Appendix 5: Feature recommendations organised by Special Quality

# SQ3 - Undeveloped places of tranquillity and dark night skies within reach of millions

# COMMUNITIES

# Open access land and public access

Key adaptation recommendations for open access land and public access:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations are aimed at improving the condition of the feature at present, therefore making it better able to withstand future changes to climate.

Monitor condition of paths, tracks and trails and reassess vulnerability on an ongoing basis.
Provide funding for resilience planning. Take a proactive approach to improve path structure in a smaller way rather than waiting for a damaging event before acting.
Invest in and encourage natural flood management across the PDNP including the restoration of upland habitats and the regeneration of large areas of woodland and scrub.
Invest time in developing further crowd-sourced funding for adaptation of paths, tracks and trails, fostering a sense of ownership among user groups.
Develop fire contingency plans, and ensure management of habitats reduces fire risk e.g. rewetting and increasing species or structural diversity. Influence visitor and behaviour management plans and practices to minimise ignition risk.
If visitor numbers increase at easy to access locations, encourage visitors to use alternative transport such as bikes and public transport to maintain tranquillity of the area.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Targeted conservation efforts for important sites and at risk areas

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations are conservation measures aimed at those sites that will have the biggest impact for this feature – either because they are particularly important for the feature or because they are most at risk from climate change.

Maintain and upgrade those areas subject to heavy usage or those likely to be most vulnerable.
Create visitor management plans for peak times and honeypot areas. Identify areas that are vulnerable to crowding and influence behavioural changes to spread out visitor impact
Continue to foster partnerships to help manage the impacts affecting open access land.

# Transport links into the PDNP

Key adaptation recommendations for transport links into the PDNP:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Review and adapt vegetation management to keep routes open.
Incentivise reduced demand for services through behaviour change and the use of more efficient technologies.
If visitor numbers increase at easy to access locations, encourage visitors to use alternative transport such as bikes and public transport to maintain tranquillity of the area.
Support changes such as enlarging drainage capacity for roads, railways and other routes to enable them to cope with increases in rainfall, and the implementation of speed limitations during times of extreme temperature.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Increase structural diversity of the landscape to improve resilience to change

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations focus on increasing the structural diversity of the landscape in which the feature is found. By doing so the condition of the feature, and therefore its resilience to climate change impacts, should be enhanced.

Identify alternative and creative ways of delivering services, for example using green spaces to aid flood management.
Natural Flood Management in the uplands of the PDNP through habitat restoration and woodland establishment is a key adaptation to reduce the impacts of flooding on transport infrastructure.

# CULTURAL LANDSCAPES

# Abandoned places of industry

Key adaptation recommendations for abandoned places of industry:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Ensure that the industrial heritage of the PDNP is properly embedded into all areas of PDNPA's activities (policy development, interpretation, visitor development etc.).
Ensure that any climate adaptations can be reversed to prevent long term impacts on features.
Nurture collaborative networks to build capacity for monitoring (e.g. P_eak District Mines Historical Society_, local interest groups).
If visitor numbers increase at easy to access locations, encourage visitors to use alternative transport such as bikes and public transport to maintain tranquillity of the area.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Targeted conservation efforts for important sites and at risk areas

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations are conservation measures aimed at those sites that will have the biggest impact for this feature – either because they are particularly important for the feature or because they are most at risk from climate change.

Increase knowledge about what assets exist to help determine which specific sites in the PDNP are most in need of protection.
Undertake regular monitoring (including at landscape scale) of selected sites to identify those sites likely to be most vulnerable in terms of archaeology and ecology.
Monitor outcomes of any change to sites. Select representative samples to monitor on sites where management actions are being implemented and sites where they are not.
Put forward key sites for scheduling.
Implement suitable natural flood management techniques in valley bottom sites, such as mills.

# Estate lands and designed landscapes

Key adaptation recommendations for estate lands and designed landscapes:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Carry out research and survey into designed landscapes, especially those at a smaller scale that might not previously have been recognised as significant. This will help inform future adaptation planning.
Increase the resilience of the surrounding landscape to help create a buffer for estate lands and designed landscapes. Form estate level plans for improved climate resilience, such as improving moorland condition to reduce flood risk.
Nurture partnerships with big estates and landowners.
When planning any future adaptations ensure existing archaeological complexity is taken into consideration.
Consider the cumulative impact on estate lands by visitor pressure and events.
If visitor numbers increase at easy to access locations, encourage visitors to use alternative transport such as bikes and public transport to maintain tranquillity of the area.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Targeted conservation efforts for important sites and at risk areas

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations are conservation measures aimed at those sites that will have the biggest impact for this feature – either because they are particularly important for the feature or because they are most at risk from climate change.

Identify field boundaries that are at risk and work to restore or improve them.
Manage and replace veteran trees (scattered trees in historic parklands and in field boundaries are a key characteristic of the Derwent Valley).
Harvest and store rain water at drought sensitive sites (already in place at some properties).

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Increase structural diversity to improve resilience at a landscape scale

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations focus on increasing the structural diversity of the area or habitat in which the feature is found. This can help to offset the effects of climate change on the feature, as well as to allow it to be in a better position to recover from future climate changes.

Increase woodland establishment and enhancement of habitats where appropriate, while maintaining the significance of key views and designed elements. This will strengthen existing landscape character, whilst in the future lower lying landscapes adjacent to the river could provide useful floodwater storage services.
Increase the diversity of planting in parklands to make them more resilient.

# Lowland pastoral landscapes

Key adaptation recommendations for lowland pastoral landscapes:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Monitor the risk and spread of disease in both plants and animals.
Reduce visitor pressure by encouraging use of the area at times outside of the high season.
If visitor numbers increase at easy to access locations, encourage visitors to use alternative transport such as bikes and public transport to maintain tranquillity of the area.
Explore opportunities for storing high levels of winter rainfall for use during the summer; these should be sensitive to the landscape.
Encourage better connectivity in these landscapes. (CHECK IT FITS, NOT A SQ2 FEATURE)
Consider the impact on key views when planning adaptations.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Targeted conservation efforts for important sites and at risk areas

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations are conservation measures aimed at those sites that will have the biggest impact for this feature – either because they are particularly important for the feature or because they are most at risk from climate change.

See the recommendations under 'boundaries, and walls/hedgerows'.
Encourage further uptake of environmental land management schemes by farmers within the PDNP.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Increase structural diversity to improve resilience at a landscape scale

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations focus on increasing the structural diversity of the area or habitat in which the feature is found. This can help to offset the effects of climate change on the feature, as well as to allow it to be in a better position to recover from future climate changes.

Enable more species rich hay cropping through meadow creation and restoration on a wide scale.
Enable the diversification of plant species in permanent pasture; this will increase adaptive capacity to future change.
Establish more trees and hedges in the landscape where appropriate to assist with surface water management, soil condition, and livestock summer shading. Help farmers to select the most appropriate and resilient species.
Work to change perceptions about the value of 'abandoned' pastureland. More scrub and tree development on improved pasture would create a more sheltered and resilient overall landscape with microclimates that are more diverse, and improve future soil condition.

# GEOLOGY, GEOMORPHOLOGY AND SOILS

# High open moorland and edges

Key adaptation recommendations for high open moorland and edges:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Native trees and scrub should be encouraged around the plateau edges to increase resilience of upland habitats and protect blanket peat, but archaeological sensitivities need to be taken into account in the management of tree cover. More trees across the currently open upland landscape may assist with climate adaptation and mitigation, along with ecosystem service provision.
Pilot a 'rewilding' or 'wilding' trial scheme with no fixed conservation aims and monitor the impact on this feature.
Reduce fragmentation via restoring and improving corridors between moorland habitats to strengthen the ecological network.
Develop fire contingency plans, and ensure management of habitats reduces fire risk e.g. rewetting and increasing species or structural diversity. Influence visitor and behaviour management plans and practices to minimise ignition risk.
If visitor numbers increase at easy to access locations, encourage visitors to use alternative transport such as bikes and public transport to maintain tranquillity of the area.
Consider the impact on key views when planning adaptations.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Increase structural diversity of the landscape to improve resilience to change

Encourage flexible land management to facilitate the development of a more diverse habitat composition and structure.
Enable habitats to respond to climate change - do not view the landscape as fixed but allow room for change.

# Limestone dales

Key adaptation recommendations for limestone dales:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Protect geological features and maintain their visibility by removing or managing vegetation.
Improve water use efficiency and rainwater harvesting, especially in remote locations which are dependent on springs and susceptible to drought.
Provide advice, information and support to farmers on increasing organic matter in soils and other measures to increase carbon storage and improve drought tolerance of farmland.
Maintain historic environment records to enable historic environment advice to be integrated with other land management advice.
Encourage sympathetic management, restoration and creation of riparian habitats, particularly grassland, woodland and wetland, to stabilise river banks and reduce erosion and diffuse pollution.
Install settlement ponds and silt traps to intercept run-off and sediment before it reaches watercourses.
If visitor numbers increase at easy to access locations, encourage visitors to use alternative transport such as bikes and public transport to maintain tranquillity of the area.
Undertake stream revetment schemes to slow flow, reducing rock face undercutting, stream bank erosion and minimise downstream flooding.
More research is required to better understand the hydrology and role of artificial drainage on low flow river systems.
Consider the impact on key views when planning adaptations.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Targeted conservation efforts for important sites and at risk areas

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations are conservation measures aimed at those sites that will have the biggest impact for this feature – either because they are particularly important for the feature or because they are most at risk from climate change.

Monitor the spread of tree diseases, in particular ash dieback, and ensure appropriate mitigation measures. However, deadwood is a very valuable habitat and should be left standing unless it is a public safety hazard.
Manage visitor access to popular locations to minimise traffic, disturbance, footpath erosion and other negative environmental impacts.

Adaptations that could aid other features

These recommendations are changes that could be made to this feature, which will have a positive impact on the ability of other vulnerable features to withstand future climate change.

In areas where it does not have a negative impact on the landscape character, establish trees to provide shade for wildlife, livestock and people and to regulate the temperature of watercourses.

# HABITATS

# Woodlands

Key adaptation recommendations for woodlands:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Reduce grazing pressures where possible. Recognise the importance of an integrated deer management plan for the park.
Encourage more continuous cover forestry – to maintain higher levels of carbon storage and decrease soil losses.
Improve protection, management and recruitment of veteran trees.
Consider water management in woodlands predicted to experience drought.
Further study is required to explore appropriate opportunities for woodlands to be used in local wood fuel schemes.
If visitor numbers increase at easy to access locations, encourage visitors to use alternative transport such as bikes and public transport to maintain tranquillity of the area.
Consider the impact on key views when planning adaptations.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Increase structural diversity to improve resilience at a landscape scale

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations focus on increasing the structural diversity of the area or habitat in which the feature is found. This can help to offset the effects of climate change on the feature, as well as to allow it to be in a better position to recover from future climate changes.

Increase diversity of tree species; especially in single species woodlands. Accept change in composition of woodlands, such as accepting species not previously native to the PDNP.
Continue improving woodland condition – more native woodland creation, encourage regeneration to increase structural diversity, increase patch size (>2ha) to meet habitat requirements for birds and other species, increase decaying wood for replenishing soils.
Natural woodland regeneration by excluding stock should be seen as preferable to tree establishment, with the latter principally to increase diversity - importance of scrub is underestimated.
Convert small or unused conifer plantations to broadleaf/mixed woodlands.
Increase establishment of field and boundary trees, particularly across the White Peak, to increase habitat diversity and connectivity, replace trees lost to Ash Dieback, enhance the landscape and provide shade and better grazing for livestock in hotter summer conditions.

Adaptations that could aid other features

These recommendations are changes that could be made to this feature, which will have a positive impact on the ability of other vulnerable features to withstand future climate change.

Increase connectivity between woodlands to provide wildlife corridors.
Increase woodland cover – to keep waterways cool, provide shelter for other species as temperatures increase, increase carbon storage, and improve water quality.

← 2. Wildlife & Habitats 4. Landscapes of People →