132 - Salisbury Plain and West Wiltshire Downs : Analysis: Ecosystem Services

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Arable, predominantly cereal farming
• Grazing livestock
• Pig farming

State – Substantial cereal farming across the chalk plateau, often in units larger than the national average.

A third of the area is used for arable farming. This is mostly wheat or barley, with some oil seed crops, mainly rape, and maize for livestock feed, and cover crop for game.

While cereal production appears to dominate the landscape, nearly half the farmed area is grassland or uncropped land. In 2009 over 30,000 cattle and nearly 40,000 sheep grazed within the area.

Outdoor pig rearing has been long established in the area.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – Production of cereals may see continuing steady increases particularly as wheat and barley usage increases are sought.

Climate change may in due course impact on the viability here of cereal production as the resilience of various species will vary.

Dairy farming has declined in recent years with more than a 40 per cent reduction in the number of dairy farms in the area. However, the number of grazing livestock farms has increased. The number of mixed farms has also declined notably.

Wiltshire Ham is a recognised marquee, making a major contribution to the national deficit in pig meat production after the difficulties at the start of the 21st century with foot and mouth disease; there is likely to be some scope for future development (though the name can apply to meat from elsewhere).

Opportunities – Consider any appropriate change in management practice (for example crop/pasture rotation) in the interests of assisting soil quality and general diversification.

Work with farmers and land managers to investigate crop variants to address climate change, taking into account landscape character so far as is possible when evaluating change.

Explore opportunities for food provision that may have flexible in response to climate change and is consistent with the need to protect the rich archaeological resource of the area, but there would need to be careful monitoring of depletion in water resource.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Food provision
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Plantation woodland

State – Woodland cover is 10.5 per cent of the NCA. Provision of timber is currently low, much of the woodland being broadleaf and approximately one third being ancient.

Plantation on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) may offer the opportunity for a single crop of timber followed by restocking, or natural regeneration of broadleaved woodland.

Woodland on steep valley sides is hard to exploit economically.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – There is limited potential to expand timber provision from existing woodlands, due to difficulty in accessing areas on which timber currently grows.

There is a risk to landscape character and integrity, heritage assets and valued habitats if new woodland were to be developed on high downs, as well as potential conflict with food production.

Woodland is able to assist with the management of erosion risk and has value as such – but limited site -specific potential

Opportunities – Explore opportunities for hazel coppicing to economic benefit, and ensure that no potential sites are overlooked, so far as possible with needs of the landscape and not just considered in the context of biomass provision with short rotation coppicing (SRC).

Some opportunity to source occasional crops of timber from PAWS sites.

Opportunities to explore for very local timber provision resulting from conservation management of existing broadleaved woodlands.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Timber provision
• Regulating soil erosion
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Aquifer broadly under the Chalk
• Rivers of the Avon system

State – Substantial resource of highly productive aquifer with no abstraction issues that are not already being addressed; used via boreholes, and (with reservoirs elsewhere) serves as part of Wessex Water’s supply to the NCA and beyond for example to Bournemouth and Bath.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – New supply grid developed in the early 21st century to move water in a ‘spine main’ between the downstream side of NCA, to the north, that is believed satisfactory to address current concerns as to levels of abstraction from the Chalk for public water supply, and as to the impact of such abstraction on the SAC.

Currently the Avon is over licensed for abstraction in the west of NCA and over abstracted in centre – and limits reached in the east, and generally some problems in dryer summer months.

Abstraction restrictions are being implemented to encourage a reduction in demand, and work is under way with significant abstractors, (notably in agriculture) not least to prepare for the impact of climate change. The current resource may not meet unregulated demand for agricultural and private use if rainfall declines and/or the population grows.

Opportunities – Catchment Sensitive Farming schemes (CSF) promotion of rainwater, winter water flow harvesting and clean grey water management, with advice and grants, are helpful, and should be continued and developed.

The River Avon is viewed as one of England’s most biodiverse chalk rivers with many species (especially of plants/invertebrates) of international interest. Any effect on abstraction is of interest for this reason, in addition to supply issues and should be carefully monitored.

There is a need to identify opportunities for water resource planning and use efficient sustainable drainage systems in any developments.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Area of land long subject to Ministry of Defence management/controls and down to arable use.

State – Much of the area has never been intensively farmed and is believed to be richer in plant species than adjacent areas. This is particularly the case with land owned by the Ministry of Defence.

Large areas of species-rich chalk grassland with potential seed store of crop wild relatives.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – Richer in flowers than is usual for arable country, and now subject to many conservation schemes for example, for the benefit of bees.

Plants such as cornflower are abundant here but rare in the wild elsewhere, indicating that the NCA can be seen as a seed repository.

Opportunities – Merit in raising awareness of local breeds and varieties, especially of crop wild relatives and traditional orchards where they remain.

Explore potential for conservation projects (for example work for bee conservation) to work together for mutual advantage, using SSSI condition as start for helpful surveys; could collect seeds as appropriate and need to research wild relatives to current crops.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Genetic diversity
• Food provision
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Undeveloped valley sides/floors
• Current widespread arable cropping

State – Approximately 10.5 per cent of the NCA is wooded and there may be scope to complement this with some short rotation coppice, but this may be limited by the difficulties of the terrain.

The more versatile and fertile soils may present scope to add to the range of biomass energy crops, with limited impact on landscape.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The area to which access for agriculture is economically practical is limited by terrain, and short rotation coppice may be an appropriate use of such land.

Scope for miscanthus expansion may be limited – on chalk plateau this would be by landscape impact, and over eastern part of NCA by risks posed by root systems to archaeological resource.

Opportunities – Be alert to any potential for SRC on site-specific basis, as interest in and the need for biomass will increase with climate change.

As above; look to scope for miscanthus, but almost certainly only on lower slopes of chalk plateau, and where water supply allows.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biomass energy
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Semi-natural grassland/permanent pasture
• Ancient woodland
• Large areas of parkland (over 1,000 ha generally good for carbon storage)

State – Chalk and mineral soils with little CO2 storage (up to 10 per cent in the north of the area, but 0 to 5 per cent in south of area where there is a lesser extent of semi-natural grassland) although areas with undisturbed pasture will have increased levels of organic matter and thus store more carbon.

Almost 13,000 ha of woodland, of which more than 4,000 ha is ancient or plantation on ancient woodland sites.

Wet woodland associated with rivers and valley floors is not as widespread and could be a greater carbon store per unit area.

Parkland, generally located in valleys across the southern dip slope. It is often on richer soils and is generally good for carbon storage.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Chalk soils are low in carbon and are not a major contributor to carbon storage, with little capacity for any increase, particularly where under continuous arable cultivation. However, with more than 16,500 ha of lowland calcareous grassland, much of which is undisturbed, there is some local contribution to climate regulation. Expansion of the total area of grassland would further contribute to carbon storage.

Increasing the area of woodland and particularly restoring ancient woodland sites and increasing the area of riparian woodland cover would create habitat with higher carbon sequestration and storage capacity.

Some of the loamy and clayey flood plain soils may have peaty pockets and certainly higher levels of groundwater; these will be associated with flood plain grazing marshes – with perhaps 2,000
ha in the area in total – which are valuable both to regulate water flow and to store carbon, so are a conservation priority.

Parkland, often located in valley floors and across the lower- lying flood plains to the south of the area, support areas of permanent pasture, woodland and ancient and veteran trees, often on soils with higher carbon content contributing to carbon sequestration and storage.

Opportunities – Work with land managers to develop potential to increase organic matter levels, and thus storage of carbon. Reduction in inputs onto arable land may also play a role in improving soil quality for this and other purposes. Work with such groups to adopt best practice soil management as supported by initiatives such as the Defra Catchment
Sensitive Farming schemes.

Look to increase woodland cover where appropriate, and promote management of existing tree stock, consistent with the need to protect landscape character, historic water meadows and the underlying archaeology; work in partnership with those involved in woodland and river management notably the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency.

Work with land owners to maintain and enhance areas of undisturbed semi-natural grassland, particularly calcareous grassland sites and within historic parklands, not least to protect and increase carbon storage.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Climate regulation
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water quality
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Permeable (chalk) geology and soils, fostering efficient aquifer recharge
• Rivers in the Avon system
• Semi-natural habitats – including woodland on valley sides, wet woodlands and grasslands

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 – Poor groundwater quality in east of NCA, with River Bourne of poor ecological quality, although surface water is in general of good quality.

Current and historical agricultural practices have resulted in high levels of phosphates and nitrates, often from point discharges. Unrelated to agriculture, there are pollutants resulting from road runoff.

Defra Priority Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative (CSF) schemes covering the Avon system and similar schemes are reducing the levels of inputs, and failing farm infrastructure. They are slowly reducing the level of pollutants in watercourses and most rivers and streams are of moderate ecological quality.

Improvements in sewage treatment have also led to significant improvements in phosphate levels but there remain generally high levels in the rivers.

Sources of sediment include inputs from agriculture (runoff and poaching) while ‘fingerprinting’ shows also real contribution from grass verges, which may assist in pointing the way to address this.

Opportunities – Work with farmers and land owners to make use of best agriculture practice to minimise diffuse pollution using Catchment Sensitive Farming principles to promote good management of nutrient and manure, yard infrastructure and cultivation timing/techniques, and general soil management.

Buffering the watercourses to slow pollution runoff will improve water quality and may also have a significant impact on soil quality, and sedimentation.

Work with Environment Agency on nutrient management plans (and similar) to aid water quality and also assist agriculture in reducing inputs.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Partially wooded valleys
• Traditional water meadows

State – Main watercourses have wide flood plains and flow through open grassland, farmland and woodland. The flood risks are largely from Wilton downstream, although this is influenced higher groundwater levels upstream, not least by development separating rivers from their flood plains with their natural storage (and valuable wetland habitats).

Valleys have alluvial deposits and sandstones, which are relatively permeable, such that flood peaks are reached slowly – in particular in broader valleys in the east of the NCA. Flooding by river is rare above Salisbury; downstream, it is more common but usually handled (for land within the NCA) by traditionally managed water meadows for example at Harnham.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Any increase in woodlands may assist in slowing the flow into the river system. Careful management and securing their future will be vital and innovative funding needs development.

Need to identify areas where greater wetland storage can be accommodated for example by restoring degraded riverine habitats to enhance populations of key species, and their adjacent wetlands (fed by controlled inundation) to reduce the isolation of rivers from their associated flood plains.

Opportunities – Seek to expand semi-natural woodland on slopes where it is appropriate to the specific site; ensure (via Catchment Sensitive Farming) land management practices avoid compaction of soils, to limit scope for flash flooding.

Work with Environment Agency, local communities and land managers to ensure flood management systems are connected to rivers as necessary; pursue any scope for extending water meadows elsewhere on Avon system, possibly on the Wylye.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Fertile soils

State – Soils have made the NCA productive for arable produce for many years and likely to respond to good management by remaining or becoming more fertile.

There are five main soilscape types in this NCA; (a) shallow lime rich soil over chalk over some 71 per cent of area (b) 11 per cent is freely draining lime rich loamy soil, (c) 10 per cent is freely draining slightly acid loamy soil, and (d) the balance is loamy and clayey flood plain soils, often with naturally high groundwater, or slowly permeable base-rich loamy and clayey soil.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – It will be necessary to work closely with the farming community to ensure crop variation is sufficient to keep soils resilient and productive, in the interests of food production.

Type (a) is typically shallow and (b) of moderate depth; and being calcareous have some degree of natural resilience. Together with type (c) they are valuable for aquifer recharge by infiltration, and need to be maintained in good structural condition.

Opportunities – Continue with Catchment Sensitive Farming schemes to develop and extend use of best land management practice including use of break crops.

It is vital to prevent pollution of the chalk aquifer, so while an increase in organic matter may be appropriate, the matching of added nutrient to actual need is a priority; this is an issue to be worked on through Catchment Sensitive Farming schemes to ensure that land managers fully embrace the approach, as it is as
much an issue for water supply as for soil quality.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil quality
• Food provision
• Regulating water quality
• Water availability

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Pastureland

State – The vast majority of soils covering the NCA (92 per cent) are at potential risk of erosion. The shallow lime-rich soils over chalk (71 per cent) are sometimes unstable, and can be prone to loss through erosion where not well managed. The freely draining slightly acid loamy soils (10 per cent) and some of the freely draining lime-rich loamy soils (11 per cent) also have acid loamy soils

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – he (Hampshire) Avon (including its tributaries of the Wylye, Nadder, Ebble and Bourne) catchment is a Defra Priority Catchment. The rivers are designated as an SAC and suffer from sedimentation due to soil erosion and agricultural run-off.

There is little evidence on the ground of major soil erosion, save in the Wylye Valley, where some hillside ploughing patterns seem unhelpful, and where there has been an adverse impact on the river quality.

There is an enhanced risk of soil erosion on moderately or steeply sloping land (for example in the river valleys) where cultivated or bare soil is exposed, often exacerbated where organic matter levels are low after continuous arable cultivation or where soils are compacted. Pig rearing outdoors also poses problems.

There is also the potential for wind erosion on some coarse textured cultivated variants of the freely draining slightly acid loamy soil (type c), while the remaining soil types have a low erosion risk. Overall, land managers need to continue to be aware of the risk of soil erosion.

Opportunities – Catchment Sensitive Farming schemes should be pursued here in the interests of soil and water quality and reducing soil erosion. Continuous arable cultivation is a common state and its adverse consequences may merit local exploration and discussion to develop alternative strategies appropriate to each site.

Any and all good practice to be widely disseminated and pursued, in the interests of securing sound management in an area where this is crucial to limit erosion – through Catchment Sensitive Farming schemes and similar

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil quality

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Meadows and species-rich grassland

State – Almost 15 per cent of the NCA is semi-natural chalk grassland and this provides a large nectar source for pollinating insects. However, many arable crops neither require nor provide the best habitat for pollinators. There is therefore little major need for pollinators for agriculture in the NCA – beyond SSSI and national concern at falling bee numbers – and this is being addressed nationally.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The current main food products in NCA (arable) do not require insect pollination (save oil seed crops). The NCA would gain from the flexibility that full pollination services would bring for future agriculture options in the light of climate change. This would also aid biodiversity and (possibly) pest control.

Opportunities – Work with inter alia Bumblebee Conservation on projects to develop bee-friendly habitat on the grassland areas of the NCA, to assist with national biodiversity concerns.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pollination
• Biodiversity
• Pest regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Semi-natural habitat as home for a range of predators
• Land managed for game shooting, at least in part

State – Field margins are not extensive on the Plain but are found elsewhere in the area. Other than aphids in arable crops, there is no substantial pest problem.

Gamekeeper presence will manage many predators to the benefit of arable birds.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – There may be opportunities in the eastern part of the NCA to develop small areas of habitat, for example beetle banks and field margins, to support populations of pest-regulating species. This combined with work in the bee interest will assist pest regulation and pollination.

Pests controlled for game reasons and conservation unlikely to be a priority; may not be carried out to benefit conservation.

Opportunities – Explore and develop land management opportunities (which may be few in an NCA with few hedges) to work on network of habitats for predator species, including bees.

Work with gamekeepers and explore any potential to influence their work in the interests of conservation.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pest regulation
• Pollination

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Expansive sparsely populated plateau
• Prominent scarp to north and west
• Salisbury and the distinctive and dominant cathedral spire
• A long history of human occupation evident in extensive ritual landscape, including Stonehenge

State – Open space and big skies are the immediately dominant features of the NCA, and have been for some time. The low ground cover, with few trees or hedgerows, serves to accentuate the chalk landform.

The area contains and there is widespread interest in, a wealth of natural and historical resources and environments across the Plain. There is less awareness of the agricultural heritage and its legacy than the ritual components of the landscape.

A quarter of the area has been designated for its outstanding natural beauty. The wildlife, heritage and cultural significance of the area are recognised nationally and provide inspiration and spiritual motivation for many.

There are close and long-standing associations with military and defence uses.

The monumental stones of Stonehenge have been recorded by and stimulated investigation and contemplation by many antiquarians and artists over the generations; William Stukeley’s record and depiction of 1722 being one of the best known.

Salisbury, with the prominent cathedral viewed across flood meadows provided inspiration for one of Constable’s best known paintings.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – It is important to foster activities which respect the strong sense of place and allow it to continue; redevelopments of the Stonehenge visitor facilities in the early 21st century are likely to assist in safeguarding the inspiring element of the location.

The number of visitors to a limited number of locations within the landscape may challenge their inspirational qualities, but reflect the significance of the resource. Military use confirmed as likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

There is capacity to fulfil and develop projects that engage people with the wider environmental and heritage assets found in the landscape. With the aid of local volunteer groups and partnership working, for example the work to reintroduce the great bustard, there is potential to make local projects, including fundraising, more successful in fulfilling the reinforcing the sense of place and inspirational qualities of the area.

Opportunities – Work to ensure the strong sense of place is reflected in and used to inform any developments within the NCA, including initiatives to improve rights of way and visitor facilities.

Assist the Ministry of Defence when seeking to allow recreational use of their land where possible, to develop and explore better connections across the landscape.

Develop local networks of supporters and meet their needs where possible in the interests of securing future work, and to raise awareness of the history of agriculture in the area.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Stonehenge and Avebury (and associated sites) World Heritage Site centred at Stonehenge; including Durrington Walls, the largest henge in Europe, and the Cursus, and many skyline barrow cemeteries
• Many Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM)
• Salisbury Cathedral and its Close in medieval surroundings
• Historic parks and gardens and estate landscapes

State – Internationally important complex of prehistoric monuments including dense concentration of burial mounds, all in an impressive setting and with some religious significance; site well known to public.

Stately homes occur on the lower, less exposed slopes and valleys, particularly along the southern dip slope.

There are several hundred Scheduled Ancient Monuments, the majority located across the open plateau and along the edge of the northern scarp, often within the cultivated arable landscape. Many SAMs within the area are identified as being at risk, principally from arable ploughing and clipping.

Listed buildings, from grand gentry houses to local vernacular dwellings, are scattered throughout the landscape.

Collectively the wealth of heritage assets illustrates human presence in area over time. Many now are established as visitor attractions and are important to the local economy (Wiltshire has over 13,000 SAM sites).

Examples include Wilton House – inhabited by Herbert family, Earls of Pembroke who built the current house in the 17th century. A royal presence was well established at Clarendon near Salisbury.

Main beneficiary – International

Analysis – It is estimated that heritage assets attract over 1 million visitors to the area annually, generating income and external funding. There is a need to monitor the impact of and adapt for such numbers and effect of climate change; continued problem of busy traffic corridor (A303) to site which may adversely impact on its protection and on the whole NCA.

Tourism related to heritage has long been important to the local economy but transport issues remain a concern. Traffic is a major contributor to climate change and alternative means of access need to be explored.

There is a need to consider all local infrastructure in terms of catering for visitors; for example ensuring water capacity is sufficient.

Many SAM sites and lesser known heritage assets, particularly below ground and earthwork archaeological remains, remain threatened by inappropriate and unsympathetic cultivation.

European Union funding has facilitated the local expansion of pasture, which aids the visitor experience and minimises the disruption commonly caused to archaeology by agriculture. Work on continuing such appropriate funding mechanisms needs to be pursued.

Opportunities – Contribute to World Heritage Site (WHS) management plans and seek engagement of site’s local community for example from Amesbury, to have their interests and needs reflected where possible.

Seek in general to maintain the character of the WHS, by reflecting and responding to the outstanding universal value in any development in the area and managing the associated landscape and habitats to complement the WHS.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Sparsely populated NCA
• Large areas of open space, some inaccessible by car

State – Tranquil and largely undisturbed as a rural area, and valued as a location for quiet recreation as a result.

Unsettled areas of chalk plateau add to tranquillity.

Road infrastructure and large numbers of visitors to the area can locally challenge the sense of tranquillity.

A quarter of the area is designated for its outstanding natural beauty often reflecting the most open, undisturbed parts of the landscape.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – Valued as tranquil (identified as such by CPRE), and free from intrusion, outside the immediate area of Salisbury and the transport corridors of A303 and A36, which cross the NCA. This pattern of highly localised tranquillity is more pronounced than it was in the 1960s.

Opportunities – Tranquillity is a major attractor for the tourist industry so all developments need to be monitored and managed for adverse impact on area – for environmental and economic damage.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• A rights of way network extending over 1,650 km including ‘byways open to all traffic’
• Minimal open access land but some open space exists, for example in parklands
• Numerous visitor attractions many with historical focus
• Recreational activities including fishing, bird watching, horse riding and cycling

State – Much National Trust land is generally accessible and some Ministry of Defence land is open on specific dates.

Well established and acknowledged access to heritage assets results in the principal recreational activity in the area, notably visiting the World Heritage Site and other prehistoric and historic sites for example Old Sarum and Salisbury.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Extensive military estate prevents access in much of the area and can limit linear and circular walking routes; however many paths are assets for many other user purposes, for example, accessing heritage sites and birdwatching.

Ministry of Defence requirement for closed sites is unlikely to change but exploration of alternative arrangements and connectivity with other open spaces could be considered. WHS attracts some 350,000 coach trips along with many individual car journeys, resulting in ‘honey pot’ pressures on a small part of the overall resource.

Opportunities – Explore the scope to develop the rights of way network for new user groups, for example increasing disabled accessibility.

Work with local communities to identify preferences for enhanced and improved access and seek to achieve this where possible.

Climate change will mean all travel needs to be considered with care and work to develop the most sustainable means of access. Use access to the WHS to develop examples of best practice.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Chalk grassland and rivers with many associated species
• Scrub habitats, notably juniper scrub on the scarp
• Ancient and wet woodland
• Riparian vegetation acting as a water temperature regulator

State – The area contains some 24,000 ha key priority habitats, over around 20 per cent of the NCA.

This includes over 16,500 ha of semi-natural lowland calcareous grassland, the largest concentration of such habitat in the UK; this is mainly designated SSSI and SAC/SPA, and is important for invertebrates, such as the (butterfly species in decline) marsh fritillary, and is rich in bee species (for example shrill carder bee) and many important bird species notably the stone curlew, hobby and hen harrier for which the area is also designated SPA.

It also includes some 5,000 ha of mixed broadleaved and yew woodland.

The River Avon system is designated SAC, for its biodiversity in plants and invertebrates; it is national stronghold for the river lamprey.

Main beneficiary – International

Analysis – Extensive Chalk area is the base for much conservation work, and this attracts substantial funding, for example on work for restoration of meadows in the interests of bumblebees (a notified feature for Salisbury Plain SSSI) where work on one area will benefit many others. Designated sites still reveal and attract new features for example Montagu’s harrier and marsh fritillary.

The principal threats here are economic, as high arable prices tend to discourage restoration of chalk grassland, despite its advantages for the archaeological interest and the tourist industry, and may even threaten existing sites.

The River Avon (Hampshire) and the species it supports are vulnerable to increasing water temperatures as a result of climate change. Increasing the area of riparian woodland could limit these effects, improving both water quality and biodiversity.

Opportunities – Need to continue to develop partnership working (seen in past for example the LIFE+ project which accomplished much valuable work on the Plain’s habitat) to maximise gain for a variety of species from such funding as there is, and look towards any opportunities to expand suitable habitats.

Work with riparian owners for example on Environment Agency projects to increase tree cover to lower water temperatures in important rivers.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil quality
• Tranquillity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Jurassic exposures in established quarries
• Chalk exposures
• Geomorphological processes; sarsens, swallow holes, river geomorphology
• Chilmark and local vernacular building stones

State – Five SSSI designated for geodiversity or with geodiversity interests and eleven local geological sites.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – SSSI resources serve as useful educational resources complimented by a number of local sites.

Local historic built environment shows use of local stone, as seen at Chilmark.

Although a chalk landscape there are limited numbers of exposures.

Opportunities – There is potential to explore, but limited scope for development of access to geology, especially in quarries with bats and other ecological interests.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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