71 - Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield : Summary and Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity

Summary

The Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield landform consists of a plateau with unrestricted views of shallow valleys and gentle ridges that become less pronounced in the south due to a layer of glacial till. To the east the land rises steeply, affording views of the Charnwood National Character Area (NCA). Ancient woodland straddles part of the boundary in the north, where the land falls away affording views of the wooded rolling landscape of the Melbourne Parklands NCA. The River Mease Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) forms part of the boundary with the Mease/Sence Lowlands NCA in the south-west and the Leicestershire Vales NCA forms a less visually defined border in the south.

The area has a developing woodland character, heavily influenced by work of The National Forest that covers the majority of the NCA and which aims to link the remnant ancient forest landscapes of Melbourne Parklands NCA in the north with those of Charnwood NCA in the east and Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands NCA in the west.

The landscape is in continuing transition, from an unenclosed rolling landform that was extensively scarred by abandoned collieries, spoil tips and clay pits, to a matrix of new woodland, restored colliery sites, active brick pits and commercial developments that are woven into an essentially rural, agricultural landscape. Settlements consist of a mix of small hamlets, enlarged market towns and former mining settlements.

The wooded spoil tips of abandoned colliery sites, the prevalence of subsidence flashes, the tramways and Ashby Canal are locally prominent features in the landscape and are strong reminders of a long and rich industrial heritage. The medieval remains of the castle in Ashby-de-la-Zouch provide reminders of a pre-industrial heritage and the focus of a wider visitor interest in the area for recreation that is forming the basis of an emerging visitor economy.

Good links to the road network and proximity to East Midlands Airport with its freight terminal mean that the commercial demand for land for housing, agriculture and mineral extraction is likely to increase. This has the potential to further fragment habitats and change settlement patterns, but can also provide opportunities to create a high-quality built environment with multifunctional green space within urban areas and woodland fringe and biomass. There are opportunities to develop the visitor economy, using assets such as The National Forest, heritage sites and the network of heritage trails.

Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEO)

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

SEO 1

Protect and manage the area’s riverine and flood plain environment, its manmade and natural wetland habitats, especially the River Mease for its internationally and nationally important species and range of river plants, for the benefit of biodiversity, sense of place, water quality, recreation, geodiversity and climate regulation.

SEO 2

Manage and conserve ancient and plantation woodland and plan appropriately scaled new woodland cover, particularly in The National Forest; restore and reinstate hedgerows and hedgerow trees and increase biomass provision, timber supply and biodiversity that will mitigate the impact of climate change and enhance the experiential qualities of the area.

SEO 3

Protect and manage the industrial/mining heritage of the coalfield and wider historic landscape; balance the needs of forestry, commercial, industrial and agricultural growth with the developing visitor economy and maintain a high level of public access to the wealth of recreational experiences the National Character Area offers.

SEO 4

Take an integrated approach to managing the natural environment that reflects the strong link between geology and its influence on landscape, biodiversity, industrial development, heritage and settlement pattern of the National Character Area; promote greater understanding of the contemporary link between wildlife and geodiversity, particularly in the distribution of habitats and species, and recognise the importance of former extraction sites for both geodiversity and biodiversity.