National Character Area 139 - Marshwood and Powerstock Vales : Key Facts & Data

The entire NCA lies within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Eleven per cent forms part of the West Dorset Heritage Coast. There are 4 major divisions within this character area. In the centre is the clay Vale itself. Surrounding it is a diverse landscape of high ridges and rounded hills, which have a distinctive steeply sloping profile and flat topped summits; Upper Greensand. On the eastern side the Powerstock Hills; small conical hills divided by steep valleys. The coast with its slumped, mobile cliffs, prominent headlands and hidden valleys (Natural England, 2011).

National Landscape (AONB) Management Plans

National Landscapes (legally known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – AONBs) are nationally important landscapes, designated under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act. Their primary purpose is to ‘conserve and enhance natural beauty’. Clicking on the relevant National Landscape in the below map will also take you to that specific National Landscape website.
 
The following National Landscapes can be found within this NCA:

• Dorset

 

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Each National Landscape has a statutory Management Plan to drive partnership action across their areas. The Plan also outlines the special qualities that underpin the designated landscape. These documents can be found on each individual National Landscape website by searching for “Management Plan”. Management Plans are updated every five years.

Relationship with the coast

The adjacent coastline is covered by the following Shoreline Management Plans:

• Durlston Head to Rame Head

The adjacent coastline includes the following Marine Plan – Marine Character Areas (MCAs):

• Lyme Bay (East)

Durlston Head to Rame Head Shoreline Management Plan

Shoreline Management Plans are developed by Coastal Groups with members mainly from local authorities and the Environment Agency. They identify the most sustainable approach to managing the flood and coastal erosion risks to the coastline in the short, medium and long term. This could inform actions within the NCA.

Description for the Lyme Bay (East) Marine Character Area

Seascape Character Assessments have been produced for all marine plan areas in England, extending along the coast to the High Water Mark. Information in the Seascape Character Assessments could inform actions along the coastline of the NCA.
 

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The Marine Policy Statement (MPS, 2011) states that, when developing marine plans, visual, cultural, historical and archaeological impacts should be considered for all coastal areas. The MPS adds that any wider social and economic impacts of a development or activity on coastal landscapes and seascapes should also be considered, accounting for existing character and quality.
 
In addressing these requirements, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has produced Seascape Character Assessments for all marine plan areas in England, extending along the coast to the High Water Mark. Information from theses assessments could inform actions along the coastline of the NCA.

The NCA includes the following statutory nature conservation designations (Natural England, Special Protection Areas; Special Area of Conservation; Ramsars; National Nature Reserves; Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserves, 2021):

Please note: (i) Designated areas may overlap (ii) all figures are cut to Mean High Water Line, designations that span coastal/marine areas below this line will not be included.

Condition of designated sites
All designated sites within England are covered by Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSI) units. The condition to these SSSI units within the NCA are as follows (Natural England, Sites of Special Scientific Interest Units, 2021; 2023):