National Character Area 142
Somerset Levels and Moors
The Somerset Levels and Moors National Character Area (NCA) is a flat landscape extending across parts of the north and centre of the historical county of Somerset, reaching from Clevedon near Bristol in the north to Glastonbury in the east and Ilchester and Langport in the south. The Somerset Levels and Moors NCA is dissected by the Mendip Hills NCA and the Mid Somerset Hills NCA, notably the limestone ridge of the Polden Hills. The western boundary is formed by Bridgwater Bay and the Bristol Channel beyond. The landscape blends almost seamlessly into the Vale of Taunton in the south-west and into the Yeovil scarplands to the south. This is a landscape of rivers and wetlands, artificially drained, irrigated and modified to allow productive farming. The coastal Levels were once mostly salt marsh and the meandering rhynes and irregular field patterns follow the former courses of creeks and rivers. They contrast with the open, often treeless, landscape of the inland Moors and their chequer-board-like pattern of rectilinear fields, ditches, rhynes, drains and engineered rivers, and roads. Today, the Levels and Moors have many similarities but their histories are quite distinct. The Levels landscape was probably established by the time of the Norman Conquest while the Moors remained an open waste until enclosure and drainage between 1750 and 1850. Water is an ever-present element in the NCA; water from a catchment area four times the size of the Levels and Moors flows through the area, often above the level of the surrounding land. Much of the area lies below the level of high spring tides in the Bristol Channel. The biodiversity of the area is of national and international importance, reflected in the designation of 13 per cent of the NCA as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Ramsar site. The Severn Estuary Special Area of Conservation, SPA and Ramsar site lie immediately adjacent. More than 43,000 ha, two-thirds of the area, is classified as flood plain and coastal grazing marsh priority habitat; the largest lowland grazing marsh system in Britain. Wildlife abounds, most notably large assemblages of wetland and wading birds; more rare and scarce birds, such as the bittern, great white egret and recently reintroduced cranes; and both common and rare invertebrates and aquatic and wetland plant life, such as the greater water parsnip.
Summary and Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity
Summary of the National Character Area, including a general description of the landscape, and headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEOs).
Context Map
Interactive map that provides context to the National Character Area and its surrounds.
Key Characteristics
A list of the key characteristics of the National Character Area, which includes both natural and human influences on the landscape.
Description
Overview of how this NCA links to others, a description of the landscape today, and a summary of how the landscape has changed over time.
Key Facts & Data
Detail on the spatial distribution, type and quantity of components and features of the National Character Area.
Natural Capital and Key Ecosystem Services
Overview of Natural Capital, and the benefits to society this NCA provides, linking to the Natural England Natural Capital Atlas.
Landscape Change
Monitored landscape change within the NCA, derived from the Outcome Indicator Framework for the 25 Year Environment Plan. Additional information is also provided on the changes and trends within the landscape as reported in 2014.
Detailed Statements of Environmental Opportunity
Detailed lists of how each Statement of Environmental Opportunity could be achieved.
Analysis: Landscape Attributes & Opportunities
This analysis section focuses on the landscape attributes and opportunities for this National Character Area.
Analysis: Ecosystem Services
This analysis section focuses on a selection of the key provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem goods and services for this National Character Area.
Other Information
Below are links to external data sources that are relevant to National Character Area 142 - Somerset Levels and Moors
Natural Capital Atlas Profile
The Natural Capital Atlas Profiles provide an "off the shelf" natural capital evidence base for each county or city region. Understanding the state of our natural environment is the essential first step to improving it. Natural England's Natural Capital Indicators (Lusardi et al., 2018) 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. Understanding the state of natural capital is essential to enable the sustainable provision of multiple benefits, now and into the future. The best available and nationally consistent evidence is used to map out indicators showing asset quality, quantity and location. Indicators for some flows of ecosystem services are also mapped. These atlases provide an "off the shelf" natural capital evidence base for the relevant county or city regions within this NCA. They have a wide variety of uses with more information in the How to Start Using Your Natural Capital Atlas.
NCA142 Farmsteads Character Statement
The Historic England Farmstead & Landscape Statement summarises evidence on farmsteads and buildings in their landscape and settlement context, as well as the historic character, significance and foresight issues for the NCA. Historic farmsteads, comprising the farmhouse and working farm buildings, make a fundamental contribution to landscape character, local distinctiveness and a sense of place. They are also assets which, through agricultural or new uses, can make an important contribution to the rural economy and communities. The Farmstead and Landscape Statement is supported by advice on farm buildings, which provides links to the National Farmsteads Character Statement, national guidance on Farm Building Types and a fully-sourced summary in the regional Historic Farmsteads: Preliminary Character Statements.