, producing both early (gorse) and late (heather) nectar sources.

An extensive network of species-rich hedgerows is found throughout the area.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The hedgerows and heathland provide good corridors and habitats for pollinators.

Species-rich hedgerows, managed to maintain a diversity of structure and maturity, provide the best sources and networks for pollinating invertebrates to move through and between food crops. Over-management and uniformity of structure diminish the benefits provided.

Heathland will support a diverse range of pollinating invertebrates and, where it is adjacent to certain food crops, can assist with pollination.

Opportunities – Managing the heathland in favourable condition to encourage the greatest diversity of plants that will attract pollinating invertebrates.

Exploring the potential to re-create heathland (and other BAP habitats that are beneficial to pollinating invertebrates), by increasing its quality and extent, and by strengthening the interconnectivity of habitat networks.

Creating a habitat mosaic of heathland, woodland, semi-natural grassland, and arable margins, to bring a structural diversity and a variety of flowering plants that can provide breeding sites and a food source for pollinators.

Managing hedgerows to maintain a diverse range of flowering species, hedge age and structure.

Strengthening the hedgerows and habitats to contribute to soil quality, reduce erosion and add to the storage of carbon.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pollination
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Climate regulation
• Food provision

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Semi-natural habitat
• Heathland
• Hedgerows
• Grass margins
• Woodlands

State – The semi-natural and most long- standing habitats in the area support a variety of predatory species, such as beetles, which can contribute to the regulation of populations of pests.

Ancient, semi-natural woodland, wood pasture and parkland containing ancient and veteran trees.

Some 494 ha of lowland heath.

Permanent pasture and semi-improved grassland.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – This NCA provides a wide range of habitats for species that contribute to the regulation of pests.

Fragmentation and breaks in the network of habitats may limit the movement and effectiveness of predatory species.

Opportunities – Enhancing and expanding the network of semi-natural habitats that aid the movement of predatory species and bring benefits for pest regulation, as well as pollination and biodiversity.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pest regulation
• Pollination
• Biodiversity
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water quality

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rocky outcrops and crags
• Elevated position affording extensive views
• The National Forest, woodlands, parks
• Pastoral landscape
• Stone buildings
• Charnwood Forest

State – The elevated landform of Charnwood, with its exposed rocky outcrops and crags, hedged and walled pastoral fields, and dispersed settlement, provides a strong sense of place and identity that distinguishes it from the surrounding lower-lying plain and adjacent conurbations.

The National Forest extends into Charnwood and aims to ‘enhance the existing historic and upland landscape, mixing farm woodlands with woods planted for nature conservation’. The proposal is to use woodland to ‘frame’ the existing landscape of open country and towns and villages, which would strengthen the sense of place further.

Pasture and grazing animals, mainly cattle, are the principal land use, with occasional arable interspersed with substantial areas of woodland to create a diverse, heterogeneous landscape.

Linear settlement and older buildings of distinctive Mountsorrel Granodiorite stone.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – Management to maintain locally distinctive features and elements is also likely to increase the sense of history, with many of them having deep-rooted cultural associations. Conserving and enhancing the distinct landscape character is also likely to benefit biodiversity, by enhancing or expanding the range of habitats such as woodlands and heathlands.

Reinforcing the sense of place has the potential to further increase the attractiveness of the area to visitors.

Pressure on the distinctiveness of the area and its sense of place comes from expanding urban areas at the periphery, and from increased infrastructure development. The pastoral and upland qualities remain little changed.

Opportunities – Protecting the key landscape attributes that define landscape character, including the rocky outcrops, the ancient pollarded oaks, the areas of heathland, the linear villages, the local building materials and the spectacular views.

Protecting and managing veteran trees to maintain this resource throughout Charnwood.

Offering high-quality interpretation at key sites, and encouraging opportunities for education about the natural environment (landscape, biodiversity, wildlife, geology and heritage) by working with schools and capitalising on other educational opportunities.

Supporting and implementing the vision and objectives of the Charnwood Forest Regional Park.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rocks, fossils, earthworks, villages, tracks, heathlands, drystone walls, field patterns
• Churches, historic buildings
• Historic parks, manors, monastic houses, fossilised open field systems, quarrying
• Industrial heritage

State – Oldest rocks in England that contain fossils that are around 560 million years old.

Two ‘registered’ parks and gardens (identified by English Heritage’s Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England), covering 522 ha.

Some 29 scheduled monuments and 350 listed buildings.

Earthworks, and other boundary features signifying the former presence of medieval deer parks, are present in the landscape.

Monastic houses, such as Ulverscroft Priory, are a feature in more remote areas.

Ridge-and-furrow earthworks remain common, if fragmentary, in the small pastures surrounding villages.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – Historically, Charnwood has contained several large, designed parklands. Some of these, such as Bradgate Park, survive today, containing heathland and large, ancient, pollarded oaks. Historic parkland is a key factor in the diversity of landscape character. Historic parkland grant schemes and agri-environment schemes now assist in the protection of this resource.

This could, in turn, lead to increased recreational opportunities and more of a sense of place by reinforcing the historic character of the landscape.

Opportunities – Protecting and promoting features that contribute to the landscape history – from the drystone walls and field patterns, to the churches, mansions and historic buildings.

Protecting the valuable fossil assemblages found in Charnwood.

Agreeing management strategies to protect buried archaeology.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Sense of history
• Sense of place
• Recreation
• Geodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodlands
• Undisturbed views
• Upland qualities and elevated position

State – Remnant pockets of undisturbed landscape and tranquillity can be found in the upland areas, around the reservoirs and in the well wooded areas.

The M1 and urban expansion intrude into the area. Only 7% of the area remains undisturbed (Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) noise and visual intrusion maps, 2007).

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Despite the appearance of an undisturbed upland character, the NCA has experienced a dramatic decline in tranquillity since the 1960s: undisturbed areas have decreased from 52% in the 1960s to just 7% in 2007, according to the CPRE map, reflecting the influence of the M1 corridor.

Nevertheless, many parts of Charnwood have a feeling of remoteness, especially in the well wooded areas, around the reservoirs and in the upland landscape.

Increasing tranquillity through expanding areas of woodland could increase biodiversity and natural beauty, and enhance the sense of place and the settings of the numerous heritage assets.

Opportunities – Increasing woodland to filter sound and light pollution from the busy roads, surrounding urban areas and commuter settlements.

Protecting the elevated views and the open nature of the country parks, which provide a sense of connection with nature and a tranquil recreational resource.

Enhancing the wooded peripheries of the settlements and increasing tree planting around new developments to filter light pollution and enhance ‘undisturbed’ views from the surrounding countryside.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Sense of tranquillity
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place
• Recreation
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Country parks
• Rights of way network
• The National Forest. Old quarries
• Reservoirs

State – A number of popular country parks, including Bradgate Park, a 340-ha ancient deer park that is one of Leicestershire’s largest and most popular recreational areas. The NCA offers a network of rights of way totalling 257 km, at a density of nearly 1.5 km per km2. A small proportion of open access land covering 88 ha, or 0.5% of the NCA.

The National Forest and abandoned quarries are of both geological and nature conservation interest and some areas are used for rock climbing.

Swithland, Cropston, Thornton and Blackbrook reservoirs provide water-based and other recreational opportunities, including birdwatching, walking and cycling.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – It is likely that recreational opportunities could be increased without significant effects on other services. However, increased recreation could have minor negative effects on tranquillity and biodiversity.

Some of these sites experience considerable visitor pressure already.

The area around Anstey, Groby and Ratby is probably underused (except perhaps for Martinshaw Wood – a Woodland Trust site).

Opportunities – Protecting, promoting and managing Charnwood’s many recreational opportunities.

Increasing green infrastructure links to connect the large surrounding conurbations of Leicester, Loughborough and Coalville with Charnwood, via sustainable methods. This will benefit health, recreation and the landscape.

Channelling visitors to the less well- used areas, to relieve the pressure on the ‘honeypot’ sites.

Encouraging the use of the disused quarries for geological interpretation and recreational use (for example climbing).

Managing and enhancing the reservoirs – not only to maintain water availability, but also to maintain and enhance recreational opportunities.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Recreation
• Sense of place
• Biodiversity
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• BAP priority habitats

State – There are over 1,614 ha of BAP priority habitats within the NCA, covering 9% of the area. These include: 629 ha of wet woodland, 494 ha of lowland heathland, and 164 ha of lowland mixed deciduous woodland. Some 1,417 ha are nationally designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The NCA is notable for upland and calcifuge species rarely found elsewhere in the Midlands.

The country parks have a stock of hedgerows, and ancient and veteran trees.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – The rolling hills, with extensive woodlands, heathlands and reservoirs, are outstanding for wildlife. Some species, such as the Charnwood spider, are nationally and even internationally important.

By managing and extending the area of these habitats, there can be benefits for soil and water quality, climate regulation and recreation. In recent years, alien species such as rhododendron have begun to encroach on the area.

In some areas, a lack of woodland management is leading to a decline in the characteristic mosaic of woodland, pasture and heathland. The loss of roadside oak trees and ancient trees in the country parks due to old age is adding to the erosion of character.

Opportunities – Maintaining in favourable condition the heathland, controlling the encroaching scrub through grazing and building infrastructure to provide for recreational demands.

Managing to conserve the longevity of ancient trees, and replacing the stock of ageing ancient trees in the country parks and hedgerows.

Supporting appropriate connection and expansion of areas of heath, woodland and permanent pasture – particularly adjacent to rivers and watercourses. This has benefits for biodiversity networks, as well as facilitating the build-up of soil carbon, improving soil quality and benefiting climate regulation.

Advocating permanent landcover to reduce disturbance to soil biodiversity.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biodiversity
• Sense of place
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Recreation
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rocks, fossils
• Local building stones. Geological SSSI
• Local Geological Sites
• Local stone used in headstones
• Industrial heritage

State – The discovery, in 1957, of a Charnian fossil in the ancient volcaniclastic rocks was of international importance: it provided evidence that primitive life forms existed in the Precambrian period. More recent discoveries have established Charnwood Forest as having one of the best Precambrian fossil assemblages in the world.

Five geological SSSI and 28 Local Geological Sites.

Most of the older dwellings are built of local dark stone, either Charnwood Stone or the pink/ purple Mountsorrel Granodiorite.

Swithland Slate (previously thought of as Precambrian) was dated as being from the younger Cambrian period thanks to the discovery of trace fossils in Swithland Slate headstones.

Main beneficiary – National, International

Analysis – Protecting and enhancing the geology will allow the interpretation and understanding of, and continued research into, the geodiversity of the NCA. Exposing these features (through the protection of existing sites and through creating appropriate new sites) also makes a positive contribution towards the sense of place and of history.

Local building stone is still available, and is used for building, enhancing local distinctiveness.

Opportunities – Protecting internationally important fossil assemblages and realising opportunities for the public enjoyment of the geodiversity interest with the extensive natural and manmade exposures.

Work in partnership to put in place a Local Geodiversity Action Plan and raise awareness of Charnwood’s unique geology and access to it.

Encourage the continued use of local stone in buildings to build on the sense of place and history.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Geodiversity
• Sense of place
• Sense of history
• Recreation
• Water availability