91 - Yardley-Whittlewood Ridge : Natural Capital and Key Ecosystem Services

Introduction

The Yardley Whittlewood Ridge NCA provides a wide range of benefits to society. Each is derived from the attributes and processes (both natural and cultural features) within the area. These benefits are known collectively as ‘ecosystem services’. The predominant services are summarised below. Further information on ecosystem services provided in the Yardley Whittlewood Ridge NCA is contained in the ‘Analysis’ section of this website.

What is Natural Capital?

Natural capital means “the elements of nature that directly or indirectly produce value to people, including ecosystems, species, freshwater, land, minerals, the air and oceans, as well as natural processes and functions” (Natural Capital Committee, 2017).

It is helpful to consider natural capital in the form of a logic chain that represents the links between ecosystem assets, services, benefits and value to people. The figure below displays that logic chain. The quantity and quality of ecosystem assets (woodland, bogs, etc) support different types of ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration or water filtration. These ecosystem services then provide different benefits to society, providing value for people. The figure also shows how management interventions, as well as pressures and drivers of change, influence this chain. Other capital inputs are also often needed for people to obtain the benefits from ecosystem services (a simple example is the processing of trees to produce wood products).

As an example, an area of woodland (ecosystem asset) may reduce air pollution created by traffic on a nearby road. This woodland is therefore improving air quality (ecosystem service) in the local area which results in cleaner air and improved health in the adjacent residential street (benefit). This cleaner air has a value because we know it impacts the health and wellbeing of communities.

Sometimes for ease of understanding, economic framing is used to give these benefits a monetary value. The figure below shows how natural capital assets support the provision of ecosystem services, benefits and value. The roots of the tree show how aspects of asset quality are critical to the provision of ecosystem services. The roots also show that geodiversity underpins the ecosystem assets and therefore the ecosystem services and benefits they can provide. It is important to remember that this diagram, and natural capital frameworks more generally, are a simplification of how nature works in practice.

Natural Capital within this NCA

In 2018, Natural England published ‘Natural Capital Indicators: for defining and measuring change in natural capital’ (Lusardi et al., 2018). This report identified key properties of the natural environment vital for the long-term sustainability of benefits, which can act as indicators of change.

These indicators are designed to inform our understanding of the state of our natural assets. The indicators highlight the importance of our natural assets for delivering which ecosystem service and the benefits they provide for society. The indicators and datasets identified in Natural England’s Natural Capital Indicators Project provide the foundation for the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles.

Natural England’s Natural Capital Atlas Profiles provide an “off the shelf” natural capital evidence base for each county or city region. They have a wide variety of uses with more information in the How to Start Using Your Natural Capital Atlas.

The Natural Capital indicators are presented on the map below by broad asset theme, displaying the natural capital within the NCA.

It is noted that not all indicators listed within the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles are included within the map as data is not yet available to measure them. Refer to the “Indicator Gaps and Limitations” of the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles for further information.

Natural Capital Atlas Profiles

The following Natural Capital Atlas Profiles cover counties within this NCA:
 

• 1: Bedfordshire
• 3: Buckinghamshire
• 29: Northamptonshire

Provisioning services (food, fibre and water supply)

Food provision: The Ridge is predominantly agricultural in character, supporting mixed, pastoral and arable farming. The majority of the agricultural land is classified as Grade 3. Statistics indicate that there has been a decrease in the farmed area, cropping and number of livestock since 2000 and the area under grass shows a long-term decline. The area is locally important for food production and multiple benefits can be gained by maintaining levels of food production, preserving historic character and enhancing biodiversity, but there are pressures on water and soil quality.

Timber provision: Existing woodland cover in the NCA is high; however, the proportion of conifers is low and much of it dates from the First and Second World Wars and is on ancient woodland sites. Conifer removal is likely to produce a one-off timber resource in the short to medium term. As woodland forms a significant component of the landscape in this NCA, the ongoing restoration of replanted ancient woodland sites would be in keeping with its character and help towards a stimulation of local markets in wood products, timber and fuel over the long term.

Regulating services (water purification, air quality maintenance and climate regulation)

Climate regulation: This NCA has a significant role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide through its mosaic of semi-natural habitats, extensive woodland cover and other permanent land cover; these are important for the sequestration and storage of carbon, especially where woodland is under active management. Despite the low carbon content of the main soil types in the NCA, there is potential for increasing carbon sequestration by increasing the organic matter inputs and by reducing the frequency and/or areas of cultivation.

Cultural services (inspiration, education and wellbeing)

Sense of history: The NCA has a strong sense of history and place created by its well-wooded character, high number of large, well-managed estates, historic country houses and associated parkland landscapes, its settlement patterns and the use of local limestone in village buildings, especially churches. This attracts many visitors and provides numerous recreational and educational opportunities.

Recreation: Recreation is a significant service in the NCA. It is generally low key and predominantly associated with the parkland and woodland sites such as Salcey and Whittlewood forests. The area has a good network of rights of way and offers a diverse range of recreational opportunities both formal and informal. This attracts visitors from surrounding urban areas and further afield as well as offering local residents opportunities to enjoy green spaces near where they live. Visits support the local economy, help improve people’s understanding and appreciation of the NCA’s key attributes and promote their health and wellbeing.

Biodiversity: Although only a small proportion of the NCA is designated as an SSSI for its biodiversity interest, the Ridge contains a diverse range and extensive network of semi-natural habitats of principal importance, including lowland mixed deciduous woodland, wood pasture and parkland, hedgerows, veteran trees, lowland meadow, flood plain grazing marsh, fen and reedbed. These habitats support a range of uncommon and scarce species especially associated with woodland habitats, such as white admiral and wood white butterflies, dormouse, barbastelle and noctule bats, bullfinch, numerous scarce moths and specialist beetles of mature trees.