157 - The Lizard : Detailed Statements of Environmental Opportunity

This section expands on the Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity and provides further detail on each of the Statements of Environmental Opportunity.

SEO 1

SEO 1: Protect and manage the Lizard’s strong sense of history, tranquillity and remoteness, its rich archaeological heritage and retaining the pattern of dispersed settlements, farmsteads and associated field patterns and open moorland.

For example by:

• Maintaining the uncluttered and timeless quality of the network of sunken lanes enclosed by Cornish hedgebanks by, for example, preventing intrusive road engineering works and signage.
• Managing the impact of visitor and tourism-based businesses within the area, for example by resisting further tourism-related development along the A3083, including car parks and caravan sites. Retaining an understanding of the significance of cultural heritage to this industry, and its importance for the local economy.
• Conserving and interpreting archaeological earthworks and sub- surface archaeology, while recognising the high potential for undiscovered remains of prehistoric and later land use and settlement especially across downland and anciently enclosed land.
• Ensuring that future development, particularly associated with settlements, enhances and makes a positive contribution to local character, for example by using local building techniques and materials.
• Instigating a programme of scrub and secondary woodland removal on important historic features to enhance their settings, especially for Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
• Protecting and increasing understanding of the cultural and biodiversity importance of the ancient field systems and Cornish hedgebanks, which along with other forms of connected habitat reflect millennia of changes. They are also important wildlife corridors connecting habitat areas.
• Consider the cumulative impacts of development and land use change on the landscape. It is important that any proposals do not have a detrimental impact on the local character and tranquillity.

SEO 2

SEO 2: Manage, restore and enhance the area’s rich mosaic of rare and endangered wildlife habitats, extending their range where appropriate, while encouraging sustainable agricultural practices which contribute to the soil quality, water quality and habitat condition, as well as to the local economy.

For example by:

• Conserving the moorland, heathland, coastal and rough acid grassland and linking remnant areas of mire, bog and open moorland to strengthen, and expand if appropriate, the valuable habitats in the area.
• Expanding the links provided by semi-natural habitats and Cornish hedgebanks, walls and valley woodlands to form a connected and resilient network of habitat that can allow species and habitats space to adapt to changes in climate.
• Managing, establishing and sustaining appropriate grazing levels on the central plateau and along coastal heath to maintain the existing balance of open habitats, for example by establishing viable populations of hardy livestock breeds suited to the conditions of the landscape and the requirements of the heathland habitat.
• Encouraging sustainable grazing regimes on permanent pasture and rough land, particularly in areas with peaty soils within moorland habitats, thus positively managing the carbon storage capacity of the soils.
• Restoring lost hedges, particularly where they impede water flows within stream valley fields, to help reduce soil erosion, agricultural run-off and enhance water infiltration to prevent flooding.
• Protecting and increasing understanding of the cultural and biodiversity importance of the ancient field systems and Cornish hedgebanks, and how with other forms of interconnected habitats they reflect millennia of change and make biodiversity stepping stones and corridors.
• Discouraging further forestry plantation of conifers on the heathland and promoting removal of existing plantations to allow reversion to previous heathland habitats.
• Managing areas of broadleaved and ancient semi-natural woodland associated with stream valleys and the southern banks of the Helford estuary – reinstating coppice management and undertaking new planting to link fragmented sites thereby increasing adaptation to climate change, helping regulate cross-land flows and providing a community source of wood fuel.
• Continuing to produce high-quality food and supporting farming at a sustainable level with grazing and cultivation regimes that lead to improved soil quality, reduced soil erosion and benefits to biodiversity.
• Encouraging the use of local products, for example locally caught edible crabs and rare breed beef from the heathland, within suitable businesses, for example pubs, restaurants and tourist markets, and ensuring that links are made to the landscape from which the product is sourced.
• Using the existing AONB management plan, the Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative and emerging local and parish plans to ensure that local priorities are better integrated.

SEO 3

SEO 3: Conserve the wealth of geology and geomorphology, the distinctive landscape and settlement character, strong sense of history, high tranquillity levels and views, especially the long coastal views towards the West Penwith area and Dodman Point.

For example by:

• Identifying and realising opportunities to conserve and enhance the outstanding natural beauty of the area in line with the aims and aspirations of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty management plan, for example through the Linking the Lizard project.
• Managing and enhancing nationally important and locally characteristic metamorphic and igneous rocks, including serpentinite, schist, gabbro and granite, for geodiversity, especially the inland outcrops and coastal exposures, and improving access and interpretation where possible.
• Conserving the landscape’s local distinctiveness with its exposed open plateau, spectacular coastline, ancient pasture fields, mixed agriculture and historic mining and fishing settlements, ensuring that it remains in good condition and available for public enjoyment.
• Conserving the cultural heritage, coastal views and undisturbed character of the Lizard, while ensuring that visitor pressure does not have a negative impact.
• Maintaining and enhancing the distinctive settlement pattern of small villages and dispersed and common-edge settlements, and their diverse architectural styles, ensuring that future development recognises and retains the value of the area’s biodiversity, access and heritage and contributes positively to its character.

SEO 4

SEO4: Sustainably manage the visitor pressure associated with this distinctive landscape to ensure that the numerous recreation opportunities such as the South West Coast Path and high-quality beaches continue to be enjoyed by the local community and visitors.

For example by:

• Conserving the cultural heritage, coastal views and undisturbed character of the Lizard to ensure that public enjoyment continues, while also ensuring that visitor pressure does not have a negative impact on its character.
• Maximising the opportunities for visitors and the community to benefit from the inspiration that the area provides for artists, writers and photographers who are drawn by the quality and character, drama and intense light of the landscape and coast.
• Ensuring that the sense of tranquillity is maintained by encouraging only appropriate levels of development in appropriate locations, and ensuring that the traditional character of the small fishing settlements and mining villages is retained through the use of local building materials and styles.
• Promoting the more traditional beach holidays which remain an important component of the recreational and economic opportunities of the area, while ensuring that local heritage assets and character are not eroded.
• Exploring working with partners and organisations that support volunteering in the natural environment which provides opportunities for people to increase their knowledge and understanding of biodiversity while also benefiting habitats and species.
• Educating members of the public and local communities about coastal change and seeking opportunities to reduce pressure on sites most at risk from coastal erosion such as through allowing roll back of the South West Coast Path National Trail.