22 - Pennine Dales Fringe : Natural Capital and Key Ecosystem Services

Introduction

The Pennine Dales Fringe NCA provides a wide range of benefits to society. Each is derived from the attributes and processes (both natural and cultural features) within the area. These benefits are known collectively as ‘ecosystem services’. The predominant services are summarised below (under the constituent headings). Further information on ecosystem services provided in the Pennine Dales Fringe NCA is contained in the ‘Analysis’ section of this website.

What is Natural Capital?

Natural capital means “the elements of nature that directly or indirectly produce value to people, including ecosystems, species, freshwater, land, minerals, the air and oceans, as well as natural processes and functions” (Natural Capital Committee, 2017).

It is helpful to consider natural capital in the form of a logic chain that represents the links between ecosystem assets, services, benefits and value to people. The figure below displays that logic chain. The quantity and quality of ecosystem assets (woodland, bogs, etc) support different types of ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration or water filtration. These ecosystem services then provide different benefits to society, providing value for people. The figure also shows how management interventions, as well as pressures and drivers of change, influence this chain. Other capital inputs are also often needed for people to obtain the benefits from ecosystem services (a simple example is the processing of trees to produce wood products).

As an example, an area of woodland (ecosystem asset) may reduce air pollution created by traffic on a nearby road. This woodland is therefore improving air quality (ecosystem service) in the local area which results in cleaner air and improved health in the adjacent residential street (benefit). This cleaner air has a value because we know it impacts the health and wellbeing of communities.

Sometimes for ease of understanding, economic framing is used to give these benefits a monetary value. The figure below shows how natural capital assets support the provision of ecosystem services, benefits and value. The roots of the tree show how aspects of asset quality are critical to the provision of ecosystem services. The roots also show that geodiversity underpins the ecosystem assets and therefore the ecosystem services and benefits they can provide. It is important to remember that this diagram, and natural capital frameworks more generally, are a simplification of how nature works in practice.

Natural Capital within this NCA

In 2018, Natural England published ‘Natural Capital Indicators: for defining and measuring change in natural capital’ (Lusardi et al., 2018). This report identified key properties of the natural environment vital for the long-term sustainability of benefits, which can act as indicators of change.

These indicators are designed to inform our understanding of the state of our natural assets. The indicators highlight the importance of our natural assets for delivering which ecosystem service and the benefits they provide for society. The indicators and datasets identified in Natural England’s Natural Capital Indicators Project provide the foundation for the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles.

Natural England’s Natural Capital Atlas Profiles provide an “off the shelf” natural capital evidence base for each county or city region. They have a wide variety of uses with more information in the How to Start Using Your Natural Capital Atlas.

The Natural Capital indicators are presented on the map below by broad asset theme, displaying the natural capital within the NCA.

It is noted that not all indicators listed within the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles are included within the map as data is not yet available to measure them. Refer to the “Indicator Gaps and Limitations” of the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles for further information.

Natural Capital Atlas Profiles

The following Natural Capital Atlas Profiles cover counties within this NCA:
 

• 26: North East and Tees Valley Combined Authorities
• 28: North Yorkshire and York
• 42: West Yorkshire

Provisioning services (food, fibre and water supply)

Food provision: Livestock farming is important in the NCA for meat and dairy production. There is arable farming on lower ground with more fertile, free-draining soils in the east of the area. A strong local market exists for food produced in the NCA with a large number of farm shops, farmers’ markets and annual food festivals as well as restaurants and pubs specialising in local produce.

Timber provision: The area is well wooded, although tree cover tends to be in smaller woodlands and plantations. There is one sawmill in the area. There is good potential for woodland expansion. Native broadleaved hardwood species would be most valuable for woodland expansion, in biodiversity terms, although the value of coniferous plantations (both existing and new) can be improved with the inclusion of broadleaved species in key areas, particularly along watercourses, rides, edges, and where they link existing native woodland.

Biomass energy: In 2012 there were 4 wood fuel suppliers and 12 biomass boilers (with a capacity of 5,207 kWh) in the NCA. As the area is relatively well wooded there is also potential to generate woody biomass from the management and thinning of existing woodland, where this is consistent with nature conservation objectives, and also during restocking and felling of coniferous woodland.

Water availability: The seven major rivers and several reservoirs, particularly along the River Washburn, provide a good supply of potable water to Harrogate, Leeds and Bradford. The majority of abstractions from the rivers in the NCA are for domestic drinking water supply. There are no major aquifers in the NCA. For information regarding the current state of water availability within this NCA, refer to the Environment Agency (Abstraction Licensing Strategy).

Regulating services (water purification, air quality maintenance and climate regulation)

Climate regulation: The soils of this NCA are mostly of low carbon content (0-5 per cent) but it also has some areas of peaty soil, associated with upland habitats in the west and wetlands, which have a high carbon content of 20-50 per cent. The large areas of woodland will act as a significant carbon store, as will their soils and those associated with the large area of permanent grassland. Opportunities exist to improve the carbon storage in arable soils to the east of the NCA.

Regulating water quality:For information regarding the current state of water quality within this NCA, refer to the Environment Agency (Draft river basin management plan maps).

Regulating water flow: Many of the watercourses within the NCA are associated with high flood risk. This can be attributed in part to the rapid rates of surface flow which occur in neighbouring NCAs to the west during heavy or prolonged periods of precipitation. Although Masham is the only residential area within the NCA with more than 100 houses at risk from flooding, such areas downstream of the NCA include Catterick, Ripon, Boroughbridge and York. Action to reduce flood risk could include restoration of flood plains and water-storing wetland habitats, and creation of riparian habitat with greater surface roughness (such as grassland and woodland) to slow run-off and grip blocking on upland sites, to restore both the hydrology and ecology enabling it to retain increased volumes of water.

Cultural services (inspiration, education and wellbeing)

Sense of place/inspiration: The NCA is a transitional landscape that varies in topography and changes from a lowland to upland character from east to west. Despite this diversity, it has a strong sense of place afforded by the presence of green, rolling hills, many mature trees and small areas of woodland, and many estates and country houses. It is a landscape of inspiring vistas, with those associated with some of the designed landscapes being good examples of the vistas favoured by the 18th-century transition from formal to informal landscaping.

Sense of history: The area is rich in archaeological sites, from prehistoric carved rocks, Roman roads and deserted medieval villages to 18th-century designed landscapes and light industry. Parts of the NCA have a very ancient feel due to large numbers of ancient trees and roads along ancient twisting hollow ways sunk between high banks as a result of centuries of use. The historic settlement pattern is unchanged in many areas, with nucleated villages of local Millstone Grit and limestone and numerous historic market towns, some originating from the 12th and 13th centuries.

Recreation: The area is very popular for recreation, particularly walking, cycling, fishing, canoeing and swimming. It presents many high-quality opportunities for recreation associated with the quality of the natural environment, notably the river corridors, reservoirs, historic parklands and quiet lanes. Measures that could further improve its value for recreation include work to improve water quality in the major rivers, measures to improve safety and manage traffic pressures on smaller roads and provision/promotion of off-road routes for cycling and horse riding.

Biodiversity: The NCA is particularly important for a number of bird species, including hen harrier, lapwing and red kite. The rivers are a very valuable wildlife resource and support a range of priority aquatic and riparian species such as otter, water vole and lamprey. The veteran trees are also important, in their own right, but also as habitat for a number of other species. The biodiversity value of the area could be further enhanced by establishing and strengthening connections between existing semi-natural habitats, particularly native woodland. Improving the management and condition of hedgerows and hedgerow trees could provide a simple and effective way of strengthening habitat networks in parts of the NCA. Creation of new habitats that provide opportunities for species to move to higher ground could prove particularly valuable in a changing climate. Management of existing habitats for their wildlife value could also be of great benefit, particularly in terms of native woodlands and restoration of plantations on ancient woodland sites.