3 - Cheviot Fringe : Analysis: Ecosystem Services

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Underlying bedrock
• Fertile soils
• Water

State – Approximately 93 per cent of the NCA is cultivated. 61 per cent of this is Grade 3 agricultural land, and 13 per cent is Grade 2. 52 per cent of the land is grazed; sheep are the most numerous livestock, followed by cattle. 26 per cent of land is used for cereals, while oilseeds, cash roots, stock feed and other arable crops account for 9 per cent.

There is water available for irrigation of crops; the majority currently comes from the River Till.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The underlying bedrock and glacial and alluvial deposits are responsible for the fertile soils that currently support production of cereals and other crops supporting the rearing of livestock.

Future ability to increase food production will be shaped by soil quality, and by availability of inputs, including water.

Poor soil and nutrient management is associated with diffuse pollution and sedimentation which is currently a problem in the River Tweed SAC and Till SSSI catchment, this currently undermines other ecosystem services.

While water is currently abundant it will become increasingly important to identify opportunities to optimise water usage and storage in the face of climate change.

Many historic features occur within the farmed environment and increases in food provision could damage these and key natural features.

Increases in demand for food could also pose a threat to semi-natural habitats through further loss and fragmentation.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to manage food production sustainably, and where appropriate, seek to increase sustainable production.

Work with the farming community to ensure good soil and nutrient management, protection of historic and other environmental features, and support farmers and land managers in the provision of other ecosystem services.

There may be opportunities to adapt to change in demand for food production through climatic change enabling the use of alternative crops or cropping patterns.

Seek opportunities to increase water availability through the creation of winter storage reservoirs.

Ensure that future agri-environment schemes are used to best effect to preserve and enhance wildlife-rich habitats.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Food provision
• Regulating water quality
• Water availability
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Pollination
• Pest regulation
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodland cover
• Soils

State – Woodland covers 7.5 per cent of the NCA; with small coniferous blocks found in the south of the NCA and broadleaved woodland largely confined to river banks.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The open character and limited woodland cover will restrict suitable opportunities for expanding commercial timber production.

However, small scale planting for timber products, if appropriately sited, has the potential to provide environmental benefits such as restoring, expanding and linking woodland habitat and stabilising soils, while providing social and economic benefits.

Red squirrels are found in this area with a number of reserves in the adjacent NCAs so clear-felling of large conifer blocks and planting of large-seeded deciduous species should be avoided in areas buffering squirrel populations.

Opportunities – There are opportunities to manage and enhance existing woodland by improving age structure and diversity for long term survival, providing local sources of wood fuel.

Expand native woodland cover through small-scale planting in locations appropriate to local landscape and biodiversity, particularly along river corridors. This could contribute to local provision of wood fuel while strengthening habitat networks, stabilising soil, reducing soil erosion and potentially assisting with water quality along watercourses.

Planting new woodland on slopes elsewhere in the area would maximise benefits in flood control and prevention erosion.

Woodland management or creation should consider the implications for red squirrels; clear-felling of large conifer blocks and planting of large- seeded deciduous species should be avoided in areas buffering squirrel populations.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Timber Provision
• Biomass energy
• Climate regulation
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil erosion
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Biodiversity
• Recreation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rivers including Coquet, Aln, Till, Glen and Tweed
• Part of the Fell Sandstone aquifer
• High rainfall in the Cheviots flowing down into the Cheviot Fringe

State – The eastern edge of the NCA overlies the Fell Sandstone aquifer which has ‘water available’ from which abstractions are mainly for public water supply with some industrial and commercial use.

The River Till with its tributaries represents the major catchment in the NCA, much of which is part of the River Tweed Special Area of Conservation. The Environment Agency do not currently licence abstraction on the English Tweed as it is an exempted river. Summer abstraction from the River Till is consented up to the sustainable level and no additional water is currently available during the summer months. Abstractions are consented by Natural England.

The River Coquet in the south of the NCA is part of the Northumberland Rivers Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS). Within this area the predominant land use is agriculture but the predominant abstraction of water is for public water supply at 80 per cent, followed by industrial and commercial at 11 per cent. The Upper Coquet has ‘no water available’ (The Northumberland Rivers Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy, Environment Agency, 2003).

The River Aln has ‘water available’. The majority (80 per cent) of water abstracted is for crop irrigation (The Northumberland Rivers Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy, Environment Agency, 2003).

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Water for agriculture, and in particular the irrigation of root crops comes predominantly from the River Till.

Public water supply is provided predominantly by the Fell Sandstone Aquifer and the River Coquet.

High levels of unsustainable abstraction create low flow levels that negatively impact on biodiversity and water quality based on the Water Framework Directive assessment. The Environment Agency’s strategy for the Fell Sandstone Aquifer is to move to ‘no water available’ status (The Till Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy, Environment Agency, 2008). This, combined with restrictions on abstraction from the River Till SSSI and River Tweed SAC due to their designations and the fact that the River Coquet has ‘no water available’ makes it imperative that water is used sustainably and that land management practices are employed which will increase water infiltration, such as grassland strips along watercourses, wet woodland and re-creation of flood plain grazing marsh.

Groundwater quality within the Fell Sandstone aquifer is generally reported to be good but there are issues with saline intrusion, diffuse and localised agricultural and industrial pollution in the north eastern extent of the aquifer and additional pressures related to public water supply abstraction.

Management of agricultural land in the area could influence recharge of the aquifer. Measures to promote good soil structure and reduce speed of surface run-off could increase rain infiltration rates, thereby optimising groundwater recharge. These measures are also likely to improve water retention in soils, increasing drought resilience and potentially helping to reduce the risk of flooding

Opportunities – Work with the farming community and businesses to improve sustainable use of water and sympathetic land management practices, including crop selection and water harvesting such as winter storage reservoirs, and water conservation measures in new development.

Increase areas of semi-natural habitats to increase infiltration such as grassland strips along watercourses, wet woodland and re-creation of flood plain grazing marsh.

Encourage good soil management to promote good soil structure and optimise infiltration of rain water into the aquifer.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Water availability
• Food provision
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil erosion
• Biodiversity

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodland cover
• Soils
• Water

State – Woodland cover (7.5 per cent) provides only limited potential for biomass through woodland management or as a by-product of commercial timber production.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Low woodland cover means there is limited potential for the provision of biomass, either through bringing unmanaged woodland under management or as a by-product of commercial timber production.

The potential for miscanthus yield is only low to medium, and would not be in keeping with the landscape character.

The potential for short rotation coppice (SRC) yield is medium to high.

Planting along river corridors would provide opportunities to link existing woodland fragments and stabilise banks, reducing soil erosion helping to regulate water flow, but appropriate buffers are likely to be needed adjacent to watercourses (particularly the SSSI/SAC rivers) to reduce the risk of sediment, nutrient and herbicide run-off, particularly during planting and harvesting in winter, and prevent the introduction of non-native species.

Opportunities – Work with the farming community to identify suitable opportunities to increase the net yield of SRC, seeking to locate these where they may be accommodated within local landscape character and realise multiple objectives for the environment, particularly along river corridors but with appropriate buffers.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biomass energy
• Regulating water flow
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Limestone bedrock
• Soils (supporting semi-natural habitats)
• Semi-natural habitats, particularly woodland cover

State – Some carbon is locked in the limestones of the Ballagan Formation and other limestones that underlie areas of this NCA.

The NCA has limited climate regulation potential with only 7.5 per cent woodland cover and about 1 per cent cover of other semi-natural habitats.

There are some very small areas of blanket bog, heathland, fen and wet woodland which are important for carbon storage but as they cover such small areas they do not contribute significantly to this service in this area.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Organic carbon levels in the freely draining and intensively farmed soils of the NCA are relatively low (0-5 per cent) reflecting the dominance of mineral soils with low organic matter content. Releases of greenhouse gasses from land management activities (especially nitrous oxide from soils) are likely to be relatively high.

Larger stores of carbon will exist in soils under heathland, fen, semi-natural grassland and woodland. The woodland will provide some carbon storage, particularly if brought under management, but areas of these habitats are relatively small.

Preventing damage to the bedrock should ensure carbon remains locked up in the underlying limestones of the area.

Opportunities – Increase the amount of carbon stored in agricultural soils through appropriate management, for example through low grazing levels, soil aeration, and minimum tillage agriculture.

Promote good soil management and sympathetic land management practices to prevent damage to the limestone bedrocks.

Seek opportunities to restore and expand woodland and semi-natural habitats such as flood plain grazing marsh and bring them under sympathetic management to increase carbon storage.

Seek opportunities to restore areas of blanket bog and heathland fen along the borders with the Cheviots and Northumberland Sandstone Hills NCAs through sustainable land management practices and programmes of work to restore the hydrology and ecology of the habitats. This will strengthen the habitats and the climate regulating potential, as well as strengthen links with the adjacent NCA.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Climate regulation
• Timber provision
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Biodiversity

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Network of rivers and streams
• Part of the Fell Sandstone Aquifer
• Geology Soils
• Semi-natural habitats
• Land management practices

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 – The Till/Tweed, Aln and Coquet rivers all fall within a Priority Catchment designated under Defra’s Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative. There are some issues of diffuse pollution from agricultural land which are being addressed by catchment sensitive farming and agri-environment schemes.

The water quality of the Rivers Tweed/ Till and tributaries and Coquet is essential to the survival of the salmon, sea trout, otter, lampreys, water vole, water crowfoot, river jelly lichen and rich invertebrate fauna which are found there. Salmon, lampreys and otter are currently present in good numbers.

Elevated levels of nitrate, sulphate, potassium and volatile compounds detected in the north of the Fell Sandstone groundwater unit are thought to be due to diffuse pollution from agriculture, localised industrial contamination and surface water contamination from mine water discharges.

Opportunities – Work with the farming community to promote best practice in soils, nutrient and pesticides management such as using low pressure machinery, improving farm infrastructure and waste management, carefully managing stock movements and controlling riparian grazing, informed infield nutrient application, and encouraging use of crops which require lower applications of fertiliser and pesticide. This should reduce diffuse pollution and increase water infiltration, thereby improving water quality of watercourses and the aquifer.

Seek opportunities to create and expand semi-natural riparian habitats such as wet grassland and introduce buffer strips along watercourses. Manage existing woodland and seek opportunities to plant more trees along watercourses to help stabilise bank sides, reduce erosion and filter pollutants, while benefitting riparian and riverine wildlife.

Seek opportunities to reduce pollution from industrial and mine water discharges to benefit watercourses and the Fell Sandstone aquifer.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Food provision
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Geology
• Soils
• Semi-natural habitats (particularly woodland and flood plain grassland)

State – The River Till and its tributaries and the River Coquet all have their steep headwaters draining upland heather and peat moors in the Cheviot Hills to the west. This means they respond quickly to rainfall leading to a rapid onset of flooding.

Despite a long history of river flooding, flood risk to people and property from the rivers in this NCA is relatively low due to its rural nature.

Flood risk is concentrated in the settlement of Wooler (on the Till), Norham (on the Tweed) and to a lesser extent villages such as Powburn (on the Breamish), and Akeld and Kirknewton (on the Glen).

The main settlement at risk of flooding from the River Coquet is Rothbury, which lies downstream in the Northumberland Sandstone Hills NCA.

The headwaters of the River Aln lie within this NCA and although flooding has been reported on this river since 1770 it has not resulted in damage to property.

The greatest cost of flooding in this rural area is from loss of crops and stock when agricultural land is flooded.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Interventions in the Northumberland National Park (Cheviots NCA) designed to retain flood waters in the upper catchments and restore and enhance water dependant habitats such as blanket bog will be important in regulating flow in this NCA, as will maintaining any small areas of blanket bog in this NCA in good condition.

The Environment Agency’s preferred approach to managing this flood risk includes restoring the natural flood plain on the Lower Till (Till and Breamish Catchment Flood Management Plan, Summary Report, Environment Agency, 2009), promotion of sustainable land management practices that reduce the amount and rate of runoff and erosion, and investigation of measures such as floodwater storage in gravel pits upstream of Rothbury and the use of afforestation in upland parts of the catchment (Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan, Commissioned Report, 2007).

Flood defences on the Till have been breached at Fenton and a number of other locations to restore flood plain grazing marsh and manage flood risk by reinstating a more natural system.

Historic sand and gravel extraction along the River Till and River Coquet has exacerbated flooding downstream in places such as Wooler. It is important that current and future gravel extraction continues to be from the adjacent flood plain rather than from the rivers. Restoration of historic workings provides opportunities to create semi-natural habitat and reduce future flood risk.

The River Till Restoration Strategy is a long-term plan aimed at reinstating a more natural system. Some works have already been undertaken such as reconnecting the river with its flood plain through the River Till Wetlands Restoration Project, and a number of projects are planned to address issues such as the removal of redundant man-made structures which are impacting on the morphology of the system.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to restore a more naturally functioning flood plain and river morphology, enabling rivers to naturally absorb more of the water’s energy, thereby mitigating the effects of peak flows.

Reconnecting rivers with their natural flood plains increases flood water storage and creates important wetland habitats.

Removing redundant structures such as weirs and old bridge footings will reinstate a more natural morphology and have ecological benefits.

Promote restoration of mineral extraction sites to stabilise rivers and achieve landscape and biodiversity improvements along with increased flood water storage.

Ensure future extraction of sand and gravel does not impact on river morphology or water quality.

Promote tree planting and creation of wet woodland habitats in appropriate locations, and restore and enhance hedgerows, to reduce cross-land flows of water during floods, improve soil permeability and increase the holding capacity within the wider catchment for flood water before reaching main watercourses.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating water flow
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Climate regulation
• Food provision
• Timber provision
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Geology
• Soil types
• Semi-natural habitats
• Land management practices

State – Most soils in the NCA are loamy and slightly acidic. There are 8 main soilscape types, the most significant of which are slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acidic but base-rich loamy and clayey soils (32 per cent), freely draining slightly acid loamy soils (23 per cent) and slowly permeable seasonally wet acid loamy and clayey soils (20 per cent).

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils may suffer compaction and/or capping as they are easily damaged when wet, which in turn may lead to increasingly poor water infiltration and diffuse pollution as a result of surface water runoff.

The freely draining slightly acid loamy soils allow water infiltration. They can be valuable for aquifer recharge requiring the maintenance of good structural conditions to aid water infiltration and requiring the matching of nutrients to needs to prevent pollution of the underlying aquifer. The main soil types described have potential for improved soil quality through management of organic matter.

Careful timing of activities is required to reduce the likelihood of soil compaction where drainage is impeded and weak topsoil structure is easily damaged.

The areas of semi-natural habitat such as woodland, and areas of uncultivated ground that is under low-intensity management, will help to maintain soil quality within the NCA.

The small areas of blanket bog and heath in the NCA need to be protected from drying and erosion which can be caused by climate change and some land management practices.

The soils of the Milfield Plain and similar areas protected by flood banks are no longer “draped” in the fine nutrient-rich alluvial deposits. Increased and managed flooding could help to improve the soils in these areas.

Opportunities – Working with the farming community to ensure best practice in soil management. This includes minimising damage to soil structure through careful timing of activities, using low pressure machinery and managing stock movements, encouraging the use of green manure crops and winter stubbles in arable rotations to replace nutrients and bind soil, as well as undertaking informed infield nutrient application. This will improve structure and quality of soils as well as benefiting wildlife such as farmland birds.

Ensure that management of the pastures on the moorland fringes of the Cheviots and Northumberland Sandstone Hills encourages the build up of organic matter through extensive grazing regimes, which will reduce the level of ‘poaching’ by livestock which occurs when soil is cut up by cattle moving or tramping on wet soils, removing vegetative cover, leaving the soil open to the elements and prone to being washed away via surface water run-off.

Opportunities for managed flooding of areas previously protected by flood banks as part of the flood risk management strategy should help to replace depleted nutrient-rich alluvial deposits thereby improving the soils in these areas.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil quality
• Food provision
• Water availability
• Climate regulation
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Freely draining and clayey soils
• Land management practices
• Semi-natural habitats and hedgerows.

State – The freely draining slightly acid loamy soils (23 per cent), freely draining slightly acid sandy soils (3 per cent), and freely draining very acid sandy and loamy soils (1 per cent) are easily eroded on steeper slopes where cultivated or bare soil is exposed, especially if organic matter levels are low after continuous arable cultivation or where soils are compacted. This is particularly a problem in the mid to lower stretches of the River Till around the Milfield Plain. Livestock accessing stream side’s increases sediment input to the water and wind erosion of the sandy soils occurs where soils are cultivated or left bare, especially in spring and late autumn.

The slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage (7 per cent of NCA) are easily compacted by machinery or livestock if accessed when wet and are prone to capping or slaking, increasing the risks of soil erosion by surface water run-off, especially on steeper slopes.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The whole of the NCA falls within the Tweed, Aln, Coquet and Coastal Streams Priority Catchment designated under Defra’s Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative and there is particular emphasis on addressing impacts on the River Till Site of Special Scientific interest, and River Tweed Special Area of Conservation. The priorities for this catchment are reducing run-off of soil from agricultural fields, particularly associated with reducing the impact of livestock on riparian zones, and reducing the impact of nutrients from arable cultivation.

These measures should also provide enhanced carbon storage, improved water quality and help regulate water flow.

Opportunities – Working with the farming community, promote good soil management through Catchment Sensitive Farming and other initiatives, including livestock management in riparian zones
to minimise poaching and soil compaction.

Opportunities should be sought to decrease the frequency and intensity of cultivation, increase in-field margins and grassland habitats, particularly buffering watercourses, and use green manure crops and winter stubble.

Tree planting in the form of small shelterbelts, hedgerow restoration and woodland and short-rotation coppice along riverbanks (with appropriate buffers) will help to stabilise soils and reduce wind erosion.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Food provision
• Climate regulation
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating water quality
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Limited areas of semi-natural habitats including woodlands and riparian habitats
• Network of hedgerows and arable margins

State – This NCA has relatively little high quality habitat to support pollinating insects; grasslands, arable margins, hedgerows, tree-lined watercourses and areas of flood plain grazing marsh provide a fragmented network of nectar sources and habitats for pollinating insects through the agricultural landscape.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The presence of pollinators plays an important role in producing high crop yields; in this NCA this is particularly the case for crops such as oilseed rape. Increasing the area and quality habitat to ensure the presence of nectar and pollen producing flowers in season, including (for bumble bees) perennial species, suitable nesting habitat (for wild bees). Adequate connectivity of habitats within the landscape will increase food security and contribute to climate adaptation in both food production and biodiversity.

Opportunities – The presence of pollinators plays an important role in producing high crop yields; in this NCA this is particularly the case for crops such as oilseed rape. Increasing the area and quality habitat to ensure the presence of nectar and pollen producing flowers in season, including (for bumble bees) perennial species, suitable nesting habitat (for wild bees). Adequate connectivity of habitats within the landscape will increase food security and contribute to climate adaptation in both food production and biodiversity.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pollination
• Food provision
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating water flow
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Limited areas of semi-natural habitats and hedgerows.

State – Small areas of semi-natural habitat are interspersed with productive agricultural land.

Main beneficiary – Semi-natural habitat within productive agricultural landscapes may support species which prey on pest species, thereby regulating the potential damage of these to food production. Improving pest-regulation services should reduce the need for pesticides, thereby affording benefits for water quality, soil quality and wider biodiversity.

Analysis – Local

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to enhance the network of semi-natural habitats and the network of hedgerows and margins throughout the agricultural landscape so they provide habitat for predator species within close proximity to main food production areas. Improving the species and structural diversity of these habitats will increase the diversity of pest-regulating species supported.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Broad valleys bounded by rising hills
• Distinctive glacial features
• Fertile soils
• Rivers
• Semi-natural habitats and hedgerows
• Village settlements
• Vernacular buildings using traditional materials and local building styles
• Proximity to the English-Scottish border

State – A sense of place is provided by the broad valleys and plains of this landscape that fringe the Cheviots, characterised by the numerous signs of glaciations and the interplay between the large agricultural areas, numerous rivers and watercourses.

Feelings of inspiration and escapism are likely to be associated with this open and uncluttered landscape with views to the Cheviots.

3 per cent of the NCA falls within the Northumberland National Park.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – This landscape has been shaped by glaciation and deposition and is recognised as possessing an unusually varied and fine array of glacial features.

The hills on either side form a backdrop to the fertile valleys and plains of this NCA. The strong parliamentary enclosure pattern, most evident within the vales, with a strong patchwork of mixed farmland, hedgerows and hedgerow trees, contrasts with the more open arable farmland to the north where the enclosure pattern is slightly more fragmented.

Many, often tree-lined, meandering rivers and streams flowing between raised terraces and flat, gravel benches, provide a further distinct sense of place contrasting with the intensively managed farmland.

The identity of this area is that of a border community; the landscape is scattered with reminders of centuries of border conflict in the form of fortified castles, bastles and tower houses.

The sense of place is further reinforced by the strategic location of small traditional villages at river bridging points and on the break of slope at the edge of the valley floor. Isolated farmsteads, constructed from local materials: single-storied cottages built from stone rubble won from the overlying glacial till deposits, as well as larger houses constructed in dressed sandstone, blue-grey slates or stone slabs for roofs and, on the Milfield Plain, buildings constructed in sandstone of a pinkish hue and roofed in local orange clay tiles are all typical of the area. Increasing access to these landscape features will increase understanding and appreciation of their importance.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to raise awareness of the importance of glacial history to this landscape, improving access to and interpretation of sites where appropriate.

Seek opportunities to connect local people with the history of the area, particularly relating to its border location by improving access to, and interpretation of heritage assets.

There are opportunities to increase sense of place by protecting the open and rural feel of the NCA through retention of the field patterns and improved management and restoration of the hedgerow network.

Natural flood plain management and creation of wetland habitats will strengthen the impact of the waterways on the NCA sense of place, as will restoring woodland along river corridors.

New developments and redevelopment activity should be sympathetic to the historic settlement patterns, using materials in keeping with the vernacular architecture.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Sense of place/inspiration
• Food provision
• Sense of history
• Tranquillity
• Recreation
• Biodiversity
• Geodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Evidence of past glaciations
• A wealth of archaeological evidence of Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon settlements
• Many reminders of centuries of border conflicts

State – The visible legacy of the last ice age, such as the kames, eskers and kettle holes provide a useful educational resource to explain the landscape history of the area.

A strong sense of history is captured in the surviving evidence of early Neolithic farming and an exceptionally rich collection of archaeological remains from the Mesolithic through to early-medieval times.

Yeavering, near Kirknewton, is thought to have been a seat of royal power in Anglo-Saxon times and the Milfield basin is regarded as one of the most important archaeological landscapes in the British Isles. Fine examples of cup and ring marks which are thought to be of Neolithic origin can be found on the eastern edge of the Cheviot Fringe south-east of Ford.

The aspect of history most evident to the general public is that of centuries of border conflict; there are widespread reminders of a contested landscape lying on the English/Scottish border, with fortified castles such as Norham Castle, Wark Castle and Etal Castle, ‘bastle houses’ and ‘tower houses’ such as Twizel Towerhouse, and structures such as Twizel Bridge. There are two Registered Battlefields and the A697 follows the Roman route from Morpeth to Coldstream.

There are a number of large estates with country houses set in parkland, some of which have medieval origins and 2 of which are Registered Parklands (Tillmouth Park and Chillingham Estate, the majority of which lies within the Northumberland Sandstone Hills NCA), and the historic village of Etal with its thatched roofs which is part of the Ford and Etal Estates, and a popular tourist destination.

The dispersed farmsteads of this area are testament to the extensive landscape transformation that occurred associated with late 18th and 19th century agricultural improvement, and are highly significant in a national context, along with those extending to the North Sea and into Scotland.

The area around Fenton was farmed by the Culley brothers, who were important agricultural innovators, instrumental in changing farming techniques in northern England and southern Scotland and known for breeding the Border Leicester. The remains of their water meadows have now been found at Fenton.

There are 573 Listed Buildings, 108 Scheduled Monuments and 2 Registered Parks and Gardens.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – The unique and varied legacy of glacial features is contributing to greater understanding of ice sheet behaviour in the region through scientific research.

The varied historic features within the NCA, both upstanding and buried, are an important part of its character. Protecting this link with the past and enhancing our understanding of this will further strengthen the character of the area.

There are a number of ongoing research projects in association with the University of Newcastle which are helping to raise the profile of this area as an important archaeological landscape. There are opportunities to connect local people with their history through communicating the findings of this research and encouraging access and interpretation of artefacts and sites.

Projects such as the Flodden 500 project to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden will create learning, participation and volunteering opportunities for people to get involved in all aspects of their local heritage.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to communicate the importance of the glacial history of this area to the public through improved access to and interpretation of sites.

Minimise disturbance and damage to archaeological sites resulting from cultivation and mineral extraction. Encourage arable reversion where appropriate.

Encourage restoration of Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, traditional farmsteads, Registered Parkland and other historic parklands, and encourage the use of local building materials in vernacular buildings to maintain the distinctive historical style of the area.

Increase public awareness of the historic importance of the area and provide interpretation of the archaeological and historical sites, highlighting the wider landscape context, to aid understanding.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Sense of history
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Recreation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service – 

• Landform
• Low population density
• Few settlements

State – Tranquillity represents a significant feature of the NCA with 92 per cent of the area identified as undisturbed.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – This is a sparsely populated, rural landscape with small, nucleated villages linked by minor roads; only one major road (A697) links to adjacent NCAs.

The many tree-lined meandering river and stream courses are particularly important in conveying a sense of tranquillity as are the small traditional villages and parkland associated with the larger country houses.

The main sources of intrusion are the main roads, the high voltage transmission line and noise from the Otterburn military training area.

The adjacent Northumberland National Park, (3 per cent of which occurs within this NCA), is to be awarded International Dark Skies Reserve status. This will mean any future developments in this NCA will need to consider and limit light intrusion.

Opportunities – Ensure new development conserves the sense of tranquillity and openness important to the rural character of the NCA and the Northumberland National Park.

Seek opportunities for restoration and creation of semi-natural habitats, particularly along rivers to enhance the sense of tranquillity provided by these key features.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Tranquillity
• Sense of history
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Recreation
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rights of way network
• St Cuthbert’s Way long distance route
• National cycle route
• Limited open access land
• Game fisheries

State – The NCA offers a limited network of rights of way totalling 432 km at a low density of just over 0.8 km per km2 as well as a small amount of open access land covering 1,154 ha (2 per cent) of the NCA.

The St Cuthbert’s long distance walking route from Melrose to Lindisfarne passes through Wooler, as does the national cycle trail that runs north-south through the NCA.

The River Tweed is a world famous salmon river, the River Till is noted mainly for its sea trout fishery and the River Coquet is fished for brown trout.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – This area provides a range of opportunities for public access and tourism. The Battlefields and historic village of Etal are important tourist attractions, but there is potential to further develop tourism opportunities within the immediate border area.

Wooler acts as a gateway to the Northumberland National Park which has had a particularly large increase in walkers and rock climbers in recent years, and as a hub for tourists on route to Scotland.

There is a national cycle route which runs north-south through the NCA and passes through Wooler. There is potential to improve this cycle route and add value to the national cycle route network by utilising dismantled railway lines.

Game fishing is very important for tourism in this area but needs to be kept within sustainable levels due to the designations of the River Till Site of Special Scientific Interest and River Tweed Special Area of Conservation. The River Coquet is also a SSSI hosting Atlantic salmon which is a protected species.

Opportunities – Support sustainable recreational and educational access to enable understanding and appreciation of the area, in particular its historic and geodiversity assets.

Seek opportunities to enhance provision of information about the wildlife, heritage and geology of the area and identify opportunities to create new circular routes or links to existing rights of way, and to develop the network of cycle routes.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Recreation
• Sense of history
• Sense of place/inspiration

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Sites designated for their nature conservation interest
• Natural corridors such as river corridors, hedgerows and field margins
• Protected species such as otter, lamprey, Atlantic salmon, red squirrel, water crowfoot
• Farmland bird assemblage
• Wintering wildfowl

State – There is a limited extent of UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats within the NCA which include upland heath, wet woodland, fens and blanket bog. Tree-lined river courses, hedgerows and field margins, and corners managed for wildlife through agri-environment schemes play an important role as natural corridors in this agricultural landscape.

The NCA contains 3 Special Areas of Conservation including the River Tweed, Ford Moss and part of Harbottle Moors; (only the very edge of this lies within this NCA).

The majority of designated area in this NCA is riverine; including the Tweed SAC, Till Riverbanks SSSI and River Coquet & Coquet Valley Woodlands SSSI. These are designated for their flowing waters and associated woodland habitats and for the nationally and internationally important populations of water crowfoot, Atlantic salmon, lamprey, otter, and invertebrate assemblages that they support. Much of the remaining semi-natural woodland is found along the rivers and streams.

Ford Moss Special Aare of Conservation, Campfield Kettle Hole SSSI and Barelees Pond SSSI are notified for their mire habitats.

The area is nationally important for its assemblage of arable birds and the low-lying fields around the Milfield Plain are important roosts and feeding grounds for wildfowl, especially geese, overwintering on the coast.

Red squirrels are found in this area with reserves in the adjacent NCAs.

Restoration of mineral extraction sites has already provided significant biodiversity gain through the creation of wetland and grassland mosaics at sites such as Woodbridge and Low Hedgeley.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – The main issues influencing the condition of the River Tweed Special Area of Conservation and other rivers are diffuse pollution, largely from agriculture, and control of invasive non-native species.

There are small isolated pockets of no riparian semi-natural habitats such as fens, mires, upland heath and juniper scrub scattered within this agricultural landscape. Many of these areas are designated for their nature conservation interest, but this fragmentation means that the SSSI lack the resilience of being part of a more robust ecological network.

The farmed environment includes many hedgerows, shelter belts and field margins which, together with the river corridors provide important connections through the managed landscape.

Improving the biological resource of this area is likely to involve buffering existing semi-natural habitats through their restoration and creation of new ones, sensitive restoration of mineral extraction sites, reinstating natural river morphology (particularly restoring flood plain grassland), woodland planting to connect fragmented woodland along river corridors, improving connectivity within the farmed environment (hedgerows, field margins), and reducing diffuse pollution.

Woodland management and creation should take account of red squirrel populations; clear-felling of large conifer blocks and planting of large-seeded deciduous species should be avoided in areas buffering squirrel populations.

These measures will benefit the protected species farmland birds, wintering wildfowl, pollinators and pest regulators occurring in the NCA, while helping to increase/improve regulating services such as water quality and soil erosion, and contribute to sustaining a sense of place.

Opportunities – Continue to work with the farming community to encourage land management practices that reduce diffuse pollution and sources of eroded sediment input to watercourses.

Seek opportunities to restore more natural river morphology and restore flood plain grassland habitats that will benefit wintering wildfowl and improve regulating services such as water flow.

Seek opportunities to increase connectivity within the landscape through woodland planting along rivers and streams, hedgerow restoration, and management of field margins and ditches for wildlife.

Encourage measures to support farmland birds, pollinators and pest regulators such as sowing wild bird seed and nectar flower mixes, cereal headlands and over-wintered stubbles, and carry out enhancement of the hedgerow network.

Ensure mineral extraction sites are sensitively restored to provide a diversity of habitats. Sand and gravel quarries tend to be found in concentrated areas within the landscape which presents opportunities for extensive habitat creation and management across and between quarry sites, and the creation of habitat connections into the wider landscape.

Improve the long term condition of designated sites by ensuring that underlying contributors to site condition are being managed appropriately, and that these are also considered in light of anticipated environmental change.

This opportunity should be sought both within the existing designated sites and in buffering areas to build more robust ecological networks.

Where appropriate, seek opportunities to manage woodland for red squirrels, particularly to buffer reserves.

Seek opportunities to improve access to and usage of the biodiversity resource for education programs, linking communities with their natural environment.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biodiversity
• Climate regulation
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil erosion
• Pollination
• Pest regulation
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Recreation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Underlying bedrock
• Glacial features and deposits
• Sites designated for their geological or geomorphological interest

State – The underlying bedrock has dictated the overall form of this landscape: the softer mudstones, sandstones and limestones underlying much of this area have eroded to form a lowland corridor of valleys and plains between the more resistant volcanic rocks of the Cheviots and the coarse sandstone of the Northumberland Sandstone Hills.

The underlying bedrock, glacial and alluvial deposition is responsible for the fertile soils that support the agriculture that is the predominant form of land management in this area.

Glacial deposits provide locally important sand and gravel resources.

Glacial deposition is also responsible for the extensive glacial lake and fan deposits, sinuous ridges, eskers, kames and kettle holes which are distinctive features of the landscape. Fine examples of kettle holes can be found to the west of Wooperton, and at Ford Moss Special Area of Conservation; they have formed an internationally important complex of fens and raised bogs.

Two SSSI are designated wholly for their geological interest, although the majority of the Humbleton Hill and The Trows SSSI is located in the adjacent Cheviots NCA.

The interplay between geology and hydrology is responsible for the characteristic meandering paths of the many rivers across this landscape.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – Designated geological sites, abandoned and active quarries, and the varied and widespread examples of glacial and geomorphological features occurring throughout this NCA provide opportunities for interpretation, understanding and research into the geodiversity and landscape processes of the area, contributing to a sense of place and history. A number of possible sites have already been identified for interpretation (Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan, Commissioned Report, 2007).

The fluvio-glacial deposits of the area are largely robust, and current farming and resource extraction practices have had little effect upon their overall distribution and stability. However future development and extraction could remove possible key sites and sections with the potential to lead to greater understanding of ice sheet behaviour in the region (Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan, Commissioned Report, 2007).

The Milfield Fan is the largest potential source of sand and gravel in the area and there are consequently plans to extend and locate new quarries. It is important that future extraction does not completely remove this feature.

Extraction of sand, gravel and stone may create exposures of interest which could further contribute to knowledge and understanding of the geodiversity of the area.

Dynamic river systems are a key feature of this landscape, and improving understanding of the processes involved should promote the restoration of more natural river morphologies that would bring benefits for other ecosystem services such as water flow regulation and biodiversity.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to raise awareness of the importance of glacial history to this landscape, improving access to and interpretation of sites where appropriate. Encourage and develop opportunities for earth science research and to extend the understanding of geodiversity in the area.

Capitalise on opportunities arising from sand, gravel and stone extraction to record temporary sections and retain permanent geological sections through the restoration process.

Take opportunities through the restoration of quarries to enhance ecological networks by creating areas of semi-natural habitats, improve local landscape character, and provide recreational resources.

Seek opportunities to re-naturalise river systems, allowing rivers to follow their natural courses and increasing understanding of processes within the landscape.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Geodiversity
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history
• Biodiversity
• Recreation