21 - Yorkshire Dales : Analysis: Ecosystem Services

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service –

• Soils
• Semi-natural habitats (grassland and moorland)
• Water courses
• Livestock (meat and dairy)
• Soils – poor grade

State – 70,000 cattle (beef and dairy) and 778,000 sheep. 73 per cent of the land is Agricultural Grade 5.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Livestock farming is an important activity in the area, contributing to employment, economy and maintenance of rare habitats.

Poor soils, topography and the harsh climate give very little opportunity for growing arable crops. Almost 73 per cent of the NCA is grade 5 with over 23 per cent grade 4.

Various projects and schemes have given support to traditional livestock production in the area, to secure a range of benefits. A large proportion of land has been in agri- environment schemes since the late 1980s. The Limestone Country project, from 2002- 2007, encouraged local farmers to graze with traditional cattle breeds rather than sheep, to benefit grassland flowers and helped farmers market the beef as a premium food product. A few entrepreneurs market value-added products locally, but it is not a widespread phenomenon.

Small quantities of dairy produce are still produced in the area, some of which are well-recognised and sold around the UK (such as Wensleydale cheese). Ongoing economic pressure is causing a continued reduction in the number of dairy farms, with small farms in particular going out of business. Other livestock farms are undergoing a period of amalgamation and loss of small units, as well as loss of manpower to carry out more labour intensive traditional practices such as shepherding and hay making.

Traditional breeds have increased in popularity in 21st century, particularly cattle breeds.

The NCA has several local traditional breeds including Swaledale, Wensleydale and Masham sheep.

The economic performance and financial viability of livestock businesses are to a large extent dictated by market prices for breeding sheep stock and store cattle.

Agri-environment schemes have comprised a significant proportion of farm income in the area, and any reduction in future funding could hit the farming sector in this NCA harder than most.

There is a small industry of heather honey production, by beekeepers who bring hives up to the heather moorland. This could be encouraged further particularly in view of current declines in bee numbers.

Opportunities – Ensure that future agri-environment schemes are used to best effect to preserve the wildlife-rich habitats and traditional skills associated with meat and dairy production.

Support farmers in promoting the environmental value and high quality of meat and dairy products from traditional systems, emphasising the special qualities of the area.

Promote the use of new technology and best practice, to increase food production and farm profitability while reducing/avoiding potential detrimental impacts on the local environment.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• High levels of precipitation due to topography
• Geology
• Soils
• Semi-natural habitats
• Water courses

State – The NCA has 10 reservoirs. It has few natural lakes, with the exception of Malham Tarn, Birkdale Tarn and Semerwater.

Within the NCA a series of vast upland catchments drain into a number of major rivers (Wharfe, Ure, Nidd, Ribble, Swale, Aire and Skirfare).

The NCA has 2 minor aquifers: Carboniferous Limestone and Millstone Grit aquifers.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The NCA receives high levels of rainfall due to its location and topography. It forms the headwaters for many major rivers and the site of two minor aquifers. The large extent of semi-natural habitats allows for good overall rainwater retention and increases opportunity for groundwater recharge.

The rivers Ure and Nidd, as well as the underlying Carboniferous Limestone and Millstone Grit aquifers, are classified as ‘no water available’ for additional licensed abstraction, in order to protect flow levels downstream at York (Swale, Ure, Nidd and Upper Ouse Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy, Environment Agency, 2004).

The River Washburn (only the upper reaches of which lie within the NCA) is assessed as having water available, but has been overridden as ‘no water available’ to maintain flows for downstream abstraction. The River Wharfe is ‘over licensed’ within the NCA (Wharfe and Lower Ouse Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy, Environment Agency, 2005).

The River Aire catchment is classified as ‘water available’, including from underlying Carboniferous Limestone (Aire and Calder Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy, Environment Agency, 2007).

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to restore other habitats which are effective at retaining water, such as wet woodland, wet grassland, flushes and mires.

Promote good farming practice to improve the structure of agricultural soils, thereby improving infiltration of rainwater and reducing surface flow.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• High levels of precipitation due to topography
• Geology
• Soils
• Semi-natural habitats
• Water courses

State –

The NCA has 10 reservoirs. It has few natural lakes, with the exception of Malham Tarn, Birkdale Tarn and Semerwater.

Within the NCA a series of vast upland catchments drain into a number of major rivers (Wharfe, Ure, Nidd, Ribble, Swale, Aire and Skirfare.

The NCA has 2 minor aquifers: Carboniferous Limestone and Millstone Grit aquifers.

Main beneficiary: Regional

Analysis -The NCA receives high levels of rainfall due to its location and topography. It forms the headwaters for many major rivers and the site of two minor aquifers. The large extent of semi-natural habitats allows for good overall rainwater retention and increases opportunity for groundwater recharge.

The rivers Ure and Nidd, as well as the underlying Carboniferous Limestone and Millstone Grit aquifers, are classified as ‘no water available’ for additional licensed abstraction, in order to protect flow levels
downstream at York.

The River Washburn (only the upper reachesof which lie within the NCA) is assessed as having water available, but has been overridden as ‘no water available’ to maintain flows for downstream abstraction. The River Wharfe is ‘over licensed’ within the NCA. The River Aire catchment is classified as ‘water available’, including from underlying Carboniferous Limestone.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to restore other habitats which are effective at retaining water, such as wet woodland, wet grassland, flushes and mires.

Promote good farming practice to improve the structure of agricultural soils, thereby improving infiltration of rainwater and reducing surface flow

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Local and traditional livestock breeds.
• Semi-natural habitats.

State – Several native breeds originate from the NCA: Swaledale, Wensleydale and Dalesbred sheep; and, Dalesbred pony.

As of August 2012, 44 Environmental Stewardship Agreements included the Native Breeds at Risk supplement, with 3,700 ha of land under this option being grazed by traditional native breeds (Genesis reporting data, Natural England, 2012). Most of the land under this option will be semi-natural habitat of biodiversity importance that benefits from grazing by hardy traditional breeds.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – Many native breeds are hardier than continental breeds and particularly well-suited to the climate, vegetation and topography of the Dales NCA.

As well as being the area of origin for a number of traditional breeds, it also holds significant populations, with an increase in popularity of traditional cattle breeds such as shorthorn, highland, belted Galloway, and crosses of traditional breeds such as blue grey.

Many of the traditional breeds used in the area are recognised for high quality meat and dairy produce and thrive better than modern breeds on poorer pasture and in harsher weather conditions.

Opportunities – Continue to encourage the use of traditional breeds for conservation grazing.

Support farmers in attempts to capitalise on the environmental value, heritage/ genetic value and high quality of meat and dairy products from traditional breeds.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Genetic diversity
• Biodiversity
• Food provision
• Sense of place/ inspiration

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Soils
• High rainfall
• Woodland

State – Limited woodland cover (4 per cent of NCA).

The NCA has medium to low potential for miscanthus, and low potential for short rotation coppice (Opportunities and optimum sitings for energy crops, Natural England, 2010).

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The potential for the NCA to produce biomass crops is limited by the poor potential of the ground for miscanthus, limited opportunities for short rotation coppice and high sensitivity of the landscape to the introduction of both.

The potential for the production of wood biomass is also limited by the low woodland cover and landscape sensitivity to new large plantations, although demand for local wood fuel is increasing.

During 2000s and 2010s there have been a number of small scale initiatives for biomass production and use.

For information on the potential landscape impacts of biomass plantings within the NCA, refer to the tables of ‘opportunities and optimum sitings for energy crops’ on the Natural England website.

Opportunities – Opportunities for small-scale production of wood fuel from existing and new broadleaf woodlands, through harvesting and by getting existing woodland under better management, for example by coppicing and thinning.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Biomass energy
• Biodiversity
• Climate regulation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Peat soils
• Woodland
• Semi-natural grassland

State – The NCA has a very high soil carbon content of 20 to 50 per cent, mostly because of the large expanses of peat soils (~41,000 ha). Woodland (10,624 ha) and soils associated with semi-natural grassland and (to a lesser extent) wetlands, are also important stores of carbon in the NCA (National Soils Resources Institute (NSRI) National Soils Map for England and Wales, Environment Agency, 2009).

Main beneficiary – International

Analysis – Research has shown that more active peatlands are vital for carbon sequestration and storage (Peatbogs and Carbon: A Critical Synthesis, Richard Lindsay, 2010). The large areas of peatlands within this NCA have potential to retain a significant store of carbon. However their capacity to act as carbon stores depends on the peat and associated habitats being in good biological condition.

Some of the NCA’s blanket bog has been damaged by: acidification from historic industrial pollution, and certain types of land management including drainage, overgrazing and burning, with estimates suggesting that only 57 per cent of blanket bog in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is in good biological condition (Nature in the Dales: 2020 Vision – Blanket Bog Habitat Action Plan, Yorkshire Dales Biodiversity Forum (2011)), (Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Evidence Base to Management Plan, Nidderdale AONB, 2008). Estimates suggest that in their current state peat soils within the NCA are a net source of carbon (Low Carbon Land Management in Our National Parks, David Thompson, Natural England, 2010).

Restoration of degraded peatlands, through measures such as grip blocking and sphagnum seeding, coupled with sensitive land management should be secured to avoid the release of stored carbon to the atmosphere. In some locations these measures may enable the habitats to sequester carbon (IUCN Commission of Inquiry on Peatlands, IUCN UK, 2011). The Yorkshire Peat Partnership has carried out extensive peatland restoration within this NCA since 2009 and there has also been widespread uptake of Environmental Stewardship on moorland, with 59,586 ha under restoration options and 22,098 ha under maintenance options in late 2012.

Trees and woodland shading watercourses would help regulate conditions for aquatic species under a changing climate, by reducing water temperature and thereby maintaining available oxygen levels. Trees and woodland in all locations also sequester carbon, help to regulate the impacts of severe weather events and provide potential sources of wood fuel.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to restore areas of blanket bog and wet heath through sustainable land management practices and programmes of work to restore the hydrology and ecology of the habitats.

Ensure that peatland habitats which are in good biological condition remain under optimal land management regimes.

Encourage woodland management and planting in appropriate areas where it would also benefit water quality, flood alleviation and biodiversity without detracting from the landscape, historic environment and recreation opportunities.

Protect existing semi-natural grassland to maintain the carbon stored in agricultural soils.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• High rainfall
• Extensive semi-natural vegetation (especially peat bogs)
• Low intensity farming
• Fast flowing water courses

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 – Regional

Analysis – As it is largely upland in nature, relatively extensively managed and with low population density, this landscape has generally good overall water quality in comparison with many NCAs.

Threats to water quality in the area do however include: sedimentation and colouration as a result of erosion and damage to the integrity of peat soils; diffuse water pollution from agriculture, particularly in terms of run-off of manure, fertiliser and chemicals; soil erosion due to overgrazing and stock access to watercourses; severe riverbank erosion at peak flows due to active networks of drains on moorland and lack of vegetation on bank sides; leaching of lead, zinc and other pollutants from historic mining sites; and outflows from water treatment plants (River Basin Management Plan: Humber River Basin District, Environment Agency, 2009).

Peatland restoration activity can play an important role in reducing pollution from degraded peat soils. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) has doubled in the last 30years in UK catchments (The impact of peatland drain-blocking on dissolved organic carbon loss and discolouration of water: results from a national survey, Alona Armstrong, Joseph Holden, Paul Kay et al., Journal of Hydrology, 381: 112-120, 2010). Grip blocking can reduce DOC in streams (Ditch blocking, water chemistry and organic carbon flux: Evidence that blanket bog restoration reduces erosion and fluvial carbon loss, Lorraine Wilson, Jared Wilson, Joseph Holden et al., Science of the Total Environment, 409: 2010-2018, 2011). Eroding peat can cause lead mobilisation which can be detected in the fluvial system. Intact peat can absorb heavy metals (Sediment-water interactions in an eroded and heavy metal contaminated peatland catchment, Southern Pennines, UK, J.J. Rothwell, M.G. Evans and T.E.H. Allott, Water, Air & Soil Pollution: Focus, 6: 669-676, 2006). Restoration of sphagnum- dominated habitats can help “filter” water.

Good farming practices to help reduce the risks of pollution in the NCA include maintaining good soil structure, appropriate timing and application of manure and fertiliser and fencing to exclude livestock from watercourses.

Farms in the area have historically struggled to find capital for investment in farm infrastructure such as slurry stores, leaving them at high risk of pollution incidents, particularly in times of heavy rainfall.

Protection of receiving water bodies can include grass buffer strips, sediment trap ponds and creation of wetland/riparian habitats.

Opportunities – Promote land management practices that prevent water pollution, such as application of manure/fertiliser at appropriate levels/times/locations, buffer strips along watercourses, stock fencing along river banks, good soil management and carrying out farming operations in appropriate weather conditions.

Restore riparian/wetland habitats and plant trees along watercourses to help stabilise bank sides, reduce erosion and filter pollutants, while benefitting riparian and riverine wildlife.

Restore blanket bogs to help reduce peak flows, water coloration and erosion.

Minimise the pollution from water- treatment plants, quarries and industrial plants to receiving water bodies.

Explore opportunities to help farmers update aged and inadequate farm infrastructure, to lower risk of pollution events.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Reservoirs and lakes
• Rivers and streams
• Semi-natural vegetation (esp. peat bogs, riparian woodland and wetlands)
• Soil
• Geology

State – Steep topography, high levels of rainfall, dense patterns of moorland drainage and some degraded habitats result in a catchment that drains very quickly into rivers causing flash flood events.

Flows generated within the NCA contribute to flooding events outside the area, particularly along the Aire in Leeds and the Ouse in York.

There are few residential areas at risk of fluvial flooding within the NCA, although there is some flood risk around Settle, Gargrave, Skipton and Pateley Bridge.

Main beneficiary – Regional

Analysis – The NCA has some of the fastest rising rivers in the country, with implications for erosion and downstream flooding.

The extent of flood risk in the NCA is predicted to increase with climate change.

Grip-blocking and other blanket bog restoration, such as the work carried out by the Yorkshire Peat Partnership, could help reduce speed of water run- off, particularly where subsequent land management creates suitable conditions for bryophytes and other wetland vegetation to increase in coverage.

Improvement of soil structure on agricultural land would enhance infiltration of rainwater, reducing rates of run-off and increasing rates of groundwater recharge through permeable soils.

There are plans for the Environment Agency to investigate opportunities to create flood storage areas (particularly in the Cover Valley, Bishopdale and historic mineral workings), and for using storage reservoirs to reduce peak flows.

Opportunities – Seek opportunities to restore rivers to more natural meandering course.

Seek opportunities to create new flood storage areas/features;

Promote good soil management on farms to improve infiltration of rainwater into agricultural land.

Seek opportunities to restore peat forming habitats and other wetlands.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Regulating water flow
• Biodiversity
• Regulating water quality

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Soils
• Heathland/ Semi-natural vegetation cover
• Hedgerows/ windbreaks
• Forestry/Woodland/ copses/scrub

State – There are 9 main soilscape types in this NCA:

• Slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils, covering 30 per cent of the
• Freely draining slightly acid sandy soils (17 per cent); Slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage (13 per cent).
• Blanket bog peat soils (25 per cent).
• Very acid loamy upland soils with a wet peaty surface (15 per cent).
• Slowly permeable seasonally wet acid loamy and clayey soils (8 per cent).
• Slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils (4 per cent).
• Shallow lime-rich soils over limestone (3 per cent).
• Freely draining slightly acid but base-rich soils (2 per cent).

Main beneficiary – Local

Analysis -The large extent of semi-natural habitat on uncultivated ground that is under low-intensity management will help to maintain soil quality within the NCA, in combination with the range of soil flora and fauna that persist in unimproved ground.

The large areas of peat soils in the NCA are at risk of losing organic matter through drying and erosion. This has been exacerbated by past land management practices including drainage, grazing and burning and climate change.

All soils within the NCA are vulnerable to erosion and compaction, but ‘very acid loamy upland soils with a wet peaty surface’, that cover 15 per cent of the NCA, have low strength when wet and are easily damaged by grazing and trafficking, particularly in winter. The freely draining, slightly acid, loamy soils have potential for increased organic matter content.

Opportunities – Restore peat-forming habitats and encourage sustainable grazing and burning regimes, to improve the condition, structure and carbon content of upland soils.

Promote good farming practices to improve the organic matter content and structure of agricultural soils and protect soil biodiversity (for example mychorrizal fungi and soil invertebrates).

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Regulating soil quality
• Regulating water quality
• Climate regulation.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Semi-natural vegetation cover
• Soils – peat and calcareous limestone soils

State – 85 per cent of the soils in the NCA are at some risk of erosion.

The peat soils that cover more than half of the NCA are largely non-cohesive and easily eroded by water.

Main beneficiary: Regional

Analysis -The steep topography and high rainfall of the NCA mean that soil in many areas is at risk of water erosion. Soil erosion has been exacerbated in some areas by overgrazing and inappropriate moorland burning. Downstream erosion has also been exacerbated by moorland gripping which increases the rate of run-off and the level of peak flows.

There is some evidence of peat ‘blowouts’ – where the top layer has been removed by wind and rain, leaving areas of bare peat which become further eroded by the wind. Revegetating exposed peat can reduce rates of water run-off by increasing surface roughness (particularly in the case of sphagnum- dominated peat) thereby helping to reduce erosion (Upland Hydrology‘, Joseph Holden, in Drivers of Environment Change in Uplands, Aletta Bonn, Tim Allott, Klaus Hubacek and Jon Stewart, 2010).

There is erosion associated with popular access routes, particularly green lanes and illegal routes used by off-road vehicles. The erosion is exacerbated by rainfall. Examples of particularly bad access route erosion have included the track from Whernside to Dentdale, and the Pennine Way from Cam Fell.

Opportunities – Secure good grazing and burning management of moorland to reduce erosion of peat soils, and encourage development of vegetation that will retain water for increased periods of time, thereby reducing levels and the erosive force of rivers at peak flows.

Secure good grazing and cutting management of in-bye land and meadows to maintain good soil structure, improve infiltration and prevent channelling, run-off and flooding.

Encourage active restoration of peat bogs and restoration/creation of riparian woodland and wetlands – to reduce peak flows and erosive force of rivers and stabilise eroding riverbanks.

Encourage planting of trees on eroding steep slopes and land-slippage areas, where appropriate, to stabilise ground.

Continue management of visitor pressure and access routes to minimise erosion, particularly where caused by illegal vehicular access, and create access routes with stable surfaces.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Regulating soil erosion
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating water flow
• Biodiversity
• Recreation

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Semi-natural habitats (moorland and hay meadows)
• Pollinating insects

State – Although the area provides a vast food source for pollinators in the form of flower-rich moorland, calcareous grassland and hay meadows (3,515 ha or 3 per cent of the NCA), these are of limited value for pollination of commercial crops as there is such a small area of crops grown in the immediate vicinity.

Main beneficiary: Local

Analysis

N/A

Opportunities

N/A

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Pollination
• Biodiversity

No information available.

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Topography (particularly dramatic mountains, open moorland, broad river valleys and water courses)
• Semi-natural habitats
• Karst limestone geology and features
• Local stone used in historic structures, buildings and drystone walls
• Climate
• Local livestock breeds
• Local food products
• Well-preserved archaeological features

State – High number of designations for the distinctive and unusual natural and cultural features (71 per cent National Park, 17 per cent AONB, 30 per cent SSSI, 376 Scheduled Monuments, 2,252 Listed Buildings).

Iconic and internationally recognised sites, habitats, landscapes and products – such as the Three Peaks, Swaledale Hay Meadows, Malham Cove, Aysgarth Falls, limestone pavement and Wensleydale cheese.

The landscape of the NCA has been an inspiration to many well-known artists and writers – historic and contemporary.

Strong sense of identity among local communities.

Main beneficiary: International

Analysis -The well-loved landscapes, cultures and traditions of the NCA have evolved over thousands of years through the interactions of humans with the environment. Although the NCA may in places feel wild and remote, all but the most inaccessible areas have been managed or influenced by humans and their livestock and depend on active management for their continued survival.

The maintenance of existing character and sense of place depends on a strong local economy and the perpetuation of traditional rural skills and knowledge. It also depends on the protection of the most valuable habitats and historic features.

Many national and international visitors come to the NCA each year. The very distinctive character that draws people to the area is also vulnerable to change as a result of high levels of tourism and in migration.

Commercial use/management of the NCA is vital to maintaining the sense of place, and public access vital to its appreciation, but both can be a threat to it. Future pressures of energy generation, fuel supply and increased levels of tourism will increasingly need to be woven into the delicate balancing act between different influences on the NCA, with the National Park and AONB having vital roles to play to help the area evolve without losing what makes it unique.

Opportunities – Protect sites designated for their natural and historic interest.

Retain characteristic features such as drystone walls, field barns, traditional buildings and hay meadows.

Explore opportunities for sustainable tourism initiatives that will increase visitors’ environmental awareness and improve profitability of local businesses, while protecting the special qualities of the area.

Encourage appropriate development, accessible to local people, and using local materials and traditional techniques where appropriate.

Support the use of traditional land management techniques in ways which have the optimum impact on the landscape and environment.

Encourage appropriate and targeted use of modern farming techniques and technology to achieve efficient food production that makes maintenance of the traditional farmed landscape economically viable.

Recognise and maintain the distinctive character of each of the valleys in the NCA.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Well-preserved archaeological remains
• Geological features

State – High density of well- preserved archaeological sites (376 Scheduled Monuments, 2,252 Listed Buildings), partly because development and cultivation has been somewhat limited by climate and topography.

Strong continuity of traditional farming and construction methods, illustrated by distinctive drystone wall boundaries and wealth of traditional style buildings.

Main beneficiary: National

Analysis -The history of the landscape is evident in extensive prehistoric remains including Neolithic henge monuments at Castle Dykes and Yarnbury, early bronze-age burial mounds and middle- late bronze-age rectilinear field systems (for example Grassington), iron-age / Romano-British earthworks of enclosed and unenclosed farmsteads with round houses thickly clustered around Ribblesdale and Wharfedale, plus distinctive parallel strip lynchets on some dale sides of early medieval origin.

This is supported by the network of walled fields that spread across the valleys and hillsides, ranging from small irregular fields close to settlements that date from the 16th century to the larger, regular enclosures on higher land of Parliamentary origin, with medieval ridge and furrow also surviving on dale slopes.

Lead mining has also been a feature of the landscape since Roman times, with most visible evidence relating to the 18th and 19th century and ranging from the ruins of smelting mills and chimneys to shaft mounds and spoil heaps, notably in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale and above Grassington in Wharfedale. Small lime kilns built into the hillside are also common.

Possibly the most well-recognised historic features are the stone walls and associated stone field barns, the 19th century railway viaducts, the most spectacular being the 24-arch viaduct at Ribblehead, and the dramatic geological features that evokes a sense of history on a geological timescale (The Yorkshire Dales: Landscapes Through Time, English Heritage, 1997,Countryside Quality Counts Yorkshire Dales Draft Historic Profile, English Heritage, 2004, www.outofoblivion.org.uk/, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, 2012).

The historic features and structures of the area also support a range of rare species, particularly birds and bats.

Historic features are at risk from a number of activities, including: damage and erosion from inappropriate farming, development and land use activities; erosion along public access routes; dereliction and neglect; deliberate damage and theft.

Opportunities – Protect important archaeological and geological sites and traditional buildings and structures, particularly from inappropriate development, damaging farming practices and erosion resulting from public access.

Ensure positive management of archaeological features and historic structures, particularly field barns, and encourage the survival of associated traditional skills. Field barns and traditional farm buildings should be restored or maintained wherever possible, but where not possible a record of them should be kept.

Provide interpretation and education to enhance the understanding of the history of the area and its sites.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Sense of history
• Biodiversity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Topography
• Climate
• Semi-natural vegetation

State – High levels of tranquillity throughout the NCA, with 96 per cent classed as ‘undisturbed’.

There has been very little intrusion since the 1960s with 98 per cent classed as undisturbed.

Main beneficiary: Regional

Analysis -The topography and climate of the area are important contributors to the high levels of tranquillity, in that they limit the opportunities for development, major transport routes and intensive agriculture.

The high land and mountain summits accentuate this by allowing far-reaching views of sparsely populated and un-developed land covered in semi-natural habitats.

The designation of 87 per cent of the NCA as either National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will also have afforded substantial protection for the aspects that make the area so tranquil.

The tranquillity of the area is of major benefit to wildlife, allowing large, relatively undisturbed areas, of particular importance for breeding birds.

Opportunities – Protect the area from the introduction of inappropriate development and infrastructure that would detract from the sense of remoteness and tranquillity of the area, particularly on open moorland and mountains.

Continue to manage visitor access to enable enjoyment of the tranquillity without eroding it for other visitors and local communities.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Topography (especially mountains, uplands and water courses)
• Geology
• Semi-natural habitats

State – 142,805 ha (59 per cent of the NCA) is designated as open access land.

2,941 km of public rights of way, equivalent to an average density of 1.23 km per sq km.

A number of well-used long distance routes cross the NCA including the Pennine Way and Pennine Bridleway National Trails, the Dales Way and the Coast to Coast footpath and cycle route.

Main beneficiary: National

Analysis -The area is nationally renowned for the quality and wealth of access opportunities. It has a dense and well-maintained network of public rights of way, an unusually high proportion of open access land and many long distance walking routes and bridleways.

There are also excellent opportunities for rock- climbing, caving, fell-running, canoeing, paragliding, fishing, horse riding, shooting, mountain biking, bird-watching and open-water swimming.

Appropriate recreational access is encouraged and carefully managed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Nidderdale AONB. There is an extensive programme of footpath/route maintenance carried out to avoid erosion and other damage to the landscape.

Opportunities – Maintain and improve the quality of recreational access facilities and infrastructure.

Plan for and manage potential increases in visitor numbers so as to avoid physical damage to the landscape and/or erosion of the area’s tranquillity and sense of place.

Further opportunities for green tourism and voluntary visitor pay back could be explored in order to ensure that increased tourism has a net positive impact on the local environment and economy.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Recreation
• Sense of place
• Tranquillity

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Soils
• Geology
• Topography
• Semi-natural Vegetation
• High rainfall
• Traditional farming techniques

State – 96,205 ha of Biodiversity Action Plan habitat (40 per cent of the NCA) – particularly blanket bog, heathland, calcareous grassland and limestone pavements.

25 per cent of the NCA is protected by European conservation designations (Special Protection Area for birds and Special Area of Conservation for habitats).

30 per cent of the NCA is designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest (some of which overlaps with European designations).

1 Ramsar site at Malham Tarn.

Main beneficiary: National

Analysis -The NCA is of particularly high value for biodiversity, reflected in the large proportion of the area that is protected through national, European and international nature conservation designations. Many of its semi-natural habitats only occur in isolated pockets, but these provide a good foundation for restoration and re-connection of priority habitats.

There is a long history of nature conservation in the area undertaken in conjunction with landowners and land managers by the National Park, Nidderdale AONB, National Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, government agencies and local organisations. These organisations (and their members/volunteers) are in a strong position to help monitor upland biodiversity and the impacts of climate change.

A high proportion of farms have been financed to conserve and enhance biodiversity through agri- environment schemes. Many of the local species and habitats rely on traditional farming techniques.

The high nature conservation value of the NCA could provide biodiversity offsetting opportunities, creating a habitat bank of high quality offset investment opportunities in strategic locations designed to link existing semi-natural habitats.

Iconic species include black grouse, red grouse, hen harrier, red squirrel, globeflower, lady’s slipper orchid and heather species.

Opportunities – Protect and restore priority habitats and designated sites, and ensure appropriate management of adjacent land, to increase the area considered to be in good biological condition.

Creation and restoration of habitats, particularly grassland and woodland, in locations that link existing isolated habitats and allow species to move more freely through the landscape.

Maintenance of suitable habitats and appropriate conditions for priority species.

Explore opportunities for biodiversity offsetting.

Explore opportunities to work with voluntary groups and local people to monitor climate change and upland biodiversity.

Principal services offered by opportunities

• Biodiversity
• Sense of place/ inspiration
• Genetic diversity Tranquillity
• Regulating water quality
• Regulating soil quality

Assets/attributes: main contributors to service

• Geology
• High rainfall
• Topography

State – 40 geological SSSI.

50 per cent of UK’s limestone pavement, 80 per cent of which is designated SSSI.

7 local geological sites.

Main beneficiary: National

Analysis -The NCA has some of the best geodiversity in the UK, with a classic glacio-karst landscape in much of the NCA and some of the best potholes and cave systems, including Gaping Gill pothole near Ingleborough.

The limestone pavement is of international importance. 50 per cent of the UK’s limestone pavement is found in the Yorkshire Dales.

The range of geological features and former quarries provide an excellent educational resource. Many of the geological features also provide outstanding recreational opportunities such as caving and climbing. Some geological features also host priority habitats and rare species.

Opportunities – Continued protection of limestone pavements through statutory designations, Limestone Pavement Orders and use of payment schemes for farmers to reward sympathetic management.

Identify opportunities for enhanced access to and understanding of geological features.

Collaboration with caving clubs/climbers to monitor geological SSSI.

Principal services offered by opportunities

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