56 - Lancashire Coal Measures : Summary and Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity

Summary

The Lancashire Coal Measures National Character Area (NCA) surrounds the towns of St Helens and Wigan, and extends from the Mersey Valley NCA in the south to the Lancashire and Amounderness Plain NCA in the north-west. Rocks from the Carboniferous Coal Measures underlie most of the area, giving rise to a varied topography of gentle hills and valleys, with patchy layers of glacial deposits.

This fragmented landscape rises to 179m at the summit of Billinge Hill on the western boundary, and then falls abruptly to the Lancashire and Amounderness Plain and Merseyside Conurbation to the west, and the Mersey Valley to the south. Views of the foothills of the southern Pennines can be seen to the east.

The area is dominated by its industrial heritage, long associated with mining activity. The resulting landscape is a complex mosaic of farmland, scattered urban centres, industry, active mineral sites and derelict or reclaimed workings, giving this area a strong and distinctive identity.

Within the urban fabric there are some large tracts of agricultural land and isolated pockets of former farmland. Agricultural land use is predominantly split between arable farming and permanent grassland for livestock.

Across most of the area woodland cover is very limited, although in recent years significant areas of community woodland have been created. Some small, isolated pockets of semi-natural habitat remain within this NCA, such as relict ancient woodlands and small areas of lowland raised bog. There are several country parks and Local Nature Reserves, giving opportunities for people to enjoy the natural environment. Subsidence flashes resulting from past mining activity have developed as valuable wildlife habitats. The flashes, waterbodies and significant areas of reclaimed mineral workings all contribute to the open countryside.

This is an area of urban and industrial development. The settlement pattern is based around the historical development of mines and industry centred on Wigan and St Helens, leading to a scattered layout and close intermingling of housing and industry.

Future challenges for the area include continued pressure to accommodate the development of both housing and industry. This may provide opportunities for incorporating environmental and social benefits, such as accessible green space and recreational provision, as well as improving habitat quality, distribution and connectivity through linking urban areas with more open areas of countryside. Other benefits could include providing better water quality and storage, minimising soil erosion and increasing carbon storage. All of these factors can strengthen landscape resilience and adaptation to climate change.

Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEO)

See the Statements of Environmental Opportunity section for more details on the headlines listed below.

SEO 1

Safeguard, manage and expand the mosaic of wetland habitats, including lowland raised bogs, reedbeds, wet pastures, watercourses, subsidence flashes and ponds – to protect and enhance their ecological value, to increase their contribution to the landscape, to manage flood risk, to improve water quality, and to increase the resilience to climate change of these habitats and associated species.

SEO 2

Conserve and manage the Lancashire Coal Measures’ geological features and historic environment, to safeguard the strong cultural identity and mining heritage of the area, with its distinctive sense of place and history. Engage local communities with their past through the restoration and enhancement of key features and sites, and by improving understanding, interpretation and access.

SEO 3

Manage and support the agricultural landscape through conserving, enhancing, linking and expanding the habitat network (including grasslands, woodlands, ponds, hedges and field margins) – to increase connectivity and resilience to climate change, and reduce soil erosion and diffuse pollution, while conserving the qualities of the farmed landscape and improving opportunities for enjoyment of the open countryside.

SEO 4

Expand and link green infrastructure through restoring and enhancing post-industrial sites and creating new habitat mosaics that raise the overall quality, design and location of new development, bringing multiple environmental benefits including functioning networks for wildlife and access and recreational amenities for people to enjoy.