91 - Yardley-Whittlewood Ridge : Analysis: Ecosystem Services

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Arable, mixed and pastoral farming
• Soils

State – The Ridge is predominantly agricultural in character supporting mixed, pastoral and arable farming (mostly cereals with some field beans, peas and maize). Statistics indicate that there has been a decrease in the farmed area, cropping and number of livestock since 2000. The area under grass generally shows a long term decline.

69 per cent of the agricultural land was classified as Grade 3 under the Provisional ALC Survey, 13 per cent Grade 2 and 11 per cent Grade 4. The underlying geology gives rise to variable soils that historically have dictated where cultivation has taken place.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The mixed pastoral and arable landscape is important for food production and the farmed landscape is likely to be influenced by changes in the market. Multiple benefits gained in terms of maintaining levels of food production, preserving historic character and enhancing biodiversity exist, but there are pressures on water and soil quality.

The low grade soils particularly the heavy less permeable clays on the east and west sides of the ridge have constrained agricultural development so that much of the area remains wooded.

Climate change could lead to increased demand for water, soil erosion, drought stress on crops and potential threats arising from new pest species and crop and livestock diseases.

Temperature changes could affect the timing of planting and harvesting crops.

Opportunities – Work with farmers to ensure the long- term viability of the soil to support the production of food and the agriculture industry.

Encourage farmers to use techniques such as establishing break crops to manage land and protect soil.

Work with local , land managers to promote best practice through agri-environment schemes, such as the establishment of buffer strips and margins, and the appropriate management of hedgerows to promote biodiversity, address soil erosion and improve soil and water quality to continue the important service of food provision by sustainable means.

Secure opportunities to encourage sustainable farming practices to enhance biodiversity and improve soil and water quality by for example reducing the use of herbicides and pesticides, buffering field margins, and retaining winter stubble.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Food provision
• Biodiversity
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Lowland mixed deciduous woodland
• Conifer plantations
• Soils

State – The NCA contains a high proportion of woodland 3,858 ha or 11 per cent and a high percentage of ancient woodland.

Many of the larger blocks are owned and managed by the Forestry Commission who are extracting some timber commercially, but also restoring areas previously replanted with conifers for biodiversity and landscape benefit.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Existing woodland cover is high, however the proportion of conifer is low at 2 per cent. Much of the conifer is on ancient woodland sites, which means this is likely to be a one off resource as the conifers are removed.

There is scope for low grade woodland products in the short to medium term and higher value timber production long term with active woodland management. Increases in timber production need careful consideration against the impacts on food production, landscape and biodiversity. Benefits include increased biodiversity and carbon sequestration, improvements in water and soil quality, reduced soil erosion and stimulating local markets in wood products and fuel.

With climate change the species composition of woodlands may change affecting timber production over time; however production is likely to continue. New pests and diseases may be a potential threat.

Opportunities – Promote the management of existing woodlands and the replacing of introduced species with native species, as well as undertaking new woodland planting where appropriate that can enhance the biodiversity and recreational value of the woodland along with benefits for water quality, soil erosion and adaptation to climate change.

Link, and expand woodland areas to improve habitat connectivity.

Stimulate local markets for wood products, biomass and wood fuel to support sustainable timber production.

Explore opportunities to bring unmanaged woodland into management and promote the benefits for biodiversity, landscape and contribution to climate regulation.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Timber Provision
• Biodiversity
• Climate regulation
• Biomass energy
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil quality
• Recreation
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Rivers Til, Tove, Great Ouse and Kym
• Aquifer
• Grand Union Canal

State – The main watercourses are the rivers Til, Tove, Great Ouse and Kym.

In the western part of the NCA lies an aquifer under the Oolite limestone strata. Water from the rivers and aquifer is abstracted for public water supply, agricultural, horticultural and industrial use.

The Grand Union Canal dissects the NCA at Stoke Bruerne within the River Tove valley and relies on some water abstraction to maintain water levels.

The status of the groundwater resources within the Oolite aquifer is ‘restricted’ and linked to the areas surface water availability status which is also ‘restricted’.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Water availability both surface and ground water within the NCA is considered to be restricted with measures in place to monitor abstraction rates. The quantity of water available from the confined Oolite aquifer diminishes the further away abstraction is located from the valley of the River Great Ouse.

Any new development is likely to put additional pressure on local water resources with applications for abstraction considered on their merits.

Abstraction from the Tove and the Great Ouse to the Grand Union Canal near Stoke Bruerne is permitted and already monitored carefully.

Changes in climate are likely to impact on water resources and the riparian habitats of the NCA. Water shortages may lead to changes in species composition and habitat succession. Reduced river flows due to low rainfall and drought, could lead to reduced water quality, with diffuse pollution becoming more of an issue.

Increased demand for water from agriculture could increase pressure for irrigation and also impact on water quality. Flood risk at certain times of the year may impact on biodiversity and water quality.

Opportunities – Promote the sustainable use of local water resources by commercial and domestic users to reduce the pressure on water resources in this NCA.

Monitor and manage water abstraction licences with new applications for groundwater abstraction considered on a case- by-case basis to reduce the pressure on the aquifer.

Incorporate and encourage the use of water efficiency measures in new developments.

Encourage the extension and improved connectivity of semi natural habitats especially riparian habitats to increase resilience to water shortages and to help regulate water flows by slowing down the passage of water, adding storage capacity to the catchment, or feeding water to the aquifer.

Encourage the strengthening of hedgerows particularly across steeper slopes and creation of grassland to help to slow the flow of water from the land and reduce run-off.

Support measures to maintain and improve soil structure to increase permeability and water retention by the soil.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Water availability
• Regulating water flow
• Climate regulation
• Biodiversity
• Food production

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Energy crops
• Existing deciduous woodland
• Conifer plantations

State – There is limited biomass provision in the NCA at present, but potential for energy crops such as miscanthus or short rotation coppice (SRC) exists. Miscanthus has been planted on a small scale on the south-western side of NCA.

The existing high proportion of woodland cover that includes extensive blocks of oak/ash woodland supplemented by tracts of more recent conifer plantations has potential to support the production of biomass.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Opportunities exist for sensitive energy crop planting with either miscanthus or short rotation coppice (SRC). Potential yields for SRC are generally medium, although there are areas with high SRC potential to the east of Radstone and Hartwell and around Yardley Hastings. The potential miscanthus yield in the NCA is generally high in the north-east of the NCA (Yardley Hastings to Rushden) and medium in the south- west of the NCA. This has the potential to aid climate regulation and help regulate soil quality and erosion, but would need careful siting to avoid landscape and biodiversity impacts.

Biomass from woodland brought back under management and as a by-product of commercial timber production has the potential to bring biodiversity and landscape benefits, aid climate regulation and soil erosion and stimulate local markets in wood products.

Opportunities – Encourage, where suitable short rotation coppice and miscanthus, ensuring this does not have an impact on historical assets or the open, expansive nature of views from the ridge.

Seek opportunities to develop biomass production through active woodland management for example through coppicing or as a by-product of commercial timber operations.

Stimulate local markets for biomass and wood fuel to support sustainable woodland management.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biomass energy
• Climate regulation
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating soil quality
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodland – deciduous and coniferous, lowland wood pasture and parkland
• Hedgerows
• Semi natural grassland – unimproved and semi-improved
• Underlying limestone geology
• Soils

State – 11 per cent of the NCA is wooded.

The mosaic of semi-natural habitats, in particular woodland, wood pasture and parkland, grassland, and hedgerows act as a carbon store and the limestone geology also acts as a carbon store which was locked into the rock on formation.

The main soil types of the NCA are mineral soils with a low carbon content (0-5 per cent).

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The wooded nature of the NCA lends itself well to a role in the sequestration and storage of carbon especially where woodland is under active management, which would also benefit biodiversity and potentially biomass energy.

There are also other semi natural habitats present, grassland and hedgerows, that offer opportunities to store carbon and for increasing the storage of carbon if strengthened. Permanent grassland retains carbon, an increased proportion of which would be released through microbial action if the soil was ploughed and exposed to the air.

Despite the carbon content of the main soil types in this NCA being low there may be potential for increasing carbon sequestration by increasing the organic matter inputs and by reducing the frequency and or area of cultivation.

Opportunities – Maintain levels of carbon sequestration through sustainably managing the extensive woodland.

Actively manage woodland for multiple benefits as well as for climate regulation and promote biomass energy from forestry operations.

Maintain the hedgerow network, wood pasture and parkland, which store carbon both through the trees themselves and the permanent grassland beneath.

Extend where possible and improve the condition of semi natural habitats through management to increase their capacity to sequester carbon.

Encourage the maintenance of permanent pasture to increase soil carbon storage, with a subsequent improvement in soil quality.

Encourage sustainable farming practices to support carbon storage of soils for example by reducing ploughing, increasing soil organic matter to help carbon storage/retention where appropriate as well as the drought tolerance of crops.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Climate regulation
• Biodiversity
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Biomass energy

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Underlying limestone geology
• Soils
• Aquifer
• Woodland
• Semi-natural habitats including flood plain grazing marsh, reedbed and hedgerows
• Rivers Til, Tove, Great Ouse and Kym

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 – Local

Analysis – Groundwater quality in the NCA is affected by the leaching of agricultural products into the aquifer. Management measures can help reduce the impact on water quality.

The whole of the NCA area is a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). Surface water quality improvements gained by reducing sediment, nutrient and run- off from agricultural land as well as controlling damage caused to the soil by vehicles or stock.

Semi-natural habitats such as woodland, hedgerows and grassland as well as reedbed have the potential to filter out pollutants and sediment. This ability could be greatly
strengthened by linking or expanding existing fragmented habitat.

Climate change may bring drier summers leading to lower water levels and a concentration of pollutants. Flooding can introduce silt and other contaminants to watercourses. Increased run-off following intense rainfall may result in nitrate pollution of water supplies.

Opportunities – Encourage land owners and managers to increase and link areas of semi-natural habitat such as flood plain grazing marsh and reedbed to help slow water passage and filter out pollutants.

Work to reduce surface and groundwater pollution at a catchment scale by managing farmland under the principles established by Catchment Sensitive Farming Project.

Improve the soil structure through increasing organic matter, reducing compaction and promoting sustainable management to minimise the loss of sediments.

Where possible expand buffer strips along watercourses to help filter sediments and pollution and provide benefits for biodiversity.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Woodland
• Semi-natural habitats including grassland and hedgerows
• Rivers Til, Tove, Great Ouse and Kym

State – Many of the soils in this NCA have a degree of impeded drainage.

There is a high proportion of woodland cover and other semi-natural habitats that help intercept rainfall and regulate run-off.

The majority of the NCA is within the River Great Ouse Catchment. It is quite rural so there is not a major risk of flooding to settlements. However, Towcester, located in the south- west of the NCA, is at risk of flooding from the River Tove. There is a flood storage reservoir upstream of the town and flood defences have been constructed which currently help to reduce the flood risk. The preferred approach to assess the flood risk and to continue with the current flood risk management and maintenance activities.

The approach to managing flood risk in the rest of the NCA is to use the undeveloped flood plain to store flood water. This will reduce flood risk to settlements downstream. Maintenance work on rivers will increase the capacity of the flood plain to retain water also bringing benefit to the river environment and wetland habitats (Great Ouse Flood Management Plan: Summary Report, Environment Agency, 2011).

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The soils are variable and shallow ranging from a free-draining chalky till to less permeable clay. Of the four main types many have a degree of impeded drainage which can lead to run-off especially if soils are damaged or compacted. The east and west sides of the ridge have particularly heavy clay soils and soils in the river valley are generally more waterlogged.

The extensive woodland cover, mosaic of grassland, strong network of hedgerows and other semi-natural habitats present help with the interception of water reducing run-off and minimising soil erosion.

Changes in climate with more rainfall in winter and intense rainfall in summers could exacerbate flood risk. Development pressures in the NCA and particularly around Towcester may also impact on flood risk and the need for additional management.

The River Great Ouse catchment is known for its quick response during periods of heavy rainfall therefore measures taken in this NCA will help to regulate and manage flows further downstream in other NCAs.

Opportunities – Work with land owners and managers to encourage good soil management to reduce poaching and compaction.

Manage vegetation within the catchment to help to bind the soil reducing the risk of erosion and slowing the passage of water.

Increase the current flood storage capacity by creating or increasing areas of flood plain grazing marsh reedbeds, concentrating on areas at risk.

Seek opportunities to extend and link areas of woodland, hedgerow, grassland and other semi- natural habitats to assist in absorbing water flow and provide benefits for biodiversity.

Seek opportunities to increase the capacity of the flood plain, conserve and extend riparian habitats to retain water and bring benefit to the river environment.

Promote green infrastructure within urban areas to help mitigate the impact of flooding.

Encourage the use of sustainable drainage schemes (SuDS) such as permeable surfacing especially within urban areas to help reduce run-off.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Broadleaved woodland
• Semi-natural habitats

State – There are four main soil types in this NCA:

• Slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid, but base-rich loamy and clayey soils, covering 42 per cent of the area;
• Lime-rich loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage (41 per cent);
• Freely draining lime-rich loamy soils (12 per cent);
• Slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage (3 per cent).

The slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid, but base-rich loamy and clayey soils suffer compaction and are easily damaged when wet. This leads to poor water infiltration and diffuse pollution as a result of surface water run-off.

The lime-rich loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage have some natural resilience and enhanced workability. Soils are also at risk of topsoil compaction and poaching.

The freely draining lime-rich loamy soils are typically shallow and droughty, but have a degree of natural resilience and are valuable for groundwater recharge.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Measures that help to maintain a good soil structure both through management measures that build up soil organic matter levels and the use of minimum tillage such as direct drilling will help improve soil quality, as well as reducing soil erosion and contributing to sustainable agriculture.

Maintaining good structural conditions will aid water infiltration, aquifer recharge and prevent pollution of groundwater. There is the potential to increase organic matter content by management interventions.

The amount of semi-natural habitat and tree cover in this NCA means that much of the soil is maintained in good condition. However, where the soil is under agricultural use, maintaining and improving the soil quality will safeguard and retain productive food provision in the long term and increase the soils resilience to climatic change and extreme weather events.

Opportunities – Promote management techniques that prevent compaction and improve water infiltration such as the careful use of machinery and careful management of grazing.

Add organic matter where appropriate to improve the soil structure.

Promote the minimal use of till age operations where possible.

Encourage the use of crops which break up the soil such as rape or beans.

Promote best practice grazing regimes to reduce localised compaction and erosion of soils.

Promote cultivation with soils in mind – adopting Defra’s Code of good agricultural practice (2009) and the Environment Agency’s Think soils initiative (2008) to avoid soil compaction and maintain good soil structures.

Increase where possible the areas under woodland or permanent vegetation to stabilise the soil, increase quality with organic matter and soil fauna.

Manage localised compaction and erosion in areas of high recreational pressure for example within forested areas and along green lanes.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Woodland
• Semi-natural habitats (grassland, strong hedgerow network)

State – Just over half the soils found in this NCA are at risk of erosion.

Soils most at risk of erosion are the lime- rich loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage (41 per cent of the NCA area) and the slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage (3 per cent). These are easily compacted by machinery or livestock increasing the risks of soil erosion by surface water run-off, especially on slightly steeper slopes.

By contrast the slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid, but base-rich loamy and clayey soils (42 per cent) are at low risk of soil erosion.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Employing management measures will improve soil structure in areas most at risk on the edge of the ridge, help increase water infiltration (aiding aquifer recharge) and reduce the risk of erosion. The potential for soil erosion is exacerbated where organic matter levels are low after repeated and frequent arable cultivation, or where soils are compacted.

Increasing the areas of semi-natural habitat for example extending hedgerows, establishing grassland, planting more woodland is likely to help to bind the soils together; aid water penetration reducing erosion and improving quality by incorporating organic matter may help.

Opportunities Extend if possible the semi-natural vegetation cover on the steeper sides of the ridge by planting more woodland or buffering hedgerows to help increase the organic matter content of soils, reduce run off and erosion improving biodiversity, and helping to regulate water quality and flow.

Sustainably manage agricultural land to reduce soil erosion, for example through types of crop rotations, use of machinery and timing of cropping.

Work with farmers and landowners to choose options within agri-environment schemes or adopt best practice that will help to regulate soil erosion.

Manage localised compaction and erosion in areas of high recreational pressure for example within forested areas such as Salcey and Whittlewood and along green lanes in north Bedfordshire

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Unimproved and semi- improved grassland
• Road verges, green lanes and field margins
• Hedgerows

State – The area of flood plain grazing marsh, lowland calcareous grassland and lowland meadow in the NCA is small (224 ha). However, there are some remaining examples of species rich unimproved lowland meadows, designated as SSSI that, support rich assemblages of species including green winged orchids. Semi-improved and unimproved grassland also occurs as discrete agricultural fields, along woodland rides, roadside verges and green lanes.

The hedgerows are mature, species-rich and often bounded by field margins or wide species-rich road verges.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The grassland and hedgerows provide good corridors and habitats for pollinators. The appropriate management of these habitats to create a diverse structure provide the best sources and networks for pollinating invertebrates to move through the landscape.

Maintaining a healthy population of pollinators is important for food provision as well as biodiversity. Oil seed rape, beans and small areas of fruit are grown in the NCA and need insects for pollination.

Encouraging the provision of flower-rich grasslands/pasture, field margins and headlands through agri-environment schemes will be of great benefit to many pollinating insects including bumblebees.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to restore, recreate and manage areas for pollinators, for example by promoting agri environment options with pollen and nectar mixes.

Manage the mosaic of woodland and semi-natural habitats including road verges and green lanes to provide structural diversity and a variety of flowering plants that can provide breeding sites and a food source for pollinators.

Manage hedgerows to maintain a diverse range of flowering species, hedge age and structure.

Manage field margins and improve habitat connectivity in the landscape.

Encourage the minimum use of herbicides and pesticides to minimise impacts on pollinators.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Pollination
• Biodiversity
• Food production
• Pest regulation
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Unimproved and semi- improved grassland
• Road verges, green lanes and field margins
• Hedgerows
• Woodland and trees

State – The mosaic of semi-natural habitat in the NCA supports a variety of predatory species, such as beetles, which can contribute to the regulation of populations of pests.

Ancient, semi-natural woodland, wood pasture and parkland containing ancient and veteran trees especially support many deadwood specialist invertebrates.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The NCA provides a wide range of habitats for species that contribute to the regulation of pests. Fragmentation and breaks in the network and connectivity of habitats may limit the movement and effectiveness of predatory species.

Opportunities – Enhance and expand the network of semi-natural habitats particularly hedgerows, grasslands along road verges, green lanes and field margins that aid the movement of predatory species through the landscape and bring benefits for pest regulation, as well as pollination and biodiversity.

Encourage the use of field margins, beetle banks and headlands in arable land to encourage pest regulating species.

Conserve and manage ancient and veteran trees for the benefit of fauna (such as invertebrates dependent on dead or decaying wood).

Improve the condition of semi- natural habitats and where possible seek to expand them to provide a range of niches to support pest regulating species.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Elevation above surrounding claylands
• Pastoral, mixed and arable farming
• Medium sized fields bounded by hedgerows
• Hedgerow trees
• Wide species rich road verges
• Mature broadleaved woodland
• Sparsely populated area with small rural villages
• Large historic houses and designed landscapes
• Locally quarried limestone used in buildings especially churches
• William Cowper – poet

State – Sense of place is provided by the broad, low limestone ridge elevated above the adjacent claylands which forms a low watershed between the River Nene and Great Ouse catchments.

Pastoral farming on higher ground to the west gives way to arable on lower ground to the east, with medium sized fields, mature species-rich hedgerows and hedgerow oaks, many of which are now stag headed. Numerous minor roads with species rich grass verges.

The distinctive nature of the area originates from its history as a series of Royal Forests from the 13th century that reflect the generally poor nature of the underlying soils. Remnants of these extensive woodlands remain at Salcey Forest, Yardley Chase and Whittlewood.

Significant parklands associated with large country houses and estates add to the historic feel of the landscape.

Population is sparse with only a few hamlets and villages largely sited along the edge of the ridge.

Locally quarried limestone has been used in local buildings especially churches adding to sense of place.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – A sense of inspiration is likely to be associated with the wooded landscape providing strong contrasting colours between conifer and deciduous woodland and framing strategic long distance views over the surrounding landscape and creating a sense of expansiveness, although these views are sometimes interrupted by blocks of woodland.

Pressure on the distinctiveness of the area and its sense of place comes from expanding urban areas at the periphery, and from increased infrastructure development. Promoting and maintaining the character of the ridge will help integrate new development into the existing landscape.

Managing and promoting locally distinctive features such as the forests, historic houses and association with the poet William Cowper is likely to increase the sense of place and has the potential to increase the attractiveness of the area to visitors. Conserving and enhancing the distinct landscape character is likely to benefit biodiversity

Opportunities – Maintain and manage strategic views across the surrounding countryside to improve legibility of the ridge.

Protect and enhance the key landscape attributes such as woodland, hedgerows, parkland that helps to define landscape character.

Prevent inappropriate development and promote the use of local building stone to maintain character of villages and historic buildings.

Maintain where possible the current nucleated settlement pattern of villages along the forest and ridge edges.

Offer high quality interpretation at key sites, and provide opportunities for education about the key attributes of the area.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Historic Royal hunting forest
• Listed buildings
• Scheduled ancient monuments
• Large historic houses, designed landscapes and parkland
• Settlement pattern and use of locally quarried limestone
• Grand Union Canal, Canal Museum and nearby Blisworth Tunnel
• Yardley Chase World War bunkers

State – The NCA has 8 Registered Parks and Gardens covering 991 ha, 11 Scheduled Ancient Monuments and 464 Listed Buildings.

History of the landscape stems from the establishment of Royal Hunting Forests in the 13th century, the high number of large well managed estates, historic country houses and associated parkland landscapes. Linked with this wooded landscape is a nucleated settlement pattern of small ‘forest’ villages.

Building materials are distinctive and varied and include local limestone.

The Grand Union Canal cuts north-south through the ridgeline.

Yardley Chase has a history of military use.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Maintaining, conserving and enhancing the sense of history provided by the key attributes of the NCA in particular the forest, parkland, historic features and designed landscapes, through increased interpretation and opportunities has the potential to increase the service. This may lead to increased recreation and tourism in the area which would require careful management to ensure this it is sustainable and does not have a negative impact on the assets themselves. The reinforced sense of history could contribute strongly to sense of place in the landscape.

Opportunities – Encourage the restoration and sustainable management of woodland and historic parklands.

Protect historic sites and features, such as ‘forest lawns’, woodbanks and boundaries, and moated sites.

Use where possible agri- environment agreements to protect historic farmsteads, buildings and other features such as ridge and furrow.

Restrict inappropriate development to help maintain character and promote the use of local building materials.

Promote the restoration and good management of historic buildings especially those that are listed and ‘at risk’.

Encourage greater awareness of the area’s heritage by improving access to heritage assets and promoting appreciation of their local distinctiveness.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Sense of history
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Recreation
• Climate regulation
• Geodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodland
• Parkland
• Minor road network and rural villages

State – Tranquillity has declined significantly; undisturbed areas have decreased from 80 per cent in the 1960s to 48 per cent in 2007, primarily due to the development of redundant airfields now used as racetracks – Silverstone and Santa Pod.

The largest areas of tranquillity lie away from the main road and rail transport corridors that cross the ridge.

The strongest sense of tranquillity is particularly associated with the extensive woodland cover and parklands of the NCA.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – Despite the dramatic decline in tranquillity many parts of the NCA retain a feeling of remoteness, especially in the well wooded areas.

Increasing tranquillity through expanding areas of woodland could increase biodiversity, enhance a sense of place and the settings of the numerous heritage assets

Opportunities – Enhance the wooded peripheries of the settlements and increase tree planting where appropriate around new developments to help filter noise and light pollution and enhance ‘undisturbed’ views from the surrounding countryside.

Work with local planning authorities to ensure that development is appropriately designed to minimise the impacts of noise and light pollution.

Protect elevated views which provide a sense of connection with the surrounding natural environment.

Prevent inappropriate development and promote the use of design statements to retain the character of local historic buildings of villages.

Seek opportunities to protect the tranquil character of the area to prevent intrusion in particular light and noise pollution and remove obtrusive features such as signage, lighting and poles.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Woodland
• Historic houses, estates and associated designed landscapes
• Rights-of-way network
• National Cycle Routes
• Race tracks
• Grand Union Canal, Canal Museum and nearby Blisworth Tunnel

State – Recreational opportunities are primarily associated with parklands and woodland sites for example Salcey Forest offers opportunities to view a range of wildlife and has a Tree Top Way. The historical interest and the numerous informal recreational and access facilities such as Castle Ashby, the Grand Union Canal, the Canal Museum and nearby Blisworth Tunnel means this is a landscape popular for recreational and education purposes.

Recreation is supported by the area’s 585 km rights of way network (with a density of 1.7km per km2).

There are two National Cycle Routes that pass through the area (Route 6 and 5).

Facilities catering for occasional large numbers of visitors include Silverstone and Santa Pod racetracks.

Other recreational facilities like golf courses, parks and museums bring a more suburban feel into parts of the NCA.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Recreation is a significant service in the NCA; is generally low key and associated with the
parkland and woodland sites such as Salcey and Whittlewood forests.

With increased development pressures it is likely that demand for leisure and recreation will increase with subsequent pressures on biodiversity, soil and water quality. Opportunities exist to cater for increased demand without significant effects on other services so long as the assets are well managed for both biodiversity and recreation. Managing potential conflicts between users of the area will be needed.

Opportunities – Conserve and enhance historic and designed landscapes, and provide improved interpretation and educational opportunities to increase people’s understanding and enjoyment.

Ensure that any new developments incorporate well designed green infrastructure, to include improved access and recreation opportunities for local communities and visitors.

Maintain, extend and promote the use of the rights of way network.

Manage visitor pressure and demand at key sites to ensure that demand can be accommodated without conflict between different users, and without causing adverse effects on the natural environment.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Recreation
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Sense of history
• Sense of tranquillity
• Biodiversity
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Geodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Habitats and species of principal importance
• SSSI

State – Just 3 per cent of the NCA is designated nationally for its biodiversity interest. There are 10 SSSI wholly or partly within the area totalling 1,045 ha.

There are 98 Local Sites totalling 2,622 ha or 8 per cent of the NCA.

There is over 2,759 ha of priority habitats within the NCA including 2,514 ha of lowland mixed deciduous woodland, 199 ha of coastal and flood plain grazing marsh, 21 ha fen, 14 ha lowland calcareous grassland and 11 ha lowland meadow. Other priority habitats include purple moor grass and rush pasture, reedbed and lowland heathland.

The diverse variety of semi-natural habitats support a range of rare species many associated with woodland edge habitats including butterflies such as white admiral and wood white, dormouse, barbastelle and noctule bats, and numerous scarce moths and specialist beetles

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – As a result of its geology, soils and history a large proportion of ancient woodland remains, which is highly biodiverse. Many of these sites are designated as SSSI. They support interesting ground flora, important populations of breeding birds, and a number of priority species such as dormouse, barbastelle and noctule bat, bullfinch and woodland butterflies and moths.

Ancient trees and parklands are particularly important for a wide range of specialist beetles especially those of deadwood. The arable areas are important for farmland birds such as the turtle dove. The ponds of Yardley Chase are important for great crested and palmate newts.

Over-browsing by deer is having a damaging impact on the woodland understory and the associated biodiversity such as woodland birds.

Hedgerows, road verges and green lanes serve as important links between patches of woodland providing a valuable ecological network.

There are only fragments of unimproved grassland left, however they support a rich diversity of wildflowers and scarce species such as the green winged orchid.

Riparian habitats are restricted to the river valleys yet provide valuable habitat connectivity within the landscape.

With climate change woodland in particular will have a key role in regulating the climate helping to store carbon especially if under active management, intercept water helping to recharge groundwater and filter pollutants improving water quality. The management and extension of semi-natural habitats within the NCA will bring benefits for soil and water quality, climate regulation and recreation.

Opportunities – Ensure areas of designated land remain in favourable condition and improve the condition where possible.

Promote awareness of and provide advice to landowners on managing habitats of biodiversity interest.

Ensure that semi-natural habitats are managed in away which will maintain and enhance their wildlife interest.

Actively manage hazel coppice within woodlands and hedgerows for dormice.

Maintain, manage and protect the network of roosts, hibernacula, flight lines and feeding grounds of bats, in particular Noctule and Barbastelle bats.

Encourage the appropriate management of ponds in Yardley Chase known to be important for great crested and palmate newts.

Ensure that populations of deer are managed to reduce the damage caused to the natural regeneration of the woodland when numbers are too high.

Control invasive non-native species to prevent or reduce damage to native species populations and habitats, for example control the spread of Himalayan balsam along the River Kym and implement biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of species such as Dikerogammarus villosus, an invasive freshwater shrimp.

Secure opportunities to protect and improve the geomorphology of the rivers, for example the River Tove and increase in stream habitat to support key species.

Conserve ancient and veteran trees for the benefit of fauna(such as invertebrates dependant on dead or decayingwood) and flora especially lower plants that depend upon them; and for their heritage value and contribution to a sense of place. Plan for the provision of veteran trees of the future.

Increase the connectivity of fragmented semi-natural habitats where possible seek to link and extend them to strengthen their resilience.

Secure opportunities to encourage sustainable farming practices to enhance biodiversity for example reducing the use of herbicides and pesticides, buffering field margins, and retaining winter stubble to support farmland birds and pollinators.

Ensure that water abstraction and poor water quality does not threaten important wetland habitats.

Manage visitor pressure and demand at key sites to ensure that demand can be accommodated without causing adverse effects on the natural environment, such as disturbing sensitive habitats or species.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/inspiration
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating soil erosion
• Recreation
• Tranquillity
• Climate regulation
• Geodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Limestone used in buildings
• Elevation above surrounding claylands
• Soils

State – Locally quarried limestone is a commonly used building material particularly in churches giving a strong sense of place. A number of attractive limestone villages with a unified built character exist within the NCA.

There are no nationally designated geological sites in the NCA and only 1 Local site at Bozeat Quarry (a non-statutory designation). The underlying limestone geology provides elevation over the adjacent lower lying claylands and good views of the surrounding countryside.

The underlying geology gives rise to variable soils that historically have dictated where agricultural development has taken place so that much of the area remains wooded.

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis – The underlying geology and soils help to give the Yardley Whittlewood Ridge a strong sense of place and history due to the influence it has had on drainage, land use and settlement patterns. Opportunities exist to promote this through the recreational and educational opportunities afforded by the geodiversity of the Ridge.

Exposures of geodiversity especially those designated locally as a Local Site and those within the Tove river valley are important for the geology and geological processes they reveal

Opportunities – Ensure that new development is in keeping with the character of the area by using local stone in buildings enhance senses of place and history.

Maintain and manage strategic views from the Ridge across the surrounding countryside to improve its legibility.

Promote awareness and understanding of the area’s Geodiversity heritage and the impact it has on the landscape.

Secure opportunities to maintain views of and access to geological features and exposures where appropriate, improving access to cuttings, quarries and other exposures of geological features for increased understanding and enjoyment of geodiversity.

Principal services offered by opportunities –

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