64 - Potteries and Churnet Valley : Summary and Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity

Summary

Located in North Staffordshire, the landscape of Potteries and Churnet Valley National Character Area (NCA) exhibits a strong contrast between the industrialised landscape of the Potteries and the pastoral, strongly dissected hills and small plateaux that flank the Churnet and Dove valleys. Natural resources associated with the Coal Measures enabled industrial development leading to the settlement patterns of the Potteries, which form a large conurbation. There is a rich industrial heritage associated with manufacturing, particularly of pottery and the mining of coal, clay, minerals and metal ores, which contributes strongly to the sense of place.

The north and eastern boundary of the NCA rises to meet the limestone landscape of the White Peak and South West Peak NCAs with panoramic vistas of a transitional landscape from lowland to upland.

Several country parks and Registered Parks and Gardens such as Alton Towers and Trentham Gardens are popular tourist destinations and the gorge-like character around Alton earned it the local name ‘little Switzerland’. In contrast, quieter recreation can be found along the canals, in the many wooded stream valleys or cloughs, and along the extensive footpath network.

The NCA has a diversity of running and still water habitats, ranging from deep, fast-flowing rivers and their tributaries, to riffles and scour ponds, subsidence pools and numerous small ponds. Rudyard Lake reservoir and Westport Lake are the largest open waterbodies. The River Trent rises within the Potteries before flowing out into the Trent Valley Washlands NCA, while the Churnet flows south-east to join the Dove which then joins the Trent to finally discharge into the Humber Estuary.

Exemplifying the wooded character of the NCA, the Churnet Valley and Coombes Valley Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) represent the largest remaining concentration of high quality semi-natural ancient woodland in Staffordshire. The woods are especially rich in invertebrate species – over 30 species of beetle – and an assemblage of priority woodland bird species, including tree pipit, redstart, wood warbler and pied flycatcher, with dippers frequently seen along the watercourses. On the steep slopes of the valleys, woodland often encloses small, ancient wood pastures, rich in flora. Hedgerow banks, sunken lanes and squatter enclosures add to the sense of enclosure, while parklands with their designed landscapes offer views across the wider area.

Visitor pressure at tourist destinations is likely to increase, exacerbating traffic congestion and increasing pollution, placing further pressure on the built and natural environments. The demand for land to accommodate development growth, mineral extraction and tourism is also likely to continue, further fragmenting habitats, but also providing opportunities for greenspace within urban areas.

There are opportunities to use the extensive network of historic transport routes for recreation and as a sustainable transport solution.

Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEO)

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

SEO 1

Manage, expand, link and buffer the characteristic semi-natural woodland and protect the ancient woodland, for example in the Churnet Valley, reducing habitat fragmentation to benefit landscape character, biodiversity, resource protection and regulation; and enhancing the recreational and experiential qualities of the NCA.

SEO 2

Protect and manage the rivers, streams and springs to enhance the riverine character of the many valleys and cloughs to protect the quality of water from diffuse pollution to benefit biodiversity; and expand riparian habitats to mitigate flood events and to improve the experiential qualities of the NCA.

SEO 3

Manage and expand areas of characteristic unimproved grassland pastures in the Churnet Valley and heathland and moorland of the Staffordshire Moorlands, reducing habitat fragmentation and restoring traditional boundary features to benefit landscape character, sense of place, biodiversity and resource protection while enhancing the recreational and experiential qualities of the NCA.

SEO 4

Protect and manage historic landscape character and associated heritage assets that include the historic transport network and industrial heritage and improve the understanding of its intrinsic links with geodiversity; and find sustainable solutions to manage visitor pressure at popular attractions, for example Alton Towers and Trentham Gardens, thus supporting the tourist economy and maintaining a high level of public access to enjoy the wealth of recreational experience that the NCA offers.