151 - South Devon : Analysis: Ecosystem Services

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Fertile soils
• Dairy, meat and fish products, some specialist
• Arable crops
• Shell fisheries
• Bass nurseries
• Salmon

State – Approximately 14,500 ha of land is commonly used for cereal production, but the area also supports nearly 100,000 cattle and nearly 200,000 sheep. Livestock numbers have fallen slightly between 2000 and 2009. The number of dairy farms has fallen from 251 in 2000 to 134 in 2009. Grass and un-cropped areas have remained constant at approximately 60,000. Locally significant market gardening, particularly of organic products. Riverford Organics produces 45,000 organic vegetable boxes every week, started and remains in the area.

14,300 tonnes of fish were landed in Plymouth in 2010, the largest in England, and valued at £13.5 million. 12,800 tonnes were landed at Brixham in 2010, with a value of £22 million, the highest value in England and reflects the large proportion of shell fish landed, more than 50 per cent of the tonnage.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Food production from a mixed farming landscape is a key service in this area. The levels and type of food produced reflect the versatility and productivity of the area, the favourable climatic conditions and availability of water. Changes in climate and weather patterns may challenge the traditional outputs from the area, but new opportunities may also arise. Maintaining soil structure and condition will also be necessary to maximise adaptability.

The provision of sea food from the estuaries is a significant national service. Changes in climate and weather patterns, particularly the co-incidence of spring high tides and flooding cause real threats to the shell fishing industry. Management of water quality is essential to ensure the provision of this service.

Food provision is intrinsically linked to the cultural services of South Devon underpinning a strong sense of place and the range of biodiversity in this area.

Opportunities – Work with the local farming community to consider how to safeguard food provision while enhancing a range of key ecosystem services regulating soil quality, biodiversity, regulating soil erosion, water quality, regulating water flow.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Food provision
• Biodiversity
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating water quality

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Areas of existing commercial plantation and accessible broadleaved woodland

State – Provision of timber is currently low. Timber exists in the form of just over 2,223 ha of coniferous plantation across the area, although the majority of woodland is broadleaved at approximately 8,894 ha with nearly 3,500 ha recognised as ancient semi-natural woodland. Commercial timber extraction is not a major feature of the area with much of the woodland resource difficult to access in steep areas.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Opportunities for commercial timber production from conifer plantation are limited within this area and much of the broadleaved woodland is either of high nature conservation value or of limited accessibility. Timber from plantations does not make high returns. Broad-leaved woodland provides some potential for medium- value ‘artisan timber’ products.

Opportunities – Identify locations where increased woodland planting could help combat soil erosion on steeper slopes and reduce the speed of water run-off without an adverse effect on open habitats beneficial for biodiversity.

Identify and realise opportunities for woodland creation that reinforce landscape character, provide access for expanding urban areas and minimise the impact of development on surrounding, tranquil areas.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Woodland
• Existing short rotation coppice (SRC)
• Miscanthus plantations

State – The NCA overlies formations of impermeable rock and there is no significant groundwater resource. All the rivers within the NCA have catchments that spread into adjoining NCAs and are considered diverse in nature, incorporating reservoirs and tributaries. There are large abstractions from these catchments for public water supply and industry and many smaller abstractions, for example, for agriculture, the dominant land use. Five of the catchments in the south-east of the NCA have water available for abstraction, but the majority are over-abstracted or have no water available for additional abstraction.

The NCA has the lower catchments of all the rivers that drain south off Dartmoor and of some rivers that drain south from the adjoining Culm and Cornish Killas NCAs, the Tamar being the most notable. There are eight reservoirs outside the NCA on rivers that run into it, affecting water flows in these downstream catchment areas.

The Plym catchment area is over abstracted, due in part to the impact of Burrator Reservoir, outside of the NCA but upstream. Burrator Reservoir has a comprehensive flow release system ensuring there is sufficient water in the river throughout the year. (Tamar Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy)

In all catchments licences are being issued, but often on a case by case basis or with a “hands off” approach, limiting abstraction during low flow conditions.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The South Devon NCA receives significant quantities of potable water from the adjacent Dartmoor NCA, although predominantly via reservoirs outside the area. While some of the smaller catchments have water available for extraction, the majority do not and the area with greatest demand, Plymouth and the west of the area, are over-abstracted.

High levels of rainfall and soils with reasonable water-retention properties results in little water being required for irrigation, however, climate change, new crops and cropping patterns may place higher demands on future water resources.

Maintaining adequate river flows and avoiding over-abstraction is also essential for wild salmon, sea and brown trout populations, requiring adequate flows to reach their spawning grounds and are needed to maintain populations of fresh water shrimp.

High water tables are also needed to maintain nationally and internationally important water-dependent habitats, such as species-rich maritime, neutral and calcareous grasslands, shingle bars and freshwater marsh.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to maximise the availability of water by reducing the rate that water flows through the area through the reinstatement of natural, meandering drainage patterns and channels and reinstating functional flood meadows adjacent to main water courses.

Encourage good environmental management of semi-natural habitats and in particularly unimproved permanent grasslands, increasing the capacity of habitats to retain water.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Water availability
• Regulating water quality
• Food provision Biodiversity

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Woodland
• Existing short rotation coppice (SRC)
• Miscanthus plantations

State – The existing woodland cover is 10 per cent, meaning that there is biomass potential from bringing existing woodlands under management and as a by-product of any commercial forestry operations. The potential miscanthus yield appears high throughout the area but the potential SRC yield is low.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Carefully located miscanthus and SRC can provide potential climate regulation benefits without significant impact on other services. SRC can also help improve connectivity between woodland areas helping woodland biodiversity. Inappropriately sited, both can have negative impacts on sense of place and biodiversity. Woodland areas also offer potential biomass but would require additional infrastructure to utilise this. For information on the potential landscape impacts of biomass plantings within the NCA, refer to the tables on the Natural England website.

Opportunities – Identify opportunities for planting of SRC and miscanthus, appropriately sited within the existing pattern of woodland, hedgebanks and semi- natural habitats on the inland plateau, especially within the floodplains of wider valleys while avoiding remnant wetland habitats and small-scale field patterns.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Biomass energy
• Biodiversity
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Higher-carbon soils
• Woodland
• Estuarine habitats
• Low-input crops/ grassland

State – The capacity of soils in the area to contribute to climate regulation is low.

The soil carbon content of the largely mineral soils is relatively low at 0 to 10 per cent. These mineral soils can be low in organic matter particularly where under continuous cultivation.

There are small areas of higher soil carbon levels of 20-50 per cent fringing Dartmoor, as a result of the peaty soils found across much of the upland.

Estuarine mud and silt and fringe habitats, particularly reed beds and marsh, have high carbon content. There are 8 estuaries across this NCA and further salt marshes and reed beds along the coast.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The majority of the soils in South Devon offer limited potential to improve climate regulation, therefore woodland is expected to be the most significant contributor to climate regulation in this NCA. Expansion of woodland on suitable sites could help increase carbon sequestration while also offering increases in biodiversity, regulating soil erosion and water availability.

Estuarine habitats, particularly mud flats, reed beds and marsh, have high carbon content secured in deposit. While expanding the areas of these habitats may be restricted by topographic and fluvial systems, they should be allowed to develop and expand naturally and remain undisturbed.

Reductions of inputs can also play a role (where achievable) and will in turn help improve water quality and aquatic biodiversity services if located correctly.

Opportunities – Increase sequestration of carbon dioxide through increasing woodland area and encouraging sustainable management of woodlands, and the expansion of wetland and estuarine habitats in the river valleys.

Encourage sustainable and extensive grazing regimes on permanent pasture, particularly areas of floodplain and coastal grazing marsh, and areas with peaty soils on the fringe of Dartmoor, with a low input of artificial fertiliser, increasing soil carbon levels and the ability to sequester carbon dioxide.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Climate regulation
• Regulating soil erosion
• Water availability
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Shingle ridges and bars, and beaches
• Estuaries and estuarine habitats
• Cliffs

State – Slapton Line is the subject of a national demonstration programme in coastal adaptation. The Slapton Line Partnership has worked with local communities to anticipate and prepare for future coastal change.

Relative sea level continues to rise and could be as much as 80 cm higher by 2080. With more extreme storm events, this creates particular challenges for some coastal locations including Slapton Sands, Beesands, South Milton Sands and Challaborough.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Much of the coast of the area is formed from rock cliffs which are slowly eroding. Major settlement along the coast has historically been located at sites that lay protected from the sea by natural formations and are less at risk from coastal flooding, for example Plymouth and Torbay. However, there are parts of the coast that are characterised by low lying lagoons, salt marshes and other less resistant coastal features, for example, at Slapton Sands, Beesands, South Milton Sands and Challaborough. Here there is continued pressure for new infrastructure and other developments, including coast defences around individual properties.

Natural coastal processes form new defences, and where these natural defences are vulnerable, natural processes should be allowed to occur to form new alignments. (The Seascape character area assessment for the South inshore and offshore marine plans can be seen here).

Opportunities – Allow for the formation of natural coastal flood defences in the form of developing sand bars, mud flats, saltmarsh and shingle ridges. The expansion of marginal habitats along rias and estuaries should be allowed and promoted to further contribute to the protection of nearby settlements.

Seek opportunities to minimise damage to highly distinctive coastal features and habitats, and encourage the development of natural, ‘soft’ defences wherever possible.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Regulating coastal flooding and erosion
• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/ inspiration

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Watercourse fencing
• Wooded valleys
• Uncultivated areas on steep slopes
• Cross-field hedgerows (in arable)

State – A significant part of the South Devon NCA, from the Dart to the Yealm, is identified as a priority catchment for England’s Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative. The three key issues to address within this priority area include the reduction of run-off of soil and nutrients, the reduction of faecal contamination entering watercourses and limiting pollution pathways on the holding.

These issues will all have an impact on the shell fishery industry, bass nursery areas and the wider biodiversity of the area.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Water quality is particularly important in this NCA due to the relationship between the river catchments and the coastal designated sites. Improvement of water quality through buffering water courses, reducing pollution pathways and run-off of both soil and nutrients could have significant impacts on regulating erosion, biodiversity and soil quality. In addition improvement in the status of bathing water could have a positive impact on recreational use of the waters.

Opportunities – Increase amount of farmland managed under principles established under the Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative.

Increase amount of reed beds and wetlands to act as silt traps.

Fencing watercourse and introducing cross-field hedge and tree planting, where appropriate will reduce sedimentation and nutrient loading.

(See also measures under regulating soil erosion).

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Wooded river valleys
• Vegetated steep slopes
• Heathland
• Geodiversity

State – The area has an annual rainfall of 1,000 mm on the coast. The area south of Dartmoor has wide valleys, rolling farmland, and heaths that hold water flowing down from steeper river courses on Dartmoor. These lower reaches have sandstones and mudstones overlain with alluvial silts and clays as well as terrace deposits from rivers and the sea that are relatively permeable. These features result in flood peaks being reached more slowly than the upper catchments. However, extreme storm events of recent years have resulted in more localised flooding.

The main flood risk comes from insufficient channel capacity and problems associated with culverts. This is more prevalent in the west of the NCA where the valleys remain much more enclosed by steep valley sides, for example, above New Bridge near Gunnislake the Tamar flows down an incised valley that naturally limits floodplain storage and confines the flow of floodwater, channelling it downstream to combine with tidal influences to flood Calstock. Climate change is likely to increase flood frequency and depth. The development of a new town at Sherford, and other major building developments also have the potential to increase storm water runoff rates.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Following the principles of the Catchment Flood Management Plan, there is potential to increase the regulation of river flooding, but also to increase biodiversity and water availability through the expansion of wetlands. Similarly efforts to increase the area of woodlands on steep slopes will also aid the regulation of water flow and subsequently soil erosion. Efforts to regulate river flooding are heavily affected by activities in adjacent NCAs particularly Dartmoor and the Culm.

Opportunities – Follow the principles described in the Catchment Flood Management Plans for the area. Reconnect rivers and estuaries to natural floodplains, to utilise natural flood storage and enhance wetland habitats. Change land management practices to reduce flood risk by reducing soil compaction. Expand areas of semi- natural woodland on steep slopes, extend the network of hedgerows to reduce cross land flows. Increase areas of wetland habitats where possible.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Regulating water flow
• Biodiversity
• Water availability

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Unimproved pastures

State – The freely draining slightly acid loamy soils covering 66 per cent of the area, have potential for increased organic matter content to improve soil structure through management interventions.

The freely draining slightly acid but base-rich soils, 16 per cent of the area, have calcareous horizons near the surface that help provide some natural resilience and enhanced workability.

Some component soils are at risk from topsoil compaction and poaching or may suffer from the development of an iron pan. Careful management of weak top soils will help to maintain a good soil structure. In the areas of freely draining acid loamy soils over rock, 11 per cent of the area, the soils have a short grazing season and management is difficult due to the steep and often very stony nature of the land. These soils are generally at low risk of poaching but organic top soils can poach when wet.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Improving soil quality through increasing soil organic matter will have potential benefits for regulating soil erosion. It may also help with climate change regulation, though the capacity of these soils to make a significant contribution is limited.

Opportunities – Increase grazing and sward diversity to increase laying down of organic matter. Manage with extensive grazing regimes to reduce stocking densities to reduce or minimise soil compaction and poaching.

Promote good management of weak top soils; minimum tillage to maintain good soil structure.

Where organic matter is low, increase organic matter inputs to improve soil structure.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Wooded valleys
• Uncultivated areas on steep slopes
• Cross-field hedgerows (in arable)

State – There is an enhanced risk of soil erosion for most of the soils that characterise this NCA on moderately or steeply sloping land where cultivated or bare soil is exposed, exacerbated where organic matter levels are low after continuous cultivation or where soils are compacted.

A significant part of the NCA is identified as a priority catchment for England’s Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative. All catchments from the Dart in the east to the Yealm in the west, from source to sea are identified. This target area has 3 key issues to address, one of which is the reduction of soil and nutrient run-off.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Efforts to increase vegetation cover on cultivated or bare soil on steep slopes, for example by reverting to grassland or through afforestation, will help to increase the regulation of soil erosion. Where this is not possible hedgerows also provide potential to help impede flows and subsequent erosion, while having a positive impact on landscape character. In addition, taking measures to avoid bare soil conditions and exposed soils on steep slopes will also be beneficial. This can be achieved through avoiding clear felling of woodland in sensitive areas.

Opportunities – Avoid clear felling areas of woodland on steep river valley slopes-, and encourage new woodland planting to impede cross land flows.

Encourage change from cultivation on steep slopes to permanent grassland and semi-natural habitats with extensive grazing and low fertiliser inputs.

Plant new hedgerows, particularly to replace previously removed hedgerows restoring the historic pattern of the landscape and to impede cross land flows.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Heathland
• Meadows and other species- rich grassland
• Hedgebanks

State – There are small areas of heathland, species-rich grassland and meadows scattered across the area that provide an important nectar source for pollinating insects. The network of flower-rich Devon hedgebanks extending across the area also provides a valuable nectar source.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The contribution of pollination services to food production in this NCA is currently limited. Pollination is required for oil seed rape crops and also supports traditional orchards in the area. An increase in pollination may be required in order to provide greater options for future cropping, and allow for consideration of a greater range of crops given a change in climate. Increases in the number and range of pollinators are also likely to be associated with an increase in biodiversity.

Opportunities – Increase the area of land covered by semi-natural habitats, including woodland, hedgebanks, wetlands and grasslands to increase the diversity and number of flowering plants and increase the area and range of habitat mosaics where different habitats lie in close proximity.

Increase the number of characteristic Devon orchards, ensuring they are sited within close proximity to areas of key and specialist food crop production.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Pollination
• Biodiversity
• Food provision

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Habitat mosaic

State – The high degree of heterogeneity in the landscape, as opposed to a monoculture landscape, provides resilience against widespread pest and disease damage.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – There is recognised pest damage affecting timber production/trees in the Chilterns: mammals including grey squirrels, fat dormouse), muntjac and fallow deer, and insects, including oak processionary moth at Pangbourne and west London, and horse chestnut leaf miner. Sudden oak death, ash dieback and red band needle blight are also affecting trees in the Chilterns (Chilterns AONB State of the Environment Report, Chilterns Conservation Board, 2010).

Non-native species such as signal crayfish are also threatening native aquatic biodiversity. The mosaic of woodlands, hedgerows and watercourses may facilitate disease and pest dispersal. However, the mosaic of habitats will potentially support natural predators.

Opportunities: Maintain and build resilience against pests and diseases by supporting diversity within species populations and in terms of habitats and crop types. Focus upon managing impacts upon food and timber provision and biodiversity.

Establish pest and disease management strategies for the Chilterns woodlands and watercourses in particular.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Pest regulation
• Timber production
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Open and expansive inland plateau; undeveloped and farmed
• Dramatic and varied coast of cliffs, estuaries and rias, woodland and grassland
• Uninterrupted views
• Flower-rich hedgebanks

State – Sense of place is provided by the area’s much-dissected plateau of steep wooded valleys separating intricate but smooth rounded hills with a dense network of Devon hedgebanks, defining the field pattern, and settlements linked by sunken winding lanes frequently fringed by woodland.

Distinctive rias (‘drowned valleys’) with SAC-designated estuarine habitats of tidal water, saltmarsh and mudflats and oak-clad slopes falling down to the sheltered water’s edge are an essential part of the coastal character. The coast, much of it Heritage Coast, offers spectacular cliffs and sandy beaches with distinctive clumps of Monterey pine. Together these are many of the special qualities that define the South Devon AONB that covers much of this NCA while the Tamar Valley AONB has the additional heritage of extensive traditional orchards, mining and market gardening.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – The area has a strong and clear sense of identity and place, reflected in part, by more than a third of the area being designated as AONB. The coastal areas and inland plateau are distinctive and composed of coherent patterns of elements and features. Unifying elements such as the rias, coastal cliffs, mixed farming, hedgebanks and winding lanes produce a harmonious yet clearly productive landscape.

Much of the area has an ‘unspoilt’ character, although the major conurbations of Plymouth and Torbay bare influence on the surrounding rural landscape and in places are encroaching significantly.

The area continues to be a major tourist destination and inspiration for artists, writers and photographers, drawn by the quality and character of the landscape and coast.

Opportunities – Maintain the historic pattern of species-rich and florally diverse hedgebanks, which define field patterns and line the sunken lanes that link settlements, and provide a sense of enclosure. Maintain historic settlement patterns and vernacular building styles, and encourage the use of traditional building materials, especially the use of cob, thatch and slate, in new buildings.

Protect the distinctive rias from inappropriate development and enhance semi-natural woodland on steep valley sides. Protect and enhance the dynamic coastline, with its distinctive estuaries, cliffs and wetlands.

Maintain the essentially farmed character of the landscape and the many traditions associated with the area.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Scheduled Monuments and other, unscheduled heritage assets
• Registered Parks and Gardens
• Listed buildings
• Traditional built environment, both urban and rural
• Ancient natural features Ancient woodlands and their traditional management and production

State – There are 202 Scheduled Monuments, including parts of the well known prehistoric routeway called the Ridgeway.

Around 15 of these monuments are declining in condition and on the At Risk Register. Additional monuments are at risk and of an unknown or stable condition.

Bronze-age barrows and iron-age hill forts and dykes found along the scarp connected by the Icknield Way which has been in use since the Neolithic period.

Iron-age hillforts and dykes found along the Thames Valley to the south.

Roman influence is still evident through the communications network and settlement pattern, and medieval influence is reflected in settlement and field patterns.

Chalk streams reveal unique features associated with watercress growing and numerous mill sites.

More recent heritage assets include the Grand Union Canal.

There are 6,851 Listed Buildings. Traditional materials in the built environment include flint, brick, tiles and in places weatherboard and thatch, plus old farm buildings characterised by large timber-framed barns clad with black weatherboard. The use of Totternhoe Stone (clunch) as a building material is a characteristic of this area.

Forty registered historic parks and gardens in the NCA, many the works of key 18th century designers such as Bridgeman, Repton and Brown.

Ancient woodlands are extensive and contain a variety of archaeology, veteran trees and ancient coppice stools.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – The history of the landscape is evident in numerous historic features from various ages dating back to prehistory.

Some historic features are widespread, including ancient boundaries, holloways, commons, ancient woodlands, churches, and buildings in the vernacular style.

Public access is provided to some key heritage assets and landscapes including parklands, monuments along the Ridgeway and commons, increasing the opportunity to understand and interpret the historic environment.

Woodland archaeology reveals changes in woodland management and climate including coppice stools linked to medieval activities and saw pits and other features associated with the furniture industry of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Some settings of historic features could be improved, as could their management, for example through the reduction in arable cultivation currently affecting monuments. There is also concern about visitor pressure negatively impacting historic features, including historic routeways and popular landmarks.

The value of such an ancient landscape is heightened by the fact that it lies adjacent to modern development including the London edge and several motorways. Local museums, historic character mapping projects and historic sites celebrate and engage people in the historic environment. There are local community groups working to conserve and engage people in the historic environment.

The collected expression of taste and wealth seen in the many grand houses and parks and gardens, reflects the proximity of the area to London and the past and ongoing popularity of this highly scenic landscape.

Opportunities – Engage communities and owners of historic features in celebrating and conserving the historic environment, including developing skills and industry around historic environment conservation and traditional building materials and construction.

Improve public access and visitor facilities to key historic features.

Enhance the setting of historic features as part of landscape- scale projects which integrate multiple landscape objectives.

Establish positive management of woodlands which conserves their archaeology and draws on traditional techniques while also benefitting biodiversity, wood fuel production and carbon storage.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Sense of history
• Sense of place/ inspiration
• Timber provision
• Biodiversity
• Geodiversity
• Recreation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Undeveloped, rural inland plateau
• Undeveloped, intricate and less accessible valleys, rias and estuaries
• Urban greenspace

State – Tranquillity is associated with large areas of the rural inland landscape, with just under 50 per cent of the area classed as undisturbed on the CPRE Intrusion Map (a decline of 25 per cent since the 1960s). Less than 10 per cent of the area is urban. The main areas of low tranquillity are around the main towns of Plymouth, Torquay, Paignton, Kingsbridge, Newton Abbot, Ivybridge and Tavistock as well as around smaller towns. There are also low levels of tranquillity along the main roads, such as the A386 and the A38.

The intimate pastoral landscape and intricate, spectacular coastline still convey a strong sense of tranquillity.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Much of the area remains undeveloped, uncluttered and free from recent development, particularly on the inland plateau and less accessible parts of the coast.

Seasonally, much of the coast and many of the estuaries become a little less tranquil due to the many tourists and visitors to the area.

Opportunities – Increase areas of tranquillity around urban areas through a network of green spaces and routes. Support sustainable transport options to visitor destinations.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Tranquillity
• Sense of place/ inspiration

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• South West Coast Path National Trail
• Public rights of way network
• Rias, estuaries and rivers

State – The NCA offers a network of rights of way totalling 1,000 km at a density of 0.8 km per km2 which includes 140 km of the South West Coast Path National Trail, the Erme-Plym Trail, the Avon Estuary Walk, the Dart Valley Trail, Two Moors Way, Tamar Discovery Trail, the Coast to Coast Cycle Trail and part of the National Cycle Network[1]. Open access land covers 2,500 ha or just over 2 per cent of the NCA, in strong contrast to neighbouring Dartmoor.

The area is also well known for its fishing rivers (salmon and trout), its coastline, characteristic busy ria harbours for sailing and boat trips and popular sandy beaches, as well as the distinctive tourist hubs of Torbay in the east,Plymouth in the west and the southern South Hams villages and coast. Coast and countryside tourism and recreation are significant contributors to the local economy. South Hams district has pioneered green tourism since the 1990s and has the highest concentration of award-holder businesses in the country

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Public rights of way, the rivers, rias and estuaries, beaches and the sea are the main recreational attractions; however, local food and produce, culture and tradition complement and add to the overall experience of the landscape.

Opportunities – Support proposals in the Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Rights of Way Improvement Plans and in the Plymouth area and Torbay Green.

Infrastructure Delivery Plans. Support Green Tourism initiatives.

Water-borne recreation in the rias and estuaries and along the coast can provide close access to natural environment assets, both biodiversity and geodiversity, reducing the need for land-based infrastructure and vehicle movements. Balancing an increasing demand for water-based leisure with any potential resulting disturbance should be given careful consideration.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Tranquillity
• Sense of place/ inspiration

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Internationally and nationally designated sites and habitats

State – International designations cover less than 2 per cent of the area. The Tamar Estuaries Complex is designated as SPA, and there are five SAC; Plymouth Sound and Estuaries; South Devon Shore Dock; South Hams; South Dartmoor Woods; Blackstone Point.

There are two National Nature Reserves; Berry Head and Slapton Ley.

National designations currently cover 2 per cent of the NCA. With a further 6 per cent of the area designated as local wildlife sites. At present the majority of the designated resource is in unfavourable condition but recovering.

A wide range of important species are found throughout the area. Important assemblages of species are also found, reflecting the coastal climate and range of opportunities. Of particular note is the large population of greater horseshoe bat, the range of farmland birds, including a significant number of cirl bunting. Lowland heath and species rich grassland support a wide range of plant species, and a number of uncommon plants. Hay-scented fern and bird’s nest orchid are found in ancient woodland. Cord-grass, common saltmarsh-grass, red fescue, sea aster, sea plantain, sea purslane, are found in and around saltmarsh, and common reed, with lesser reedmace, hemlock water dropwort, yellow iris, great willow-herb, and reed sweet-grass are found in freshwater marsh and coastal freshwater lakes.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Across much of the area many habitats occur in coherent and heterogeneous mosaics.

Improvement in the condition of designated sites (SSSI) is likely to have a positive impact on biodiversity as well as other services. Improvement in the condition of coastal habitats will also assist in the storage of carbon dioxide.

Connectivity of habitats and the current mosaic of habitats are essential to supporting and maintaining the numbers of the more mobile species found in the area (mammals, birds and many invertebrates). Less mobile species (many plants, lichens and mosses, and some invertebrates) will benefit from new and permanent opportunities to extend their current range, particularly in the face of climate change.

Opportunities – Concerted action should be taken to improve the condition of all important sites and habitats. Further action should be taken to increase the area of important habitats where possible, increase the connectivity of sites and habitats, and create more habitats where appropriate and possible.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/ inspiration
• Climate regulation
• Pollination

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• UNESCO English Riviera Global Geopark
• Cliffs, caves and geological exposures
• Coastal geomorphology

State – The range and variety of geology and geodiversity across the area allows for the study and interpretation of earth sciences up to the earliest occupation of the landscape by man. Devonian limestones and sandstones, granite intrusion, faulting, folding and compressive forces can be observed both in the topography of the area and the coastal and inland exposures (cliffs and quarries).

More recent coastal geomorphological features including rias, sand and shingle bars and beaches, are present.

Main beneficiary – National

Analysis – Geodiversity sites and features occur across the area with concentrations and particular features of interest along the coast, including hard rock features and coastal processes. Caves, quarries and fluvial geomorphological sites also feature in the rich range of geodiversity present.

The underlying geology, particularly the red Devonian sandstones and limestone, granite intrusion and subsequent metalliferous mineral deposits, and ball clay have influenced the agriculture, industry, culture and traditions across the area.

Opportunities – Identify and realise opportunities for enhanced access to and recognition and understanding of the internationally important geodiversity across the area.

Maintain natural geomorphological processes, particularly along rivers, estuaries and at the coast that contribute to the regulation of coastal erosion and flooding.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Geodiversity
• Regulating coastal flooding and erosion
• Food provision
• Biodiversity
• Regulating soil quality
• Sense of place/ inspiration
• Sense of history