Appendix 5: Feature recommendations organised by Special Quality

# SQ7 - Vital benefits for millions of people that flow beyond the landscape boundary

# BUILT ENVIRONMENT

# Paths, tracks, and trails

Key adaptation recommendations for paths, tracks and trails:

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.
Invest time in developing further crowd-sourced funding for adaptation of paths, tracks and trails, fostering a sense of ownership among user groups.

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.

Assess which specific stretches of path, track or trail are likely to be most vulnerable to climate change.
Maintain and upgrade those areas subject to heavy usage or those likely to be most vulnerable. Understand the heritage significance of trails to factor this into decision making.

# COMMUNITIES

# Open access land and public access

Key adaptation recommendations for open access land and public access:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

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.

# GEOLOGY, GEOMORPHOLOGY AND SOILS

# Healthy soil

Key adaptation recommendations for healthy soil:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Increase woodland and scrub creation schemes in appropriate locations to reduce run-off and replenish soil organic matter.
Strongly discourage the removal of native woodland or trees in planning cases, and increase mitigation needed when it does occur.
Shift perception of the landscape away from being fixed to a more dynamic system. Accept that change should happen and habitat types need to be allowed to change in some areas for a net environmental gain, where it would benefit the special qualities of the PDNP.
Significantly reduce artificial fertiliser and pesticide use in agriculture.
Encourage farmers to reduce ploughing or change ploughing implements and use cover crops on any arable land.
Create and maintain diverse hedgerows and buffer strips around fields.
Create more flower-rich meadows.
Continue reducing bare peat areas and revegetate other bare patches on blanket bogs.
Pilot a 'rewilding' or 'wilding' trial scheme with no fixed conservation aims and monitor the impact on soil health.

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.

Reduce livestock levels and trampling especially in areas vulnerable to erosion.

# HABITATS

# Blanket bog

Key adaptation recommendations for blanket bog:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Increase effort to restore hydrology and raise the water table.
Increase effort to revegetate any remaining bare peat areas.
Increase Sphagnum re-introduction, including as diverse a mix of appropriate species as possible.
Research is needed to look into promoting the growth of bog edge woodland or scrub where appropriate, through tree establishment and natural regeneration, to reduce wind effects, provide shade and stabilise peat blanket edges.
Cease the use of burning for heather management on blanket bog sites – but consider alternative techniques such as cutting if there is a high fuel load (e.g. bog is or has become dry heath on peat) as an interim measure until the bog is wet enough.
Develop fire contingency plans, and ensure management of habitats reduces fire risk e.g. rewetting and increasing species or structural diversity.
More research into peat pipes is needed.
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.

Identify key areas to focus work on; especially those, which are likely to remain hydrologically suitable. Further study required.
Develop visitor management plans to influence public behaviour in areas of high wildfire risk.

# Wet woodland

Key adaptation recommendations for wet woodland:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Map existing wet woodland habitat to assess value and content.
Continue with sensitive woodland management.
Continue with work on managing invasive species such as Himalayan balsam.
Continue management of woodland along watercourses to reduce flood risk.
Evaluate whether the introduction of beavers would be a feasible and appropriate method of delivering ecosystem service benefits such as flood mitigation, water quality and wet woodland creation.

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 sites for wet woodland restoration, expansion and/or creation. Care should be taken to ensure this is not at the expense of other wetland habitats that are of value. Some sites could just be scattered trees, others more dense woodland and wet scrub – smaller willows of various locally native types.

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.

Establish trees and encourage natural regeneration to increase species diversity, structural diversity, and patch size.
Evaluate whether there are benefits in establishing scrub to stabilise eroding edges of blanket peat, and implement if appropriate.

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 woodland cover – to keep waterways cool and to provide shelter for other species as temperatures increase.
Increase connectivity between woodlands to provide wildlife corridors.

# 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.

# WATERCOURSES, PONDS AND RESERVOIRS

# Good water quality

Key adaptation recommendations for good water quality:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Carefully manage water usage, especially during the summer.
Establishment of riparian areas to maximise vegetation cover can help to reduce nutrient and sediment load entering watercourses.
Restoration of soils can help to improve infiltration rates and reduce run-off and the risk of erosion.
Buffer strips to trap sediment before it reaches a watercourse should be established wherever possible.
Continue moorland restoration work to improve water quality.
Restoration of natural processes across the catchment will improve watercourse health and therefore resilience to change.
Minimise agricultural inputs, especially fertilisers and pesticides. Give consideration to good management of waste to improve catchment quality, including effective slurry store management.
Restoration of healthy soils in river catchments will increase infiltration of water and reduce runoff, thereby reducing sedimentation. Tree establishment is a known method to improve infiltration and reduce pollutant spread from runoff.
Restoration of semi-natural vegetation on critical runoff pathways will slow the flow and reduce erosion.
New hydroelectric power developments should not be allowed to prevent restoration of natural processes in river systems.
Use of low nutrient livestock feeds will reduce contamination of the watercourse.
Evaluate whether the introduction of beavers would be a feasible and appropriate method of delivering ecosystem service benefits such as flood mitigation, water quality and wet woodland creation.

# Reservoirs and water management features

Key adaptation recommendations for reservoirs and water management features:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Water catchment management practices can be targeted at minimising flood risk and peak water flows. This may include increased woodland cover within the PDNP, restoration of blanket bog and sensitive farming practices, as well as drain blocking in headwater regions.
Ensure surveyed features are included in Historic Environment Records and Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England (SHINE) datasets.
Nurture collaborative networks to build capacity for monitoring (e.g. volunteer groups).

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.

Research the most suitable adaptations for individual historic sites taking into account their situation and current use. This could include plans or physical barriers to reduce foot traffic, or physical reinforcement for the most valuable features. Care must be taken to avoid maladaptation.
Undertake regular monitoring (including at landscape scale) of selected sites to identify those likely to be most vulnerable in terms of archaeology and ecology and to document change and help inform interventions where possible.
Put forward key sites for scheduling.

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.

Plantation woodlands in the uplands and those surrounding reservoirs should be managed to reduce erosion and slow run-off. Structural and species diversification with native broadleaved trees should be investigated. Encourage continuous cover forestry – to maintain higher levels of carbon storage and decrease soil losses.

# Rivers and streams

Key adaptation recommendations for rivers and streams:

Improve current condition to increase resilience

Restoration of natural processes across the catchment will improve watercourse health and therefore resilience to change.
Consider removal of impoundments and weirs to restore natural river flow and improve species dispersal.
Minimise agricultural inputs, especially fertilisers and pesticides. Give consideration to good management of waste to improve catchment quality, including effective slurry store management.
Restoration of healthy soils in river catchments will increase infiltration of water and reduce runoff, thereby reducing sedimentation. Tree establishment is a known method to improve infiltration and reduce pollutant spread from runoff.
Restoration of semi-natural vegetation on critical runoff pathways will slow the flow and reduce erosion.
New hydroelectric power developments should not be allowed to prevent restoration of natural processes in river systems.
Use of low nutrient livestock feeds will reduce contamination of the watercourse.
Block artificial drainage where possible.
Manage invasive species, including botanical species and signal crayfish.
Evaluate whether the introduction of beavers would be a feasible and appropriate method of delivering ecosystem service benefits such as flood mitigation, water quality and wet woodland creation.

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.

Creation of riparian shade through tree and scrub establishment will be beneficial to freshwater habitats, and may offset some of the effects of temperature rises.

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