71 - Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield : Analysis: Ecosystem Services

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Mixed arable and pasture
• Water availability

State – Food provision is important to the region. The majority of the NCA has grade 3 quality soils, in terms of their productivity. 66 per cent of the NCA has Agricultural Land Classification grade 3 and 19 per cent is grade 4 and this is reflected in the land use.

Mixed sheep and beef units and to a lesser extent, dairy with combinable crops grown on the freer-draining soils. Potatoes are grown in rotation on the heavier soils around Measham and Packington and this can raise issues of water abstraction for irrigation during drier periods.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The predominance of Coal Measures geology produces slowly permeable soils and fine clayey gley soils that are waterlogged in the winter months and best suited to livestock rearing.

Free draining brown earths are present over sandstone, these are often cultivated. Some areas have been affected by open cast mining. Such disturbed soils are generally very poorly drained and will only support rough grazing or woodland.

Good links to the road network assists the distribution of food. There is a potato processing and packing plant located close to the A42 near Measham.

The National Forest provides farmers with financial incentives to convert less-productive agricultural land to woodland and other associated habitats that will reduce the capacity to grow food, but will contribute to a range of other provisioning and regulation services.

Opportunities – Safeguard food provision and promote sustainable land management techniques that will protect the water and soil resources of the NCA.

Promote the uptake of catchment sensitive farming, which can advise farmers on water harvesting and over-wintering storage of water to reduce abstraction during peak demand.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Food provision
• Biodiversity
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water quality
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Water availability

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Broadleaf woodland
• The National Forest plantations

State – Statistics show that total woodland cover, (where woodland is over 2 ha) is currently7 per cent of the NCA. The National Forest initiative covers 87 per cent of the NCA, is helping to strengthen the woodland character, resulting in a landscape that is more diverse -delivering a wider range of ecosystem services.

Mature woodland is generally limited to small, isolated blocks of broadleaf woodland although there are large blocks of ancient woodland associated with historic parkland around Newbold, Coleorton and on the border of Melbourne Parkland NCA.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Commercial woodland planting by The National Forest and managing existing woodland will increase opportunities for timber provision.

The National Forest offers financial incentives for the conversion of less-productive agricultural land to woodland and other associated habitats.

Planting should be of an appropriate scale, sensitively located in the landscape, not detrimental to heritage assets or other habitat.

The conversion of less productive agricultural land to woodland will have a slight detrimental effect on food provision, but will enhance other provisioning and regulating services.

Bringing more woodland in to positive management will increase the supply of timber by-products that can contribute to sustainable management.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to increase native woodland planting to increase timber provision while improving biodiversity and strengthening landscape character.

Seek opportunities to reverse fragmentation of woodland by restoring locally characteristic zones of woodland and buffering core sites by developing transitional scrub communities between woodland and adjoining habitats.

Encourage positive management of ancient woodland associated with historic parks, for example, Rough Park and those that straddle the border of Melbourne Parklands NCA, Calke Park and Staunton Harold.

Developing supply chains and encouraging demand for timber to provide an economic return on the by-products of woodland management.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Timber provision
• Biodiversity
• Climate regulation
• Water availability
• Regulating water flow
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history
• Biomass energy

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rivers and their tributaries
• Aquifer Canal Reservoir

State – The rivers Mease and Sence and their tributaries are the primary water supplies available for abstraction by the agricultural industry.

Sandstones and conglomerates of the Triassic Sandstone occur at depth and locally at the surface and provide base flow for rivers and water for public water supply. Water is also abstracted by the brewing industry in Burton upon Trent, in the Trent Valley Washlands NCA.

The Ashby Canal and Thornton Reservoir are man-made water bodies. Discharges are made from Thornton Reservoir to maintain water levels downstream of the dam via the Rothley Brook.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The River Mease is a tributary of the River Trent and the River Sence joins the River Tame via the River Anker. All are important sources of water in the Humber Catchment (Dove Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy, Environment Agency). Unsustainable abstraction results in low flows that negatively impact on biodiversity and water quality in terms of Water Framework Directive assessment and also the experiential qualities of the NCA.

The deep Sherwood Sandstone Aquifer provides base flow to the rivers and a large underground storage capacity, which no surface reservoir can match in terms of quantity and quality.

Increasing the area of semi-natural habitat in aquifer recharge areas can increase water infiltration rates.

The construction of winter water storage reservoirs would alleviate over abstraction during peak demand.

Opportunities – The River Mease is identified as a priority catchment in the Catchment Sensitive Farming (A joint project between the Environment Agency and Natural England, funded by Defra and the Rural Development Programme for England, working in priority catchments within England.) scheme that helps to identify ways and opportunities of using water supplies more sustainably.

Buffer watercourses, thus increasing areas of wetland habitat while increasing water storage and reducing flow rates to increase water infiltration.

Ensure appropriate stocking levels to prevent soil compaction. Protect flood plains from inappropriate development.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• The National Forest plantations
• Woodlands
• Miscanthus
• Short rotation coppice

State – Biomass provision is currently limited although new planting by The National Forest has the potential to increase capacity.

Short rotation coppice (SRC) is grown in the area around Thornton.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The National Forest new plantations include commercial woodlands and short rotation coppice for biomass/wood fuel.

The arisings from managed woodland can also increase coppice products/wood fuel.

Information provided by Defra indicates that there is a medium potential yield for Miscanthus, with small areas identified as high yield to the west of Swadlincote and north of Ashby. There is a medium potential yield for SRC with small areas identified as high yield around Ashby, Coalville and in the south around Newbold Verdon.

SRC and miscanthus on woodland fringes could provide a transitional habitat.

Planting on less-productive agricultural land can achieve broader environmental objectives such as slowing water flow at times of flooding, increasing interception rates and reducing agricultural diffuse pollution.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to increase biomass provision where it will not be detrimental to other habitat. For example, planting biomass crops where flood plain edges blend into existing woodland on agricultural areas and around urban woodland planting such as Swadlincote Urban Forest Park.

Bring more woodland in to positive management and encourage the development of markets and supply chains for locally sourced wood as a by- product of forestry management to provide an economic return that can sustain forestry management.

Encourage the installation of small-scale wood-fuel boilers in local civic buildings and at tourist visitor centres.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biomass energy
• Climate regulation
• Regulating soil erosion
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Regulating water flow

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soil
• Woodland
• Heathland
• Wetlands

State – The mineral soils over most of the NCA have low carbon content (0-5 per cent). There are small pockets of soil with higher carbon content (5-10 per cent) likely to be associated with areas of lowland heathland and certain woodlands.

Woodland along watercourses. Large blocks of ancient woodland associated with historic parkland around Newbold, Coleorton and on the border of Melbourne Parkland NCA and new plantations associated with The National Forest.

Remnant heathland on acid soils and associated with the re-colonisation of mining tips and colliery spoil.

Riparian habitats associated with watercourses and mining flashes.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Carbon sequestration and storage by soils can be enhanced by increasing organic matter inputs and by reducing the frequency and area of cultivation.

Woodland is likely to be the most significant contributor to carbon storage and sequestration in this NCA, particularly with the developing woodland character being strengthened by The National Forest.

Heathlands are characterised by a cover of 25 per cent dwarf shrubs of the botanical family Ericaceae. Woody shrub species play an important role in carbon sequestration in grassland ecosystems. Areas of heathland once covered the coalfield and are beginning to re-naturalise spoil tips.

Wetlands provide essential ecosystem provisioning and regulatory services, including greenhouse gas reduction.

Opportunities – Work in collaboration with farmers to ensure appropriate management techniques are employed in arable systems to enhance organic inputs and reduce fertiliser inputs.

Support measures taken by The National Forest that create new woodland at appropriate sites and manage the existing woodland resource.

Support initiatives to monitor the effects of climate change on woodland including the spread of Invasive Non-Native Species and diseases.

Maintain and enhance the existing areas of heath by arresting further losses or degradation; where appropriate create secondary heathland on post-industrial sites.

Where appropriate expand wetland habitats for the multiple benefits to climate regulation, biodiversity, water flow and quality.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Climate regulation
• Water availability
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rivers and their tributaries
• Mine waters
• Aquifer Land management in the catchment

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 – Good water quality is particularly important for public and industrial use and the River Mease SSSI and SAC.

The River Mease is a priority catchment under the Catchment Sensitive Farming scheme which is focussed on reducing diffuse water pollution, particularly phosphate and sedimentation to protect the aquatic environment, particularly the internationally important populations of spined loach and bullhead fish.

Planned improvements to sewage treatment works at a number of locations in the River Mease catchment can reduce the levels of phosphate in the SAC.

Opportunities – Work with partners to secure opportunities to re-naturalise modified channels and re- connect them where possible to their natural flood plain.

Through catchment sensitive farming, reduce foul runoff from outdoor feeding areas, silage clamps, yards and cattle tracks; prevent stock from entering streams and poaching stream banks and manage livestock to avoid poaching of fields by cattle movement. Reduce fertiliser and pesticide inputs by careful infield analysis of need.

Protect areas of unimproved pasture and semi natural habitat and buffer watercourses.

Support partners and community initiatives to identify point and diffuse sources of pollution and waste water pipe mis- connections in urban areas that contribute to polluted discharges. Support partners with the management of mine waters.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Climate regulation
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rivers and their tributaries
• Riparian woodland and vegetation
• Sustainable urban drainage schemes (SUDS)
• Thornton Reservoir

State – Data from the Environment Agency indicates that the risk of flooding is ‘significant’, but is confined to river valleys and watercourses where it inundates agricultural land. Elsewhere, the risk is ‘low’.

During periods of peak abstraction, water is discharged from Thornton Reservoir to maintain the water level in Rothley Brook; a tributary of the River Soar in neighbouring Charnwood NCA.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The Environment Agency’s Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy includes investigating land use changes which will reduce run-off rates. This may also lessen soil erosion from cultivated land which is an issue in this NCA.

Identifying locations where flood attenuation ponds or wetland areas could be improved or developed with associated habitat enhancement and potential sites for priority habitat creation.

Riparian woodland can also attenuate flow rate and also provide coarse woody debris in to water channels to provide habitat for aquatic species and invertebrates.

Opportunities – Where appropriate increase riparian woodland and vegetation along watercourse banks including the rivers Mease, Sence, their tributaries and along the Ashby Canal.

Removing constrictions to flow, such as weirs. This will also benefit migratory fish.

Increase the length of open water corridors through the urban areas by de-culverting rivers and streams and creating riparian habitat, for example, reedbeds that can reduce the rate of run- off and filter water.

Ensuring that new developments take into account the principles of SUDS by including green spaces and areas of land with unsealed surfaces.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils derived from Coal Measures
• Soils derived from Triassic sandstone
• Glacial till

State – The main soils in this NCA include:

• Slowly permeable seasonally wet acid loamy and clayey soils, covering 32 per cent of the NCA.
• Slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage (27 per cent).
• Slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils (19 per cent).
• Freely draining slightly acid loamy soils (14 per cent).

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The majority of the soils are derived from the Coal Measures that have impeded drainage, therefore 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 which will tend to exacerbate run- off problems. These soils may have limited potential for increasing organic matter levels by management interventions.

The freely draining slightly acid loamy soils have the potential for enhanced organic matter levels through management interventions. They may be valuable for aquifer recharge requiring the maintenance of good structural conditions to aid water infiltration and protection from pollution.

Mines and quarries disturb the natural soil profile and local hydrology. On colliery spoil, the loamy and clayey soils are prone to capping and compaction however well designed, high quality restoration of mineral extraction sites can avoid these conditions and deliver other ecosystem services.

Opportunities – Encourage the adoption of Catchment Sensitive Farming techniques to manage arable and livestock systems sustainably to protect the soil structure, for example, preventing poaching and adopting sustainable stocking levels.

During the restoration of mineral extraction sites: ensure the correct handling of soils and installation of drainage, or seek opportunities for the creation of wetland habitat, for the multiple benefits this will realise.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Permanent grassland and riparian vegetation
• Hedgerows
• Old spoil heaps and tips

State – Freely draining slightly acid loamy soils (14 per cent) have an enhanced risk of wind erosion, where they occur on moderately or steeply sloping land, or where large, open arable systems are cultivated and bare soil is exposed.

The heavier soils along watercourses are at risk from flood events.

Elsewhere, the loamy, clayey soils are prone to compaction and capping, increasing the risk of soil erosion by surface water run-off.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Food production and water quality is important to the region, therefore soil erosion in an important issue in this NCA.

Permanent vegetation cover, for example pasture alongside streams and on flood plains, stabilises exposed areas, trapping sediment and slowing water flow. Physical barriers in open landscapes can alleviate wind erosion of soil, for example, permanent grassland around field boundaries, hedgerows and tree shelterbelts.

Riparian woodland and vegetation along watercourses offer resource protection against run-off. Conversely, invasive non-native species, for example stands of Himalayan balsam, can lead to bare earth in the winter months which are markedly more prone to soil erosion.

The restoration of hedgerows may constrain food productivity, but in the longer-term maintains the productivity of the land by protecting the soil resource and is likely to lead to an improvement in water quality and an increase in biodiversity.

Opportunities – Encourage the adoption of Catchment Sensitive Farming techniques to manage arable and livestock systems sustainably and protect the soil resource, for example, buffering watercourses and field boundaries with permanent grass leys or conservation margins.

Encourage increased surveillance by trained volunteers to monitor and control the spread of Himalayan balsam.

Encourage the uptake of agri-environment options to increase areas of permanent grassland on field margins and along watercourses for the multiple benefits to resource protection, and biodiversity.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Lowland heathland
• Lowland meadow
• Hedgerows, field margins and open mosaic habitats on previously developed land
• Allotments and private gardens

State – Areas of lowland heath, meadow and grassland habitats provide sources of nectar for pollinating insects. Late flowering nectar sources, such as heather, are important in providing supply of nectar over an extended period of time.

Residential gardens, formal parks, allotment sites and open mosaic habitats on previously developed land provide important sources of nectar in the urban areas and often have more diverse sources of nectar than occurs in agricultural monocultures.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Food crops currently grown in the NCA do not rely on pollinators therefore their value is to biodiversity. This could be a limiting factor should cropping regimes change. An increase in the populations of pollinators may facilitate an increase in the types of crops that could be grown in the future thus expanding the range of food provision and increasing the resilience to the effects of climate change.

Lowland heathland and lowland meadow each represent less than one per-cent of the NCA, currently limiting the provision of this service. However, expanding areas of lowland heath and meadow, planting a network of species-rich hedgerows, creating flower-rich field margins in agricultural areas and species rich roadside verges would all reduce habitat fragmentation thus providing a more robust ecological network for pollinators.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to increase nectar provision within the agricultural landscape through promotion of agri-environment scheme options. This would also provide habitat and food source for potential pest regulators, for example, birds.

Encourage local authorities, highways and road maintenance contractors to diversify the species mix of roadside verges.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Semi-natural habitat
• Hedgerows and field margins

State – The extent of fragmented semi-natural habitat and gappy hedgerows in this NCA mean that the contribution to pest regulation services is limited.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Semi-natural habitats and hedges proximal to areas of commercial arable agriculture may support species of predators that can regulate populations of pests that adversely affect crop yields, hence food provision.

Opportunities – In agricultural areas, expand existing areas or create new semi- natural habitat, for example, beetle banks, headlands and re-instate hedgerows, to provide a mosaic of habitats in areas of monoculture, thus providing a more robust ecosystem that will benefit food production and biodiversity.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pest regulation
• Pollination
• Biodiversity
• Food production
• Sense of place/inspiration

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Open landscape character of gentle ridges and shallow valleys
• Medieval castle remains at Ashby-de-la- Zouch
• Prominent groups of red brick miners’ cottages
• Industrial archaeological interest
• The National Forest
• Historic parks and gardens

State – Although mining and urban features dominate the landscape, there are areas that remain rural. There are small villages, particularly in the coalfield in the south, and there are some areas of very distinctive character such as the landscape around Coleorton where small pasture fields, overgrown hedges, with frequent hedgerow trees and small copses are linked to a dispersed pattern of cottages and small groups of houses along winding lanes with a network of paths and tramways.

The landscape is in transition; influenced by work of The National Forest, from a landform extensively scarred by abandoned collieries, spoil tips and quarries; to a matrix of new woodland, restored colliery sites, active brick pits and commercial developments that are woven into an essentially rural landscape.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Sir Walter Scott chose the open landscape character around Ashby-de-la-Zouch and the ruins of the medieval castle for the setting of his historic novel Ivanhoe. The Ivanhoe Way exists as a long distance footpath.

Restored industrial buildings, canals and disused railway lines can offer recreational opportunities and increase access to the industrial heritage of the NCA, inspire volunteer activities, arts events, education trails and skills development events, for example, Moira. The Industrial archaeological interest is forming the basis for visitor attractions such as the Snibston Discovery Museum, Moira Furnace and the Ashby Canal.

The National Forest is creating positive change and environmental enhancement with recreational and educational activities close to population centres, for example, Conkers Discovery Centre.

The National Forest provides farmers with financial incentives to convert less-productive agricultural land to woodland and other associated habitats, thus strengthening the sense of place and offering opportunities for recreation.

Opportunities – Manage and protect the Mease and Sence rivers and their valleys which form the most distinctive natural features of this predominantly open, arable, lowland landscape.

Protect and manage the large estates, wooded parklands and country houses of the NCA, for example Rough Park, which contribute to its sense of place and provide areas of tranquillity.

Encourage farm diversification of less productive agricultural land to woodland and other associated habitats, to realise multiple benefits.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• The remains of a Roman settlement and tile kiln at Ravenstone
• Remains of Ashby’s medieval castle and the moated site at Desford
• The Industrial archaeological interest of surface workings, deep mines, cottages, tramways,
• Ashby Canal and Moira Furnace
• Settlement patterns
• Historic parks and gardens

State – The remains of Ashby’s 12th-century manor house, which became a castle in the 15th century, serve as a reminder of the town’s long history.

Exploitation of the mineral wealth began in the 13th century but gained landscape changing-scale in the 18th and 19th centuries with the invention of steam power and the building of the iron-smelting furnace at Moira, the Ashby Canal and the many railways.

The influx of mine workers influenced settlement patterns with dense settlements of red-brick terrace houses. In contrast, around Coleorton, a dispersed pattern of settlement arose in connection with small scale mining, together with small fields, a dense network of footpaths, and bell pits and their associated spoil heaps. These features still contribute to the distinctiveness of this part of the Coalfield landscape.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The character of this NCA is heightened by the clear evidence of past human land use and visual links with the past. Sites of historic and cultural significance require maintenance, promotion and interpretation to ensure their longevity in the landscape and culture of the NCA, for example, Moira Furnace site.

The area’s industrial heritage has potential to attract visitors, such as, the Snibston Discovery Museum, which can bring about an improved enjoyment of the landscape and improved management whilst benefiting the local economy.

Parklands and associated country homes provide a sense of the wealth that the industry brought to the area and remain an important historic asset.

The settlement pattern reflects the process of change and development. Although many rural villages and scattered farmsteads remain, many villages have expanded. The continued expansion of settlements may pose a risk of losing traditional settlement patterns, especially the distinctive pattern of the early 13th-century mining settlements around Coleorton.

Opportunities – Retain and manage the area’s historic assets including the legacies of industry by finding alternative uses for buildings and post industrial sites. For example, the development of educational visitor centres and restoration of former mineral sites and transport networks for recreation, biodiversity and geodiversity.

Maintain the historic park land and associated houses.

Ensure that the grouping and design of new developments reflects the juxtaposition, scale and materials of traditional local buildings characteristic of the area.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Expansive rural areas
• Woodland
• River valleys and watercourses

State – The ‘Intrusion Map 2007’ provided by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) shows that over three-quarters of the NCA is classified as disturbed. A notable trend since the 1960s is the decline in undisturbed areas, likely due to the expansion of settlements and transport infrastructure.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Despite the reduction in tranquil areas, the NCA is important in providing experiences of wide open spaces for people living in the adjacent towns.

Tranquillity can still be experienced along river valleys, in the mature woodlands and around restored quarries, for example, Saltersford Valley. The National Forest is strengthening the woodland and boundary features that will enhance the experiential qualities of the NCA and has a visitor centre (Conkers) that provides a tranquil setting.

Opportunities – Retain areas of open landscape, resisting urban development in to undisturbed areas.

Buffer the areas of the NCA where intrusion is low and sensitively plan any expansion to urban areas and roads by planting woodland shelterbelts reducing visual impact, noise and light pollution.

Maintain the balance between undisturbed areas and public access by providing recreational facilities in appropriate areas.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Public rights of way and heritage trails
• Local nature reserves, country parks and woodland
• Heritage visitor centres
• The National Forest
• Ashby Canal
• Thornton Reservoir
• Restored quarries

State – There are 471 km of public rights of way. The Ivanhoe Way is a circular 58 km walk through Leicestershire within The National Forest and extends in to the neighbouring Charnwood Forest NCA. The walk is split into different sections to allow for shorter strolls.

The Leicestershire Round is a 160 km circular walk around Leicestershire connecting many places of historical and geographical interest.

Ashby Wolds heritage trail runs along a disused railway line and links Local Nature Reserves, Conkers Visitor Centre and Moira Furnace industrial heritage site.

There are over 1,500 ha of ‘woods for people’ that provide woodland walks.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Linear routes, for example the Ashby Canal and its towpath, link the NCA with the neighbouring Mease and Sence Lowlands NCA, while woodland walks in the north of the NCA cross into the Melbourne Parks NCA.

The mining and industrial assets of the NCA are important for recreation, biodiversity and tourism and are within easy reach of the City of Leicester.

Thornton Reservoir, a semi-redundant public water supply reservoir is now important for biodiversity and recreation. Other open-water bodies associated with mineral extraction sites could also be restored for public access; ideal for circular strolls, for example, Saltersford Valley Local Nature Reserve.

Opportunities – Support initiatives by The National Forest to increase the recreational resource of the NCA.

Restore post-industrial sites paying regard to their historic value and future value for both biodiversity and geodiversity.

Increase the number of circular, well-surfaced, routes suitable for all age ranges and physical abilities.

Promote the use of the existing network of rights of way within the NCA and its links with the National Cycle Network. Raise awareness of circular routes associated with the Leicestershire Round and Ivanhoe Way long distance footpath.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rivers and their tributaries
• Bullhead and spined loach fish, white- clawed crayfish and water crowfoot
• The National Forest
• Ancient and semi-natural woodland
• Lowland heathland
• Lowland meadow
• Open mosaic habitats on previously developed land
• Open water and subsidence flashes
• Hedgerows

State – Two km of the total 25 km length of the River Mease SSSI and SAC flows within the NCA and comprises the lower reaches of the Gilwiskaw Brook downstream of Packington, and the River Mease downstream of its confluence with the Gilwiskaw Brook and covers 4 ha of the NCA. The SSSI is in ‘unfavourable, no change’ status.

There are 127 ha of ancient semi-natural woodland and 100 ha of plantations on ancient woodland sites.

Other priority habitat includes 17 ha of lowland heathland and 17 ha of lowland meadow.

There are locally dense ribbons of woodland along watercourses.

Deep mining and quarrying has left a legacy of subsidence pools and old settling lagoons that are now providing wetland habitat.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – The River Mease and Gilwiskaw Brook are special lowland rivers as they are relatively unspoilt and support internationally important spined loach and bullhead fish. This is why the rivers were designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The rivers also support populations of white- clawed crayfish, otter and a range of river plants such as water crowfoot.

Despite protection, the ecological quality is poor due to channel modifications, weirs and high levels of phosphates due in part to sewage discharges, agricultural run-off and rising mine waters.

Along watercourses, primary tree species include silver birch, sessile and pedunculate oak with some birch, ash and holly. Wet woodland includes alder and crack willow. The predominant shrub layer comprises hazel, hawthorn and grey willow. These riparian woodlands stabilise soils, slow water flow and provide woody debris, important for aquatic and invertebrate species.

Hawthorn is the predominant hedgerow species with some field maple, hazel, holly and blackthorn, providing habitat for pollinators and food sources for predators.

Fragmented areas of lowland meadow exist and lowland heathland, once widespread, is confined to isolated areas, spoil tips and open mosaic habitats on previously developed land.

Opportunities – Work in collaboration to remove weirs that constrict fish and invertebrate migration, re- naturalise the channel depth and profile, and use semi-natural vegetation strips and riparian wetlands to buffer watercourses from adjoining land uses.

Work in collaboration to reduce point source and diffuse pollution from a wide range of sources and establish mitigation measures for rising mine waters.

Support initiatives such as the ‘Developer Contributions Scheme’ (DCS) which will enable development to proceed in the catchment of the River Mease Special Area of Conservation whilst ensuring it does not result in a deterioration of water quality. The scheme will pay for projects to offset the phosphate contribution made by the new development.

Where appropriate, extend areas of riparian woodland and manage riparian woodland ensuring a supply of dead wood and over- mature trees.

Restore and reinstate hedgerows with typical species, by gapping-up and planting their accompanying hedgerow trees; adopting appropriate cutting regimes and tagging to extend the age range and species diversity.

Encourage the expansion of lowland heathland and lowland meadow into robust ecological networks as part of The National Forest and look for opportunities to manage previously developed land as priority open mosaic habitat.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Quarries
• River cuttings
• Glacial and present-day geomorphological processes
• Minerals and ores
• Designated sites

State – There are a number of operational and non- operational extraction sites in the NCA. The most notable being for brick production at Ibstock, Measham, Heather, Ellistown and Desford. Seatearth or ‘fireclay’ associated with the Coal Measures is used for refractory linings, sewerage and drainage applications and is produced in the Swadlincote area.

As well as being important to the local economy and for employment, quarries provide opportunities for the study of geology.

Sandstones in the Pennine Coal Measures and Sherwood Sandstone have been worked for building stone.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Quarries can provide opportunities to record and study stratigraphy and geological processes. They also provide a tangible link with the industrial heritage of the NCA. Increased education and interpretation can demonstrate how geology influences settlement patterns, human activity and innovation, from source rock to product and how this relates to the landscape.

Glacial till, which is evident in the south of the NCA, provides opportunities to study the effects of glaciation.

The rivers Mease and Sence can both be used to demonstrate fluvial activity in the form of channel migration and flood plain deposition.

Opportunities – Enhance the condition of designated sites and manage former extraction sites and natural exposures for the range of mutually beneficial interests including geodiversity, biodiversity, industrial heritage, recreational, educational and scientific research purposes.

Improve access and interpretation of present-day geomorphological activity associated with the rivers.

Work in partnership to further the objectives and aspirations of the Local Geodiversity Action Plan and to develop restorative management of former quarries offering opportunities for volunteering and community engagement.

Look for opportunities to develop new Local Geological Sites; work with open cast coal and other quarry managers to preserve geodiversity features.

Encourage the use of locally sourced building materials in building conservation works and new developments.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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