Villages associated with medieval strip fields

Overall vulnerability

Feature(s) assessed:

• Villages associated with medieval strip fields from C10th

Special qualities:

• Characteristic settlements with strong communities and traditions

Feature description:

Villages associated with medieval strip fields tend to be found in the White Peak. This historic landscape is characterised by its repeated pattern of narrow strip fields - usually medieval open fields which have later been enclosed. These tend to surround villages made up of limestone buildings with traditional vernacular architecture and distinctive regional styles.

While some medieval strip fields have already been lost - some 'fossilised' strips (i.e. walled strips which preserve the layout of the open field) still remain, as many have been converted to pasture.

The types that are most visible and generally are surrounded by dry stone walls, although some are enclosed by hedgerows particularly on lower slopes. The fields often overlay surviving examples of ridge and furrow - an archaeological pattern created by a system of ploughing used during the Middle Ages.

This assessment focusses mainly on the impact of climate change on medieval strip fields, and therefore on associated villages. For an assessment of the effects of climate change on physical village infrastructure, see ‘Building materials’.

How vulnerable are villages associated with medieval strip fields?

Villages associated with medieval strip fields in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to moderate sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, a relatively stable current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

To date the dominance of pasture and lower intensity livestock farming in the PDNP has been a factor in the preservation of this feature. Strip fields are vulnerable to farming intensification in response to climate change, especially a change from pasture to arable land use.

Current condition:

Many medieval strip fields expressed as ridge and furrow are likely to have already been lost to the modern plough – but some fossilised strips remain. The dominance of pasture in the PDNP over arable farming has been an important factor in the preservation of these strips.

However, medieval strip fields (and therefore the villages which are associated with them) are vulnerable to farming intensification and it is assumed that at least some of these remains have been lost in more recent years due to changes in agriculture, although no evidence for this was able to be located for this assessment.

Examples of fossilised strip fields can be found in the villages of Wardlow, Chelmorton, Flagg and Monyash but also in Longnor, Tissington, Bradbourne, Edensor and Tideswell.

Most sites are not subject to any formal protection although there are some protection measures offered through Countryside Stewardship and the Environment Impact Assessment Regulations 2017 and the Hedgerows Regulations 1997.

What are the potential impacts of climate change?

Overall potential impact rating

Direct impacts of climate change

An increase in the frequency or severity of flooding may reduce pasture growth and result in the loss of hay and silage harvests. Additional costs may then be incurred from pasture reseeding having to buy in extra feed and having to pay for additional slurry disposal if livestock have to be housed for longer than usual. This could then make the pasture system uneconomic and lead to changes that no long preserve the field system. Data Certainty: Moderate

Wetter winters could lead to waterlogging, and where ridge and furrow patterns remain there may be a risk that erosion will be accelerated. This may be further impacted by more frequent and extreme droughts that may reduce ground cover and further increase erosion. The risk level also depends on vehicle movements on a site and the stock levels (and therefore poaching of the ground). Data Certainty: High

Human behaviour change

Wetter winters are likely to mean an increase in demand for modern housing for livestock. The landscape around villages is sensitive and the addition of modern barns may change the traditional look of fossilised strip fields and the character of the villages. Data Certainty: Moderate

The character of the landscape around villages may be sensitive to installation of renewable energy sources such as wind turbines or solar panels. An increase in demand for such climate change mitigation measures may also mean the traditional look and character of the villages is changed. Data Certainty: Low

Hotter summers, warmer winters and other combined factors including precipitation change may mean that pasture could also be converted to arable usage if it is deemed to be economically worthwhile. Fossilised strip fields have survived because many were converted to pasture but if they were to be enlarged or ploughed many features would be lost completely or reduced. However, it should be noted that agricultural economics will be subject to many variables other than climate change. Data Certainty: Low

Invasive or other species interactions

In wetter warmer winters any changes to grazing regimes could see a rise in the growth of invasive and nuisance species changing the character and traditional look of fossilised strip fields. It should also be noted that that biodiversity value of the current pastoral landscape of the PDNP is generally very poor. Data Certainty: Low

Changes in temperature, particularly wetter warmer winters may see an increased occurrence of disease such as liver fluke, intermediate disease host species such as mud snails, and also emerging diseases that are spread by insects such as the blue tongue virus. Not only could these potentially lead to costly disease outbreaks but a rise in pests, diseases and mycotoxins (produced by fungi) could adversely impact the quality of livestock feed available. Resulting changes to agricultural economics could see a decline in the pastoral system which has preserved this feature. Data Certainty: Low

Other indirect climate change impacts

Extreme drought conditions and increased visitor numbers could see a rise in the incidence of wildfire. Longer grass could be susceptible, leading to bare ground and ridge and furrow being more easily eroded. However, as there are very few places in the PDNP where fields are managed as meadows the risk is minimal at least in the short term - so this is unlikely to have any meaningful impact that would change its structure, function or extent of this feature. Data Certainty: Low

Where clay rich soil is present, the ground is particularly sensitive to the shrink-swell action with the British Geological Survey describing it as ‘the most damaging geohazard in Britain today’. This could have direct effects not only on farmed land but on villages surrounding strip fields (see also ‘Building Materials’).

What is the adaptive capacity of villages associated with medieval strip fields?

Overall adaptive capacity rating

In the majority of cases planning permission is needed to make changes to agricultural land or commercial property however walls are provided little protection and in general boundary protection is poor. Changes will still occur if keeping livestock on pasture becomes economically unviable and this feature is vulnerable to the amalgamation of fields. Hedgerows Regulations currently apply for strip fields fossilised by hedgerow enclosure – and these may qualify as ‘important’ hedges, although exceptions can apply meaning that some hedges may be able to be removed without control. Data Certainty: High

Fossilised strip fields marked by dry stone walls (primarily on the limestone plateau) are more resistant than those marked by hedges, as the latter are more likely to be removed or be in decline through lack of sympathetic maintenance. However, areas of ridge and furrow are more likely to survive on the thicker shale soils than the thinner soils on the limestone plateau. Data Certainty: Moderate

The majority of PDNP villages with medieval strip fields are found on the limestone plateau although they can also be found in several other places including the Peak Fringe areas. Although they exist on a variety of soil types, the landscape is fairly comparable in character, so similar exposures and impacts will be felt anywhere in the region. Data Certainty: Moderate

It is likely some funding options will be available for maintaining landscape through Countryside Stewardship - however these are limited and the future of this scheme is uncertain at present. The current trend is that land in the NP within an agreement is declining. The PDNPA also has a scheme for traditional boundaries. Data Certainty: Low

As there is diversity in land ownership, management, information and skills available to adapt and conserve the landscape it is therefore likely that some features will survive whilst some will decline. Data Certainty: Low

Key adaptation recommendations for villages associated with medieval strip fields:

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.

• Ensure conservation area boundaries and appraisals include relevant fieldscape setting when they are revised.
• Use sites themselves as valuable assets for example to sustainably generate money for their upkeep. Explore opportunities in future environmental land management schemes.
• Consider reducing or maintaining low stocking levels in fields with archaeological sensitivity.
• Consider slot-seeding rather than ploughing and re-seeding where appropriate, to avoid degradation of the landform in fields with archaeological sensitivity.