92 - Rockingham Forest : Analysis: Ecosystem Services

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Mixed farming regime

State – Soils are mainly clayey with impeded drainage or slowly permeable and seasonally wet. They are predominantly Grade 3.

Cereals are grown on 40 per cent of farmed land in the NCA and 7 per cent of the farmed land is used for other arable crops. Winter cereals and oilseed rape are the predominant crops.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – There is an opportunity to ensure that agriculture is managed sustainably and does not have a significant detrimental effect on the value of other ecosystem services or assets, for example water availability, water quality, soil quality and biodiversity. This will in turn bring benefits to agricultural land and assist with future provision of food.

Improvement to soils may be achieved through actions such as using low pressure machinery, encouraging use of green manure crops (such as nitrogen-fixing legumes) within arable systems to replace nutrients, bind soils and improve the quality of water percolating through to the aquifer.

The large and unregulated wild deer population impacts negatively on the structure and biodiversity of both the commercial and ancient woodlands, they also graze extensively on arable crops grown on land adjacent to the woodlands.

Sustainable management of the wild deer population could provide a locally sourced, sustainable food source as well as local business and employment opportunities, while bringing benefits to arable farmers and the biodiversity of the ancient woodlands.

Opportunities – Work with the farming community to ensure best practice in soil management to improve structure and quality of soils and productivity from the farmed environment.

Encourage the creation of semi-natural habitats and ecological networks within and across the farmed landscape which will help to protect soils and water and enhance biodiversity.

Introduce more widespread regulation of the wild deer population to supply a local ‘high-value’ food market and to support the growth of local businesses seeking to undertake such management.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Food provision
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Large commercially managed woodland blocks

State – The NCA contains 7,720 ha of woodland (15 per cent of the total area), of which 1,539 ha is conifer plantation. There are 4,195 ha of land identified as ancient woodland of which 2,096 ha is currently plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS). Extensive areas of ancient woodland are a strong unifying characteristic of this NCA.

Extensive woodlands such as Wakerley Great Wood, Geddington Chase and Fermyn Woods are prominent features in the landscape. Managed commercially they also provide recreational opportunities and are of value for biodiversity.

Many of these woodlands are of high nature conservation interest and are attractive landscape features in their own right. They were formerly extensively coppiced and
small-leaved lime is a particular feature of the eastern woods.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The areas of commercial timber woodland are associated with many of the NCA’s important wildlife resources and provide valuable recreational opportunities. The conifer plantations are not in character with the historic ash, small leaved lime, oak and hazel coppice woodlands of the area.

Restoring PAWS to broadleaved woodland would release a single crop of softwood timber with the potential to generate hardwoods of natural and economic value in future.

Increasing the woodland hectarage of the NCA could contribute long term to climate change regulation through increased carbon sequestration and storage, and strategically located, would help reduce rates of cross- land water flow, reduce soil erosion and subsequent sedimentation in watercourses and enhance biodiversity and recreation networks while increasing the availability of timber resources from the area.

Increasing the production of charcoal/ logs by working more of the neglected hazel coppice could bring benefits to renewable energy by providing local heating energy sources.

There is potential for new woodland sites on some marginal agricultural land and land bordering existing woodlands.

Opportunities – Ensure that commercial forests are sustainably managed across the NCA to deliver multiple social and environmental benefits (for example recreation, biodiversity and carbon sequestration and storage) alongside economic timber production.

Support initiatives to restore plantations on ancient woodland sites to semi-natural broadleaved woodland.

Support the establishment of new and an expansion of existing charcoal and log production businesses that seek to reinstate neglected ancient coppice systems.

Support the establishment of new broadleaved woodland areas that connect existing ancient woodland sites and provide biodiversity and recreational opportunities as well as future sources of economically viable hardwood timber.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Timber provision
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Climate Regulation
• Sense of history
• Recreation
• Biodiversity
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil erosion

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rivers and streams
• Soils

State – The smaller rivers and streams in this NCA are tributaries which feed in to the rivers Nene and Welland.

Water is abstracted from these rivers by the water authority, when flow rates are above an agreed level, to supply Rutland Water reservoir (NCA 74) which is used as a strategic resource for water demand within the Anglian region. It is also designated as a Special Area of Conservation and Ramsar site.

The NCA is in a low rainfall area and prolonged droughts are not uncommon, leading to low river flows. Levels of abstraction, particularly downstream of Stamford, may be having an effect on water flows.

The shallow lime-rich soils to the north of the NCA are typically free draining and have a degree of natural resilience due to their calcareous nature. They can be valuable for aquifer recharge.

Elsewhere the areas impermeable soils mean that run-off rates are high especially during intense rainfall episodes and following prolonged drought. This limits the volume of water able to percolate the aquifer.

Since August 2011, the Welland Valley Partnership has been identifying the issues within the catchment and what can be done to improve it.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The free draining, shallow lime-rich soils to the north of the NCA which can be valuable for aquifer recharge require the maintenance of good soil structure to aid water infiltration (for example by enhanced organic matter levels). The creation of flood meadows, field margins, use of winter stubble with direct drilling and maintenance of hedgerows can all slow run-off rates and aid aquifer recharge increasing general water availability.

Low flows and high temperatures lead to low oxygen levels, which impacts on the plant and wildlife in the rivers. It also impacts on the water available to supply Rutland Water and for abstraction to irrigate crops.

Levels of abstraction, particularly downstream of Stamford, may be having an effect on water flows.

Opportunities – Sustainably manage water quality and availability within the NCA by slowing run-off rates and increasing infiltration rates into the aquifer through careful management of vulnerable soil types. This could include the use of crop types and cultivation methods that help to retain water allowing it to permeate in to the aquifers.

Encourage the uptake of agri-environment scheme options such as provision of field margins especially along watercourses, planting of woodland cover, hedgerows and creation of flood plain meadows where appropriate.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Water availability
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Regulating soil erosion
• regulating water quality

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodlands
• Stands of short rotation coppice

State – The existing relatively high woodland cover (15 per cent) offers potential for the provision of biomass as a by-product of commercial timber production, as well as through bringing unmanaged woodland under management.

There are currently prominent stands of neglected coppice systems (predominantly of hazel/ ash) in many of the ancient woodlands.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The area has potential for reworking the ancient coppice systems and to establish new systems as part of new woodland creation. This could provide a local fuel source as well as hazel stakes for use in the traditional hedge laying which is still widely practiced on some land holdings.

It also has the potential to sequester carbon and provide renewable supplies of energy, but could decrease future food provision if sited on farmed areas.

Opportunities – Secure opportunities to increase production of biomass as a by- product of existing commercial timber production.

Bring unmanaged woodlands back into appropriate management.

Where appropriate plant new woodlands which are suitable for managing under a coppice regime.

Realise opportunities for planting biomass energy crops where they would help mitigate the effects of urban expansion and not adversely impact on semi-natural and historic elements of the area.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biomass energy
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodland
• Permanent pasture

State – The notable woodland cover of this NCA (15 per cent), both broadleaved and coniferous, offers benefits for carbon sequestration and storage.

Soils under woodland cover and permanent pasture have higher soil carbon content and contribute to the sequestration and storage of carbon.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Woodland carbon sequestration and storage is relatively high but may be increased by the planting of new woodlands.

Permanent pasture, particularly wet meadows and flood plain grasslands, are at risk from cultivation. Cultivation of permanent grassland releases stored carbon and much reduces the process of carbon sequestration.

Opportunities – Where it is in keeping with the character of the landscape, plant new woodlands to ensure there is an overall net increase of woodland cover.

Seek to protect permanent pasture from cultivation and inappropriate land use, and encourage the establishment of permanent pasture particularly in wet areas and areas prone to flooding.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Climate regulation
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Timber provision
• Biodiversity
• Recreation
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water flow

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rivers and streams
• Winter stubbles, hedgerows and field margins
• Woodland coverage and other semi- natural 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 – Regional

Analysis – Diffuse pollution is an issue in the catchments affecting water quality and the ecological quality of the rivers.

Nitrate vulnerable zone guidelines aim to reduce diffuse pollution from agricultural land. For example, adopting land management measures to improve soil structure and permeability by increasing organic matter levels, or deeper root penetration under permanent pasture, the timing and extent of fertilizer and pesticide applications.

Opportunities – Work with the farming community to encourage careful management of vulnerable soil types, the planting of hedgerows and woodlands, creation of grassland buffers along watercourses and making use of winter stubbles to help reduce run-off rates and diffuse pollution and improve the ecological quality of rivers.

Encourage management measures that follow NVZ guidelines such as restricting livestock access to watercourses and appropriate timing and use of fertilizer applications to reduce diffuse pollution.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rivers and streams
• Impermeable soils
• Woodlands

State – Flow rates in the Nene and Welland vary markedly. Largely due to the impermeable nature of many of the soils, which lead to high run-off rates, both the river catchments are prone to flash flooding during periods of intense rainfall and when the ground is already saturated. At such times the town of Stamford and city of Peterborough are particularly prone to flooding as are many low lying villages further upstream within this NCA.

The NCA is in a low rainfall area and prolonged droughts are not uncommon, leading to low river flows. Levels of abstraction, particularly downstream of Stamford, may be having an effect on water flows.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The role of sustainable land management practices may also result in a reduction in localised flooding. Actions to be considered could include; changing land drainage practices; reducing practices that keep soil bare in wet periods; buffer and/or fallow strips; restoring grassland and flood meadows along stream and river margins; and reinstating previously removed hedgerows, particularly across slopes.

The River Nene flows through the Nene Washes SPA/SAC/Ramsar and so low flow rates impact upon the ecological quality of this site.

Opportunities – Support the creation of, and extend existing semi-natural flood plain habitats such as flood meadows and reedbeds to slow down the movement of water in the system to hold back water in peak flow events reducing flood risk downstream and increasing aquifer recharge.

Work with the farming community to encourage the careful management of vulnerable soil types and adoption of agri-environment measures that help to slow run- off rates.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating water flow
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Biodiversity
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil erosion

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Permanent pasture
• Woodland

State – There are seven main soilscape types in this NCA:

• Lime-rich loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage, covering 28 per cent of the NCA.
• Slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils (23 per cent).
• Shallow lime-rich soils over limestone (19 per cent).
• Freely draining lime-rich loamy soils (10 per cent).
• Restored soils mostly from mineral operations (8 per cent).
• Freely draining slightly acid but base-rich soils (7 per cent).
• Slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage (4 per cent).

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The lime-rich loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage are at risk of topsoil compaction and poaching requiring careful management of weak top-soils to maintain good soil structure, including through minimum tillage and addition of organic matter. The slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils may also suffer compaction and/ or capping as they are easily damaged when wet. In turn, this may lead to increasingly poor water infiltration and diffuse pollution as a result of surface water run-off.

Maintenance of good soil structure to aid water infiltration is also important for the shallow lime-rich soils.

Management measures that help reduce these problems include maintaining permanent vegetative cover where it exists (pasture and woodland), increasing organic matter levels in ley grasslands and soils under arable cultivation, use of low pressure machinery and where necessary fencing watercourses to prevent bankside erosion from livestock access.

Opportunities – Work with the farming community to ensure best practice in soil management to improve structure and quality of soils.

Encourage the use of green manure crops such as nitrogen fixing legumes within arable systems to replace nutrients and bind soil, and informed infield nutrient application.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil quality
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil erosion

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Semi-natural habitats including woodland, hedgerows, permanent pasture and rough ground
• Arable margins and headlands

State – Due to the impermeable nature of many of the soils in the NCA there are issues with high run-off rates and thus loss of surface soils.

The majority of soils in the NCA are vulnerable to erosion from wind scouring especially during periods of prolonged drought (which are not uncommon in this low rainfall area).

Semi-natural habitats within the farmed landscape such as woodlands and shelterbelts and well-maintained hedgerows help to regulate soil erosion.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Good soil management and agricultural practice reduces the vulnerability of soils to erosion. Maintaining a good soil structure aided by enhanced organic matter levels, minimal tillage, avoiding compaction and poaching all benefit soil structure.

Beneficial measures to reduce run- off rates and wind scour include maintaining good hedgerow networks, use of field margins, leaving winter stubble and direct drilling in autumn.

Opportunities – Work with the farming community to ensure best practice in soil management to improve structure and quality of soils.

Seek opportunities to create semi-natural habitats and ecological networks within the farmed landscape which will protect soils
and water and enhance biodiversity.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Lowland meadows
• Areas of semi-natural habitat
• Woodlands
• Historic parklands and gardens

State – The NCA contains areas of floristically rich lowland meadows and other semi-natural habitats which have become established on marginal arable land, abandoned quarries and wartime airfields.

The nucleated settlements are often surrounded by rough pastoral land which together with gardens is likely to support sources of nectar.

There is also a good network of hedgerows throughout the NCA, floristically diverse areas around and within the woodlands and historic parklands which provide good habitats for a range of pollinators.

Main beneficiary – local

Analysis – The contribution of pollination services to commercial food production is an important service to the area. Oilseed rape is a commonly grown crop which benefits from the presence of pollinating invertebrates.

An increase in the populations of pollinators may facilitate an increase in the types of crops that could be grown in the future.

Increasing the extent of the semi-natural areas that support sources of nectar within the farmed landscape would also result in an increase in biodiversity.

Opportunities – Making use of agri-environment measures that establish field margins and hedgerows, planting of new woodlands and lowland meadows to help enhance the diversity and distribution of pollinators

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pollination
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Food provision
• Biodiversity
• Pest regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Lowland meadows
• Areas of semi-natural habitat
• Historic parklands and gardens

State – Areas of floristically rich lowland meadows and other semi-natural habitats, the hedgerow network and field margins which are proximal to areas of agricultural production support diverse insect populations that could aid pest regulation.

The nucleated settlements are often surrounded by rough pastoral land which together with gardens is likely to support a diversity of insects.

The extensive woodlands and historic parklands provide additional habitat which support insect and bat populations that could aid pest regulation.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Semi-natural habitats, hedgerows, woodlands and field margins proximal to areas of commercial agriculture may support species of predators which can help regulate populations of pests that adversely affect crops.

Opportunities – Make use of agri-environment measures that establish field margins and hedgerows, planting of new woodlands and lowland meadows to provide a network of varied habitats and contribute to enhancing the diversity and distribution of insects within a more robust ecosystem.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pest regulation
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Climate regulation
• Food provision
• Biodiversity
• Pollination

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Low undulating landform
• Woodlands
• Hedgerows and stone walls
• Streams Nucleated villages
• Historic country houses and parkland
• Red kites

State – A sense of place is given by the broad, low, undulating landform which is covered by extensive woodlands especially on the higher ground, interspersed with streams and areas of semi-natural habitats, pastures and arable fields enclosed by hedgerows and drystone walls.

The distinctive and imposing country houses with extensive mature parklands, contribute to a sense of place.

Readily seen in the NCA, the red kites are striking birds which are inspirational as they soar gracefully over pastures and woodlands. They present a highly visible example of successful nature conservation.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Many of the woodlands are publicly accessible and offer a sense of place and tranquilly for local people and those from nearby cities, but also offer opportunities for informal recreation such as walking, study of wildlife, cycling and horse riding.

The historic country houses, parklands and the red kites are all popular visitor attractions and testimony
to past aesthetic ideals and current nature conservation endeavours.

Opportunities – Protect, manage, enhance, interpret and, where appropriate, promote the historic, cultural and environmental assets that contribute to an already strong sense of place.

Ensure that new development is designed and planned to respect intrinsic character and settlement patterns while allowing access to this inspirational landscape.

Protect and appropriately manage woodlands and the historic parklands and strengthen the hedgerow network which combined contribute to the overall wooded character and sense of place of historic Rockingham Forest.

Protect and manage the network of distinct stone walls. Promote the nature conservation successes in the area, particularly the partnership working involved in the red kite re-introduction programme, as a way of stimulating and inspiring similar nature conservation activities.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rockingham Forest
• Buried and above ground archaeological remains
• Relic ridge and furrow
• Parks and gardens with associated country houses
• Second World War remains and memorials

State – Rockingham Forest was once the largest of a number of extensive Royal Hunting Forests that extended the length of Northamptonshire (the others being Salcey and Whittlewood to the south).

There are 50 Scheduled Monuments in the NCA, such as a Roman villa at Little Weldon and medieval settlement at Pipewell.

Areas of ridge-and-furrow earthworks survive in many of the pasture fields on the edge of settlements.

There are 11 Registered Parks and Gardens in the NCA. Many of these have outstanding country houses, including Rockingham Castle, Deene Park and Apethorpe. They have imposing fabric ranging from the 16th to the 19th century.

Additionally there are 1,516 Listed Buildings.

More recent monuments include memorials at Second World War airfields and gullets produced by iron workings.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The character of Rockingham Forest is shaped by its former status as a Royal Hunting Forest. This restricted settlement and encouraged the establishment of hunting lodges that were later developed into the distinctive great houses and parklands still present today.

Managing and interpreting the historic attributes has potential to increase education, recreation and tourism which contributes to the local economy. It also has the potential to increase a sense of place by reinforcing the historic character of the area. The long-term continuity of land use and tenure has also sustained some
areas of semi-natural habitat, most notably woodland and parkland. Fragmentation and division of estates has and continues to threaten the character and condition of these assets.

Areas of ridge and furrow are often associated with semi- natural grassland and a rich flora. Introducing appropriate management, where it is absent, would have the additional benefit of increasing biodiversity.

Opportunities – Conserve, enhance and interpret the heritage assets that contribute to a sense of history.

Work with land owners and farmers to ensure that heritage assets are identified and managed according to best practice.

Work with landowners, farmers and other partners to identify and realise opportunities for positive woodland management, new woodland planting and the management and planting of hedgerow trees to maintain the wooded character of the landscape reflecting its former forest status.

Encourage the use of traditional, and where possible locally sourced building materials, and a local vernacular architecture in any new developments within the more rural parts of the area.

Encourage the uptake of agri-environment options for parklands and designed landscapes to ensure their character, condition and natural history is conserved and enhanced.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rockingham Forest
• Remote valleys and settlements

State – Areas of undisturbed land occur mainly in the east and north of the NCA in the heart of Rockingham Forest and in its surrounding remoter valleys and settlements.

The 2007 Intrusion Map (CPRE) shows that the area considered most disturbed is in the west of the NCA, around Corby and the Rockingham Speedway Track as well as around Kettering.

Notable trends from the 1960s to 2007 are that the area considered disturbed has increased by more than three quarters and the area considered undisturbed has decreased by one third.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Expanding the area and connectivity of woodland could have a beneficial effect on tranquillity, biodiversity and climate regulation, particularly in and around the fringes of the larger settlements.

Rockingham Forest is popular with visitors from the expanding urban areas in the East Midlands and the resultant increased use of this recreational asset will need to be planned for carefully to manage recreation pressure and disturbance.

The CPRE data shows that the area considered to be urban increased between the 1960s and 2007. It continues to do so, and new development on the urban fringe should be located and planned for sensitively.

Opportunities – Protect the core areas of tranquillity within the NCA, particularly the heart of Rockingham Forest itself.

Sensitively plan any expansion to urban areas and roads and other infrastructure by planting woodlands and shelterbelts to reduce visual impact, and noise and light pollution.

Maintain the balance between undisturbed territory and public access especially in the currently more tranquil areas.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Forestry Commission estate
• Historic parkland and houses
• Footpaths and bridleways

State – The visitor centre at Fineshade Wood is a popular attraction, with upwards of 250,000 visits each year. It offers opportunities to view and information about red kites on the nest and other wildlife. Additionally there are trails for all abilities, cycle hire, horse riding trails, cafe, shop and campsite.

The many historic houses and parklands are another popular amenity.

Four per cent of the NCA is classed as publicly accessible – this includes woodlands, NNRs and 114 ha of parklands. The network of 562 km of public rights of way offers residents and visitors the opportunity for more informal exploration, recreational pursuits and access to tranquil and inspirational places.

Despite being sparsely populated, the NCA is readily accessible by car from the urban conurbations of Corby, Kettering and Peterborough and from Northampton and Leicester further afield.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – It is likely that recreational opportunities could be enhanced if planned for carefully so that the assets are well managed for both biodiversity and recreation.

This could also have a beneficial effect on the quality of local sites through more community engagement and voluntary intervention (for example, the planned Friends of Group for Barnack Hills and Holes NNR).

Expansion of the public rights of way network, especially near to where people live and stay, will offer better opportunities for informal exploration of the NCA. In particular, increasing green infrastructure links from urban areas out to the recreational areas in the centre of the NCA would help make recreation more sustainable.

Growing and strengthening the local tourism industry, in a manner which is sympathetic to the tranquillity, biodiversity and water resources of the area will bring benefits for the local economy.

Opportunities – Enhance the intellectual accessibility of, and physical access to, the area’s many historical, cultural and natural assets in a manner which does not detract from the quality of provision of other services.

Involve local communities in the care and improvement of their local woodlands, wildlife sites and footpath networks.

Enhance the area’s existing public rights of way network and where possible establish new permissive access within and between woodlands and other areas of countryside to link people with places and help to make recreation more sustainable.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Recreation
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Lowland grasslands
• Ancient woodlands
• Other semi-natural habitats
• Black hairstreak butterfly

State – Although only 22 ha in size, Barnack Hills and Holes NNR/ SAC is designated as an SAC to protect its orchid-rich grassland. More than 300 kinds of wild plant have been found here, including eight species of orchid (for example man, pyramidal, fragrant and frog orchid). The site is renowned for its population of the rare pasque flower.

A total of 34 SSSI (2 per cent of the area) and four NNRs lie wholly or partly within the NCA. Fifty-nine per cent of SSSI land is in unfavourable recovering condition.

There are 259 local sites of biodiversity interest in Rockingham Forest (14 per cent of the NCA). These are an important biological resource which should form part of ecological networks that might be created in the future.

The NCA is noted for its population of the black hairstreak, a butterfly associated with mature stands of blackthorn in woodland clearings and glades. The black hairstreak is now restricted in its UK distribution to a narrow belt of woodlands between Oxford and Peterborough, including Glapthorn Cow Pastures, owned and managed by the local Wildlife Trust.

The extent of continuous woodland cover has also declined over the years preventing the re-population of new woodland areas.

Main beneficiary – International

Analysis – Throughout the NCA the sites of biodiversity interest are now fragmented and often isolated as a result of changed agricultural management practices. Enhancing the quality, quantity and connectivity of these sites would benefit biodiversity and landscape character.

Strengthening the woodland network, aiming to join up the now fragmented areas of ancient woodland, would benefit for example the dispersal of key species such as the black hairstreak and other woodland butterfly populations, in addition to woodland birds and flora.

Re-introduction of management to neglected coppice systems in the ancient woodlands would benefit ancient woodland indicator flora and woodland butterflies.

The farmed environment includes ditches, hedgerows, copses and field margins dispersed through the landscape providing important connections across it and providing biodiversity habitats. There is considerable scope to improve biodiversity by working with land managers through agri- environment schemes.

Biodiversity in the NCA is a key tourism asset, important for encouraging recreation and creating a sense of place. It is therefore valued not only for its intrinsic value but also for its societal values. The use of green infrastructure links from areas of habitation out in to the rural hinterland is important to enable people to connect with and explore their rural environment.

It is thought that the decline in the UK population of black hairstreak is due to changes in woodland management practices over the past 50-100 years. The ancient woodlands were once actively managed for timber and contained rotational coppice systems. As this management practice declined, the abundance and quality of woodland clearings and glades declined, having a negative impact on woodland butterflies including the black hairstreak.

A local partnership led by Butterfly Conservation is seeking to realise the opportunities reinstating appropriate woodland management could bring to increase the black hairstreak population.

Opportunities – Build cross-sectoral partnerships to work towards enhancing the quality, quantity and connectivity of wildlife sites in the NCA. This should include woodlands, lowland limestone grassland and isolated sites of high biodiversity value.

Work with landowners and farmers to ensure biodiversity features are incorporated into the farmed landscape and encourage the uptake of land management practices that benefit biodiversity and aid the reduction of soil run-off rates, diffuse pollution and pest control such as use of winter stubbles, field margins and hedgerow and shelterbelt planting.

Increase the availability of information about the areas biodiversity assets and closely involve local communities in their care.

Encourage the use of green infrastructure links in and around areas of habitation to improve the accessibility of local wildlife sites and enable people to connect with and experience their rural environment.

Support the reinstatement of appropriate woodland management techniques to help support the resilience of the population of the black hairstreak butterfly.

Support the planting of new woodlands and shelterbelts (in locations that are not detrimental to the landscape character and history of the area) to improve the connectivity of woodlands, particularly ancient woodlands.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biodiversity
• Recreation
• Timber provision
• Climate regulation
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Pollination
• Pest regulation
• Regulating water flow
• sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Abandoned limestone quarries
• Gullets from ironstone workings
• Local stone reflected in historic buildings and villages
• Sand and gravel
• Soils

State – There are two geological SSSI and 28 Local Geological Sites within the NCA.

Barnack Hills and Holes NNR/SAC is a redundant medieval limestone quarry prized for the quality of its building stone. Its neutral soils now support an internationally important species-rich limestone grassland.

The Northampton Sand Formation contains substantial deposits of ironstone which were formerly quarried and abandoned gullets still remain today. Both limestone and ironstone were formerly quarried for stone used locally in buildings. Limestone was transported further afield and used for example in the construction of Ely and Peterborough cathedrals.

The distinctive Collyweston slate was quarried and used extensively as a roofing material in the local area.

Sand and gravel is still being quarried, around the fringes of the area, for the construction industry.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Rivers have cut into the glacial clay plateau to form the valley of the River Nene to the east and the Welland to the west both of which contain river sands and gravels.

The scarp and ridge which forms the Rockingham Forest comprises mainly Jurassic limestones of the Great Oolite Group, including Blisworth Limestone Formation and Cornbrash Formation. Along the river valleys, the Lincolnshire Limestone and Northampton Sand formations of the Inferior Oolite Group are exposed or near the surface.

To the east, south and west the NCA merges with the open clay vales of Northamptonshire.

Abandoned limestone and ironstone quarries often support rich assemblages of semi-natural vegetation.

Restoration of sand and gravel quarries offer potential to enhance both biodiversity and recreational services in the future.

Active sand and gravel quarries continue to provide new exposures. Scrub encroachment of abandoned quarries and gullets can reduce the legibility of the geological record.

Opportunities – Conserve and enhance the geological and biodiversity values of abandoned limestone quarries and ironstone workings, having particular regard for internationally important sites and geological SSSI.

Increase the intellectual accessibility of, and where appropriate physical access to, geological sites of interest.

Quarry restoration plans should include consideration of opportunities to enhance recreation and biodiversity alongside geological interests.

Maintain historic buildings and structures that reflect the local geological resources, notably those constructed of local limestone and using Collyweston slate roofing and seek to ensure that repairs and restoration continues to use local resources.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Geodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history
• Biodiversity
• Water availability