77 - North Norfolk Coast : Analysis: Ecosystem Services

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils through agricultural management
• Grasslands and grazing marsh
• Tidal waters supporting lobster and crab production; intertidal habitats supporting shellfish populations

State – Twenty-five per cent of the land is under agricultural management for arable crops including winter wheat, potatoes and sugar beet. Spring barley for beer production grows well on the sandy soils and the distinctive coastal climate helps extend the natural ripening process.

Grassland is extensively grazed by beef cattle and some sheep.

The total annual weight of fish and shellfish landed in the NCA in 2009 was 566,333 kg and included: lobster 42,634 kg; mussel 50,311 kg; bass 725 kg; whelk 725 kg; velvets 228, 645 kg; and skate and ray 7,267 kg.

Other foods include samphire, produce from game, shooting and wildfowling.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Agricultural use of the land is restricted by the topography and proximity to the sea. There are small areas of pasture and arable on the coastal plain where the land has been artificially drained.

Inundation from the sea as a result of sea level rise and failure of the drainage network puts these arable and grazing areas at risk.

The most valuable arable areas are found between, Old Hunstanton Golf Course to Thornham, Gun Hill to Wells harbour, and Wells harbour to Cley.

More spring crops are likely to be grown as increased warming affects yields of winter wheat.

There is likely to be a big increase in demand for irrigation for agriculture as water is taken from groundwater or rivers during the summer which will affect river flows and other water supplies.

Grassland coverage has returned to levels last seen in the 1990s, as a result of Environmental Stewardship Schemes and arable reversion.

Fishing continues to be an important industry in Wells and Blakeney, although the economic viability of traditional fishing industries is under pressure. The water quality is suitable to support fish of indigenous species and the production of shellfish. In the last 30 years there has been a decline in the number of long-standing fishing families still involved.

Future changes in water quality and sediment movement and supply may threaten fish and shellfish stocks as a result of sea level rise.

Opportunities – Encourage sensitive farming practises that result in good stewardship of the land, and encourage biodiversity.

Manage land sustainably to improve the ecological carrying capacity of rare freshwater flooded grazing marsh habitat, and allow grazing to take place.

Promote agri-environment schemes to landowners in arable areas where benefits from arable reversion to grazing marshes could be realised.

Investigate alternative methods of ensuring crops are resistant to affects of climate change, for example by plant breeding and the use of new varieties.

Work in partnership with local farmers, fisherman and food producers to promote connections between product and place to increase value and market recognition of high quality local produce.

Work with game shooting managers, wildfowlers and samphire gatherers to ensure a good ecological balance is maintained, protecting continued local specialist food products and ecological integrity.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Existing woodland cover

State – Woodland cover is very limited covering only 3 per cent of the NCA. There is no commercial plantation and timber production is for firewood only.

88 ha of coniferous pinewood were planted on Holkham beach to provide stability for the dunes.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Further woodland planting is generally incompatible with local character and conditions. The removal of woodland for landscape and biodiversity purposes, including the invasion of pine trees at Holkham and the scrub encroaching on sand dunes at Holme can be considered a source of local wood fuel.

Opportunities – Arisings from scrub clearance and conifer removal can be used as a source of local wood fuel.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Timber provision
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Surface water catchment

State – Rainfall is low with approximately 570 mm falling along the coastal strip and 670 mm falling on higher ground, per year.

Principal surface water resources include the catchments of the chalk rivers of the Hun, Burn, Stiffkey and Glaven. These rare and ecologically valuable chalk rivers are heavily influenced by farming practices in the adjoining NCAs from abstractions, and water treatment.

Abstraction levels: River Burn has no water available; River Stiffey currently over-abstracted and moving to over licensed; River Glaven is over-licensed; River Hun, has water available.

Consumption of water from households in unmetered properties is high in the area (A Regional Action Plan for the Anglian Region, Environment Agency).

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – All freshwater outlets are used as important roost sites for migratory birds. The freshwater marsh and freshwater wet grassland attract numerous wintering and breeding wildfowl and waders.

Groundwater plays an important role in directly feeding the freshwater grazing marshes at Burnham Overy. It provides base flow to the river which provides freshwater input to the intertidal areas.

Water abstraction, already close to what is considered to be sustainable, will be a growing problem, causing challenges for wetland habitats (UKCIP) .

Groundwater abstraction from within or the NCA could lower the water table, resulting in the drying-out dry-out ground water seepages on the landward edge of the saltmarsh which is a nationally rare habitat for invertebrates.

The NCA is narrow, especially the terrestrial portion, so even abstraction wells outside the NCA could lower the water table (the width of the risk zone would need to be assessed).

Summer drought could result in the drying out of valuable wetland habitats. Water will need to be conserved and used more efficiently, to enable the protection and restoration of wetlands and river habitats.

There is increasing demands for water abstraction for public water supply for new development.

Seasonal and temporary increases in the local population will impact upon water resources, with consequences on river flows of the neighbouring NCAs, which feed the freshwater systems of the North Norfolk Coast.

Opportunities – Promote good farming practice to improve the structure of agricultural soils, thereby improving infiltration of rainwater and, while reducing surface flow.

Promote more efficient use of natural water sources, such as through rain water harvesting, to support business and residential use.

Promote conservation of water resources by raising awareness of the issues associated with climate change and drying out of habitats, and household consumption.

During high winter river flows water can be stored for use in summer periods.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Water availability
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Food provision
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Sea beet
• Norfolk Royal Russet apples

State – These plants are commonly found and have traditionally been foraged by local people.

Theses apples originate from Burnham Over Staithe. 12 hectares of orchard in Thornham contain 150 varieties of apples; 100 come from East Anglia. Pears and soft fruit are also grown.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Sea beet is a wild ancestor of the cultivated varieties of beet. The Romans valued it both for human and animal food.

The genetic resources contained within traditional orchards are under threat, but maintained where orchard restoration and management initiatives are in place.

Opportunities – Raise awareness of the need to retain the generic resource of these plants for wildlife and people. Encourage people to gather plants wisely and to be aware of wildlife considerations.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Genetic diversity
• Sense of history
• Recreation
• Food provision
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Limited firewood

State – Limited resources due to the limited woodland cover and patterns of land use.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – There is little potential for biomass cropping because of the adverse impacts upon the landscape and existing habitats.

Opportunities – Identify sources of local wood fuel from scrub management and pine plantation clearance.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biomass energy
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Salt marshes
• Mudflats
• Dunes
• Intertidal sand flats
• Reedbeds
• Marshes
• Permanent pasture
• Peat and soils with high organic content

State – The shallow water ecosystems of the coast are important sites for carbon storage. The geomorphic and ecological stability is driven by interactions between the flow of water, vegetation growth and sediment transport.

Projects that build resilience and adaptation to change have been completed at Brancaster and Cley and are underway at RSPB Titchwell.

The change from arable land management to grasslands and from drained marsh to wet marsh and saltings over recent years has increased carbon storage.

Salt marsh covers 29 percent of the NCA and acts as a carbon sink. They can also act as an important defence against sea level rise, as the carbon laid down by plants such as sea grasses help to raise the elevation of the land.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Coastal squeeze could occur and would result in the marshes and upper saltmarsh being less able to store the carbon and fulfilling a flood defence function which is an important service as sea walls are protected by healthy salt marsh in front of them.

Sea-levels rise between 26 cm and 86 cm above the current level will affect critical coastal areas that contain irreplaceable assets (Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership). Irreplaceable habitats are likely to be destroyed which will result in a loss of stored carbon.

The shallow water ecosystems of the coast are important sites for carbon storage. The geomorphic and ecological stability is driven by interactions between the flow of water, vegetation growth and sediment transport (Major role of marine vegetation on the oceanic carbon cycle. Biogeosciences 2, 1-8, CM Duarte, JJ Middelburg and N Caraco, 2005).

The shallow waters off the NCA contain beds of seagrass which store 10 times as much carbon as a temperate forest.

Coastal squeeze could occur and would result in the marshes and upper salt marsh being unable to fulfil a carbon storage function.

Rising sea-levels and coastal squeeze will create challenges around the need to maintain intertidal and coastal habitats in situ (such as dune systems). Managed realignment and nourishment or eroded beaches and inter-tidal habitats are potentially ways of assisting this.

There is a need to protect valuable inland coastal habitats, such as grazing marsh reedbeds and saline lagoons, in situ as far as possible or relocated where present sites are lost or are unsustainable, in order to increase the area of high carbon storage capacity across the area.

Coastal grazing marshes, reedbeds and saline lagoons, in their current locations, will in the long term be transient due to inundation of sea water during storm tides and flooding, and seepage through shingle ridges and dune systems. This will ultimately cause their transformation into salt marsh or other intertidal habitat.

Salt marsh sequesters higher levels of carbon and emits lower levels of methane and can be ‘more’ stable in the long term.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to return arable land on the coastal plain, to fresh water marshes through the take up of Environmental Stewardship.

Work with the farming community on the agricultural land of the coastal plain to establish sustainable grazing regimes to allow for enhanced carbon storage in the form of increased organic matters in soils.

Align sea defences to maximise the creation of marsh and thus carbon storage capacity and flood management benefits where habitats buffer flood walls. Rising sea-levels and coastal squeeze will create challenges around the need to maintain intertidal and coastal habitats in situ (such as dune systems) and the need to allow the natural dynamic movement of coastlines.

Managed realignment and nourishment of eroded beaches and inter-tidal habitats are potentially ways of assisting this. There is a need to protect valuable inland coastal habitats, such as grazing marsh, reedbeds and saline lagoons, in situ as far as possible or relocated where their present sites are lost or are unsustainable.

Coastal grazing marshes, reedbeds and saline lagoons in their current locations will, in the long term, tend to be ephemeral due to increased inundation of sea water during storm tides and flooding, and seepage through shingle ridges and dune systems. This will ultimately cause their transformation into saltmarsh or other intertidal habitat.

Continue to liaise with key local landowners to encourage an understanding of carbon storage and sequestration capacity of coastal habitats.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Climate regulation
• Biodiversity
• Regulating coastal erosion
• Reducing flooding
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Geodiversity
• Regulating water flow

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Extensive coastal and intertidal habitats
• Sea defence banks

State – The majority of the NCA has a low-lying northward facing coastline. The Environment Agency flood risk map indicates that a majority of the NCA is at risk of tidal flooding.

The majority of the North Norfolk coast (96 per cent of profiles) is natural and not artificially held by defences of any kind. As a result beaches have been able to behave naturally and roll back in response to natural processes. The intertidal mudflats dissipate wave energy, thus reducing the risk of eroding salt marshes, damaging coastal defences and flooding low-lying land.

Over half the defences along the coastline are manmade earth embankments. Around 15 per cent are classed as natural defences and are either sand dunes or shingle. There are a few sections of undefended land.

The current built sea defences are in good or fair condition.

The current sea defences are in variable condition; some will no longer be maintained which presents opportunities for coastal habitats as well as challenges.

54 per cent of the area has shown an erosional trend of the foreshore over the last 20 years with nearly 40 per cent of profiles showing a steepening trend (Anglian Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme).

Fore dunes along much of the coast and the Holme and Brancaster Bay, and Blakeney Point are experiencing rapid erosion. There has been a gradual loss of salt marsh due to the rollback of the beach barriers, offset by new areas developing.

Substantial active coastal erosion is evident in the soft cliffs between

Weybourne and Sheringham where there is no coastal protection.

There are four main areas of accretion in the area; at Stiffkey marshes, Blakeney Point, Old Hunstanton dunes and Titchwell. The most significant accretion trend was at Blakeney Point dunes, 4.7 m/yr.

The NCA area, (apart from Weybourne Cliffs) is within the North Norfolk Shoreline Management Plan – Kelling to Lowestoft Ness Shoreline Management plan adopted in 2012 which it divides into 3 ‘super frontages.’ It suggests a move to a more sustainable shoreline management by increasing the role of natural processes, while continuing to sustain flood defence to all existing low-lying dwellings and important infrastructure.

The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP 6) where it covers Weybourne Cliffs promotes a naturally functioning coastline with minimal human intervention with beach material to be replenished through cliff erosion and sediment to move freely along the coast feeding shingle ridges to the west (East Anglia Coastal Group, Hunstanton to Kelling Hard).

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Without any further active intervention the built sea defences will stop functioning within 20 years, but maintaining them in their current position will become unsustainable threatening coastal settlements, archaeology and buildings and potential damage to characteristic and designated coastal habitats.

Projected rises in sea level will have significant impacts by accelerating the natural erosion of coastal and intertidal habitats, and changing the pace and nature of natural geomorphological processes.

Realignment could lead to the creation of other valuable and characteristic habitats.

The natural development of the frontage with dune and shingle habitats may protect reclaimed land.

Opportunities – Reduce the current bank and channel maintenance and flood defence maintenance but maintain and enhance areas of coastal habitats in particular dunes, shingle and salt marsh to act as a coastal defence.

Proactively pursue realignment opportunities to allow managed adaption to future climate change and ensure wider benefits where these can occur.

Consider creating habitats inland to reduce the effect of rising sea levels, and identify larger areas for rollback.

Maintain navigation channels to ensure the long term future of settlements and tourism income on the coast as a whole.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating coastal erosion and flooding
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Geodiversity
• Recreation
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Permanent pasture
• Hedgerows, ditches and drain act as barriers to sediment movement
• Coastal and marine habitats

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 – Local

Analysis – The North Norfolk Rivers is a priority catchment under the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECFDI) where soil erosion is causing sedimentation of watercourses. As a result of (ECFDI) vital management work has taken place along the Glaven and the Stiffkey rivers.

The rare and ecologically valuable chalk rivers of the Norfolk coast have been subject to increasing pressures with poor water quality and quantity resulting in degradation of habitats and ecology, siltation, invasion from non-native species and reduction in fish stocks.

Although the quality of the groundwater is good there is a risk from pollution from agricultural activities can easily enter the marine habitats either through groundwater absorption or more directly via run-off into rivers.

Freshwater fish and shellfish water are of satisfactory quality, although changes from valley bottom grazing land (water meadows) to intensive arable agriculture has led to increased silt in the rivers, smothering the gravel beds that are important fish spawning areas as well as characteristic plant and insect habitats.

Opportunities – Work with land owners and farmers to adopt a catchment-wide approach to improving natural river function, enhancing water quality, improving key habitats and boosting community involvement and make them aware of the Capital Grant Scheme for Catchment Sensitive Farming.

Investigate innovative ways to make arable farming on the coastal strip more sustainable and reduce pollution of water courses, by for example using seaweed as a source of fertiliser, where appropriate.

Monitor and review changes in water quality and sediment movement to maintain fish production and to ensure management changes can be made if necessary.

Work with farmers and landowners to reduce diffuse pollution from land management.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Coastal and marine habitats
• Soils

State – The NCA has limited freshwater storage capacity.

The rivers Glaven, Stiffkey and Burn are fast flowing chalk streams which lend themselves to rapid run-off.

River flooding has affected many properties on the rivers Burn and Stiffkey. River flooding is exacerbated by high tides resulting in ‘tidal lock’ on rivers.

The River Burn and Hun can suffer from low flows of water during the summer months.

The storage capacity for sea surges is considerable, given the vast area of salt marsh and tidal creeks. The capacity is not sufficient to protect against extreme sea flooding as experienced in 1953 and more recently in 1978 and 1996.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Because the Cromer ridge is extremely free- draining, the catchment of these minor rivers has a history of flash flooding.

Sluices on rivers prevent flooding from the sea but also reduce connectivity and can exacerbate river flooding upstream. A consequence of the rivers not being able to flow freely to the sea during high tide (called tidal locking), will result in flooding for people, infrastructure and land.

The River Stiffkey is prone to seasonal flooding on its lower reaches onto adjacent wet grassland and this area is now being positively managed for higher water level.

Land which is susceptible to flooding from the sea due to sea level rise includes semi-natural habitats, golf courses and grade 4 agricultural land. Creeks are also likely to silt up making navigable access (via dredging) impossible and unsustainable.

Low flows resulting from abstraction for public water supply and irrigation have been identified as a cause for concern for the Burn and the Hun increasing infiltration and slowing the flow of water.

Opportunities – Promote good soil management to improve infiltration of rainwater.

Improve and restore the continuity between the rivers and their flood plains within and upstream of this NCA to increase capacity to help address and accommodate flood water during periods of ‘tidal lock’.

Maintain volumes and flows in rivers during the summer months by conserving water use on farms and in the settlements.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating water flow
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Biodiversity
• Geodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Geology
• Soils
• Natural vegetation
• Soil flora and fauna
• Agricultural land

State – Nearly 90 per cent of the NCA is comprised of coastal soils; sand dunes formed from shingle and blown sands, and salt marsh soils developed on clays and sands, which are too saline to be useful for arable production.

The embanked and drained marshes now comprise moderately fertile loamy and clayey soils. On higher ground, shallow, but moderately fertile to fertile lime-rich and base- rich soils over chalk and glacial deposits predominate.

There are 6 main soil types in this NCA; loamy and clayey soils of coastal flats with naturally high groundwater, covering 32 per cent of the NCA; salt marsh soils (29 per cent); sand dune soils (14 per cent); shallow lime-rich soils over chalk (10 per cent); freely draining slightly acid but base- rich soils (8 per cent); and freely draining slightly acid sandy soils (4 per cent).

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The loamy and clayey soils of coastal flats with naturally high groundwater have a high agricultural potential, especially to the east of the area, but this is dependent on the continued ability to pump drain and protect the soils from sea flooding and saline intrusion. Locally some soils are saline and at risk of structural damage where drained.

These soils are increasingly under threat of loss from sea level rise where there is a combination of high silt and fine sand content this can result in compaction or soil capping.

The grazing marsh which was arable land in 1997 has been supported by agri- environmental schemes enabling improved soil quality by encouraging deeper root penetration, increased organic matter and improved soil flora and fauna.

There is a risk of potential degradation of soil quality through intrusion from the sea.

Opportunities – Promote good soil management on farms to improve infiltration of rainwater, reduce pollution through fertilizer and pesticide use and the use of low ground pressure machinery and well timed cultivation.

Where appropriate support an increase in the proportion of wetland habitat with conversion from arable farmland to pasture and grazing marsh so that the coastal marshes gradually become more natural, resulting in improved soil quality.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating water quality
• Water availability
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Coastal habitats
• Arable land Cliffs
• Rivers and watercourses

State – The coast from Old Hunstanton to Weybourne is in a state of relative equilibrium, with erosion and accretion. This may change in the long term depending on extent to which sea level rise and storminess increases.

Salt marsh soils found under coastal salt marsh vegetation and the sand dune soils are naturally wet and are prone to tidal flooding and soil erosion and loss.

Soil erosion can occur as a result of autumn cultivation of arable crops.

The lime-rich soils are unstable and prone to loss through erosion.

The acid sandy soils are also at risk which is exacerbated after continuous arable cultivation or if the soils are compacted.

The sand dunes and sandy soils are mobile; in some respects it is in their very nature to move. Wetter clay and loamy soils, particularly those with long-standing vegetative cover, such as grazing marsh are less prone to erosion. Sandy and lime-rich soils over chalk are prone to water erosion if left exposed.

The lightest soils comprise over 18 per cent of soils and these are more vulnerable to both wind and water erosion.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – During the Second World War, the majority of dune systems were used for the construction of defensive installations, for military training or both. The resultant widespread erosion had a severe effect on dune vegetation which has since been reversed by protective measures and natural recovery. These impacts are still noticeable at Holme.

There has been a trend in recent years towards re-wetting of dry grassland to brackish marsh and wet grazing marsh. This has come about partly because of the higher wildlife value of wetter rough marsh, salt marsh and reedbeds but also the difficulties inherent in maintaining the flood defences in the longer term coupled to the financial value of agri-environment incentives. These marshes protect soils further inland from erosion.

Some arable management, for example the late lifting of sugar beet, can damage soil structure and lead to erosion.

In certain areas where there is high footfall the distinctive dune system and salt marsh, are both fragile habitats and can suffer accelerated erosion by trampling and recreational pressure.

Opportunities – Work with farmers and land owners to identify and adopt best soil management practices for the range of land uses in this area, including appropriately timed and minimal cultivation of light sandy soils, the use of cover crops and reversion to grazing marsh.

Seek to maintain and improve the structure and stability of salt marsh soils and ensure that there are appropriate levels of grazing to maintain vegetation.

Identify and provide appropriate management of visitors and visitor guidance on dune systems to prevent damaging and erosive trampling and excessive recreational use of old static dunes.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil erosion
• Food production
• Biodiversity
• Geodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

Extensive areas of semi-natural habitat including salt marshes and field boundaries and margins

State – Lowland meadows and flood plain grazing marsh support a variety of nectar sources for pollinating insects. Where arable cropping dominates, farm track verges are key sources of both pollen and nectar. These habitats are particularly important as they support the insects that pollinate commercial arable crops.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh provide valuable nectar sources for pollinating insects. Management for improving nutrients and biodiversity is likely to increase sward diversity.

There are significant areas of un- grazed salt marsh in the coastal plain which are floristically diverse and could be expanded.

Opportunities – Protect and expand areas of species rich salt marshes and grasslands to enable a wider spread of connected network of habitats which are suitable for pollinating.

Re-instate field boundaries where appropriate and expand the extent of floristically diverse field margins.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pollination
• Food provision
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Extensive coastal and intertidal habitats

State – Interstitial habitats provide important over-wintering habitats for predatory species, for example ground and rove beetles, which feed on pests.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Careful management of agro- chemicals (through Integrated Pest Management approaches) may remove the requirement for chemical intervention, although further research is required.

Opportunities – Financial support for farmers channelled through agri- environment schemes can fund the creation and maintenance of habitats beneficial to predatory species which in turn may benefit productivity in arable areas.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pest regulation
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Regulating water quality

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Undeveloped coast line and dynamic landscape with fragile habitats
• Close association with the sea
• Abundance of biodiversity and marine life
• Distinctive and unspoilt brick and flint coastal villages and Wells town
• Historic and cultural heritage
• Tranquillity and deeply rural location
• Farming , fishing and tourism
• Expansive seaward and coastal views

State – The dual influences of the sea and land combine to create a truly distinct and inspirational place. A wild, often tranquil and beautifully remote coastal landscape with great variety and texture but which is under increasing pressure.

Coastal harbours and the string of distinctive brick and flint villages with landmark flint churches and occasional windmills provide a strong sense of place.

The NCA is a popular visitor destination both for local residents and with people prepared to travel long distances for example, holiday makers and for rare sightings of birds. Wells-next-the-Sea is the only town and commercial port and is a vital employment and service centre.

One of the few remaining examples of relatively undeveloped and unspoilt coastal areas of this character.

The settlements attract a significant number of tourists, particularly in the summer months, and at weekends, which are concentrated in certain areas. As the coast road is narrow traffic movement can be very slow. Over 1.2 million traffic movements were recorded in Brancaster during 2012. Over 90 per cent of visitors use their cars to visit the area.

This area attracts outstanding numbers and variety of birds. RSPB Titchwell reserve is one of the most visited Nature reserves in the country.

People are drawn to the area for recreational activities, the quality of light and the remote, wild and untamed nature of the landscape, and local traditions of fishing, wildfowling and samphire picking.

The area is popular as a film and television location, with artists, academics and for educational visits.

There is a strong association with eminent naval figures, such as Nelson who was born just outside the NCA. The coastal harbours, once used for both fishing and international trade, have been the focal point for much of the settlement. These are now important locations for tourism businesses, second homes and retirement homes.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – Traffic and congestion during peak tourism periods is one of the key complaints of locals and visitors alike.

Development of further car parking areas at key coastal sites poses significant threats to the maintenance of the highly sensitive character of this landscape.

There are settlements along the coast which are very sensitive and any additional development beyond their current boundaries could begin to severely erode their character and the character of the landscape.

Over development and ‘gentrification’ of the few isolated farm dwellings may have a detrimental effect on the NCA character.

The potential commercialisation of some of the traditional cultural activities such as samphire gathering and bait digging are causing concern locally due to over exploitation.

Offshore wind farms are having a significant impact on the long views out of the NCA to the east and west and changing the character of the landscape.

The areas vulnerability to climate change, its popularity and pressure for development and related infrastructure, present enormous challenges and is likely to result in landscape change which could alter the areas character making it less attractive to locals and visitors.

Opportunities – Conserve the strong sense of remoteness and tranquillity and consider whether any further development of visitor infrastructure will detract from landscape character, causing further damage to fragile habitats which are already at risk from visitor pressure.

Use local materials characteristic of the area in new development, and make reference to local vernacular.

Work in partnership with tourism and recreational providers and users to find innovative ways to manage visitor pressure and congestion so it does not detract from its sense of place and landscape character.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Ancient sites and monuments
• Roman sites
• Maritime history
• Settlement closely associated with the sea
• Simple local vernacular
• Holkham estate
• Defensive structures
• Drainage and reclamation features
• Historic transport links

State – The coastal position of the NCA has made it a target for invasion from the earliest of times and defensive monuments are common within the landscape and provide a strong sense of history.

There is a long history of settlement. The bronze-age relict ‘Seahenge’ which is of international importance was discovered at Holme-next-the-Sea on Holocene peat beds in 1999 as dunes eroded. It is believed to be a ceremonial structure once situated in woodland.

The strong maritime tradition of the area from the earliest times can be seen at Brancaster where there is a Saxon shore fort and Saxon settlement, and the Roman fort of Branodunum. Saxon fish traps of great significance have also been found in Holme. There is a heavily defended early Roman enclosure at Thornham accessed from the south via the Peddars Way.

William Coke from Holkham estate was an agricultural pioneer during the 18th-century and the land reclamation that was carried out during his time shapes the landscape today.

Seaside holidays have been a feature of the area, since the arrival of the railways leading to the development of Wells, Sheringham and Hunstanton.

The threat of invasion continued during the First and Second World Wars when the coastline was heavily defended.

Buildings at risk include: St Mary’s Church Brancaster, Branodunum the Roman fort at Brancaster and the ruins of the Augustinian Priory in Weybourne.

Scheduled monuments within the 1 in 1,000 year tidal flood zone include: Blakeney chapel; Guildhall Blakeney; tumulus on Warborough Hill, Stiffkey; iron-age hill fort, Holkham; Roman fort, Brancaster; Village cross, Titchwell; St Mary’s Carmelite friary and Holy Well, Burnham Market.

Abandoned railway lines which closed as a result of the 1953 flood can be seen near Holkham, while other lines at Wells and Weybourne are important heritage railways.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – Historical and archaeological records and geological research show, that the coastline has been changing shape for centuries and there are records of many ‘lost villages’ along the cliffs.

There has been and will continue to be a loss of heritage assets as a result of coastal erosion. The Holocene peat at Holme is vulnerable as it is not protected from recreational access although it has been recommended that it should gain protection by becoming a marine conservation zone.

The Norfolk Archaeological Survey of the Norfolk coast suggests that structures associated with maritime industries have been ‘much neglected and poorly studied and there are sites which require further study, due to decline in maritime connections and expansion of tourism facilities (Norfolk Archaeological Report – North Norfolk Coast).

Opportunities – Raise awareness of the value of the rich archaeological and maritime history associated with the area and the strong links to agricultural improvement and fishing.

Work with landowners and businesses to ensure that historic landscape features are conserved and enhanced and are not at risk of degradation. Seek to protect the most significant sites.

Maintain and restore traditional farm buildings, listed buildings and features of maritime and archaeological interest to preserve cultural heritage and sense of place.

Seek opportunities to use the former rail lines as alternative and safer routes for walking and cycling, which encourage people to reduce their reliance on cars and reduce congestion.

Undertake further study of maritime monuments that can provide insight into land use, past environmental exploitation and subsequent sustainable management, and coastal change.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Sense of history
• Food provision
• Geodiversity
• Water availability
• Sense of place/inspiration

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Wetland landscape, seascape and coastal zone
• Areas away from settlements and A149
• Dark skies

State – With the exception of the areas around the settlements on the coast road, which is very busy during the summer and at weekends, this is an area of very high tranquillity and one of the most tranquil areas in the county.

A sense of tranquillity and dark skies at night are particularly associated with the remote areas of salt marsh, sand dunes and mudflats.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The number of people visiting the area has a profound effect on its tranquillity particularly in the summer months, and although alternatives to car use are available only 5 per cent use the Coasthopper bus, walk or cycle.

High seasonal traffic levels particularly where the road narrows at Cley and Stiffkey makes it difficult for walkers and cyclists and has significant visual impacts on landscape and tranquillity.

Outside the settlements there is very little light pollution which adds to the tranquillity of the area although lights from the offshore wind farms are changing this.

The increasing pressure on the landscape from visitors, boat noise, erosion, cars, and disturbance to nesting birds are a threat to open coastal marshes which is a highly sensitive component of the landscape.

Opportunities – Consider reducing the environmental impact of travel and increase tranquillity by reducing the number and length of trips made by car. Make it easier for people to use sustainable modes of transport, such as the Coast Hopper bus, walking or cycling.

Carefully consider lighting associated with roads, security and buildings to reduce the negative effect on the sense of remoteness.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Open access to beaches and coastal waters for water recreation and seal watching.
• Network of public rights of way including a national trail and permissive access
• Access to coastal landscapes for baiting digging, samphire harvesting and wildfowling
• 3 golf clubs
• Military museum 3 tourist railways

State – The entire North Norfolk Coast is an extremely popular visitor destination catering for weekend breaks, longer stays and day visitors. There is one campsite and two hostels. Tourism provides much of the employment locally and residents and visitors are both active recreational users.

Along the coast is a continuous serious of National Nature Reserves and nature reserves, some with visitor centres. All have beach access and are important for volunteering, bird watching and education and are used equally by locals and Around 700,000 people visit the reserves each year, these are the best available estimates (Study to Assess the Capacity of International Sites to Accommodate Visitor Pressure, Norfolk Wildlife Services, 2012). Volunteers contribute just under 3,000 days of work a year on the nature reserves. Muckleborough Tank Museum in Weybourne attracts 60,000 visitors a year, and the Wells and Walsingham Railway that terminates in Wells attracts 20,000 visitors a year (2003) (North Norfolk Visitor Attraction Study).

Research indicates that only 3 per cent of visitors to the reserves use the bus, 4 per cent walk and only 1 per cent cycle, and the main reason for visiting was bird watching (86 per cent).

The Norfolk Coast Path national trail runs the length of the coast and 87,000 walkers used the trail in 2011 and it was voted Best Coastal Path in Britain.

Recreational activities include sailing, boating, seal trips, water and jet skiing, and kite flying, horse riding, dog walking, bird watching, and sunbathing.

Holkham House, park and estate are in the adjacent NCAs but visitors to the house (22,019 in 2003), estate (200,000 in 2003) also access the beach and Holkham NNR in the NCA.

Wells-next-the-Sea provides a traditional, beach oriented visitor experience, has a blue beech award and is a services centre for people not necessarily staying there.

All of the nature reserves are sensitive sites but Holme, Holkham and Blakeney are categorised in the AONB Visitor Management Plan as being the most fragile sites and under considerable visitor pressure from current levels of use and should not be promoted and car parking should be reduced.

There are common rights for bait digging, samphire harvesting and wildfowling.

The NCA is a prime area for walking and very popular with ornithologists, most of whom arrive by car which increases exponentially with the arrival of a rare bird.

The Norfolk Coast Cycleway (Sustrans Regional Route 30) runs through some of the NCA.

The social demographic of this area is significantly skewed to an ageing population and there are some disabled access routes.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – The Nature Reserves attract thousands of visitors and are vital to the local economy, but tension exists between visitor pressure and the environment that attracts the numbers of visitors. There is evidence that shingle-nesting ringed plovers and little terns are already being seriously affected.

The Wash and North Norfolk Coast European Marine site recommend that the number of car parking places at fragile sites should be reduced along with the level of promotion.

Holkham with its enormous sandy beach is the largest NNR in England at 4,000 ha. It is under the greatest pressure from the number of visitors with up to 1 million per year. Ninety per cent of the reserve is open access land making it challenging to manage. Further development, which would attract more visitors coming by car, should be avoided.

There are increasing noise and disturbance from some recreational activities for example aircraft and jet-skis, and increased litter, with conflicts arising between different recreational activities.

Provisions for improving public access to and along the coast will be possible in future through the England Coastal Path.

In order to become a sustainable tourism destination, the behaviour and impact of visitors, both positive and negative, needs to be fully understood and reflected in visitor management plans and policies.

The Coasthopper bus, which runs along the A149 and links to the mainline rail services, has become a vital transport link for locals without access to car particularly older residents, walkers and visitors. It is one of the most successful recreational routes in England but is under threat as it is not financially sustainable without grant support.

Opportunities – Manage recreation and access opportunities in a way that prevents any damage to the special qualities and features of the area.

Commission research to improve understanding of the travel habits of visitors and residents to understand how to increase the level of sustainable travel options available for recreational users and tourists. Consider undertaking a leisure travel plan for the whole NCA in consultation with key stakeholders.

Extend awareness of access and recreational opportunities available outside the NCA which provide alternative attractions for people away from coast.

Explore opportunities for sustainable tourism initiatives that increase visitors’ environmental awareness and increase profitability and environmental credentials of local businesses, while protecting the special qualities of the area.

Maintain the Coasthopper bus service, which provides a crucial service in the NCA, to help reduce car use.

Plan for and manage potential increases in visitor numbers realising the potential of the coastal access path.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Coastal habitats
• Marine habitats
• Drained coastal marshes
• Fresh water availability
• Geology and geomorphology
• Low rainfall
• Reed beds

State – The whole coast is richly diverse with fauna and ornithological interest. The geographical position of the coast and its range of habitats make it especially valuable for migratory birds and wintering waterfowl.

The salt marsh, mature dune and shingle bank flora is exceptionally diverse and the shallow coastal water has abundant invertebrate fauna.

Maritime pasture provides a breeding habitat for waders and sugar beet tops and winter cereals provide a valuable feeding area for wintering wildfowl.

Main beneficiary – International

Analysis – The area’s important habitats are vulnerable to the direct impacts of climate change particularly from sea level rise.

Evidence from the Wash and North Norfolk Coast European Marine site suggest that certain recreational activities are having an adverse effect on the most fragile habitats and species causing disturbance to wildlife and seals, and damage to salt marsh.

Decline in some key bird species in the North Norfolk Coast Special Protection Area (SPA) may be linked to recreation pressures. There are also impacts on ground- nesting, feeding and roosting birds, particularly little terns and ringed plovers that are vulnerable to disturbance from dogs, light aircraft users or beach users.

The intent of the Shoreline Management Plan 2 policy is to allow the coastline to develop naturally while defending the integrity of settlements, the navigability of channels to a number of harbours and the A149 coast road. There may be losses and gains of designated habitat as a result.

There are extensive reedbeds that are managed and provide a habitat which are favoured by rare breeding birds.

There are potential conflicts between National Nature Reserve ecological status and visitors, and consequently the carrying capacity of this landscape in relation to its ecological and visual importance and sensitivity needs to be carefully considered. A choice may need to be made to sacrifice one or the other in any further development proposals.

The landscape is highly sensitive and has reached a critical point in its development (Assessment from North Norfolk Planning Department).

Opportunities – Promote the reversion of arable land back to coastal wetland where appropriate.

Seek to maintain and improve structure and stability of salt marsh and ensure that there is appropriate grazing for robust cover of vegetation.

Restore dune slacks at Holkham and Holme to ensure that there is a succession of dune slacks at different stages of re-colonisation to provide a habitat for natterjack toads and other dune slack species.

Explore in partnership the possibility of Consider introducing a voluntary visitor contribution scheme that raises awareness of the link between the high quality landscape of the NCA and the pressures presented by visitors, and enabling visitors and locals to contribute directly towards the conservation and enhancement of the landscape.

Consider creating habitats inland to reduce the effect of rising sea levels, and identify larger areas for rollback.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Striking landform that clearly reveals geomorphological processes which form an integral part of the coastal system.
• Eroding cliffs, mobile and fixed sand dunes, salt marshes with their associated shingle structures creeks, saltpans and marsh statigraphy and stony banks.
• Peat beds

State – The NCA has renowned geological sites at Blakeney Point and Scolt Head Island, an embryonic shifting dune system, white dunes, grey dunes and humid dune slacks, sandbanks, mudflats and sand flats and the large shallow inlets and bays presence along the coast.

Weybourne Cliffs has exposures showing the early Pleistocene deposits of the Weybourne Crag Formation.

Holocene peat beds are exposed at the western end of the coast due to coastal erosion.

A relict cliff line at Morston displays interglacial raised beach deposits.

Main beneficiary – International

Analysis – The Norfolk coastline is naturally dynamic, subject to continuous and often rapid change, which is a major part of its special character with a constant dynamic interplay of forces and processes creating tidal and intertidal salt marsh and reedbeds.

The marine ‘crags’ have yielded both large and small mammal remains, of Pastonian and pre-Pastonian age, and there is potential for future vertebrate finds, but little has been published on these important fossils.

The salt marsh has been described as some of the finest coastal marsh in Great Britain and the morphology and saltpans are the best documented and researched in the world.

The peat beds at Holme, Thornham and Brancaster are fragile and easily damaged by beach users.

The Morston raised beach provides evidence of fluctuating relative land and sea levels during the later Pleistocene.

Opportunities – Conserve integrity of active and relict landforms through development planning constraints and positive conservation management.

Continue to research, monitor and record geomorphological processes to improve our understanding of them and to inform management decisions.

Improve access and information about sites of geological and geomorphological interest and provide interpretation of the dynamic processes underway along the coast, to improve understanding and enjoyment.

Educate recreational users about the Holocene peat and its historic importance to ensure it is not damaged.

Consider initiatives to avoid high human foot-fall on the dunes at Holme and Holkham NNR which may lead to dune erosion, especially in fore-dunes.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Geodiversity
• Biodiversity