High open moorland and edges

Overall vulnerability

Features assessed:

• Open moorland, heath & edges
• Open uplands
• High open moorland plateau

Special qualities:

• Beautiful views created by contrasting landscapes and dramatic geology
• Undeveloped places of tranquillity and dark night skies within reach of millions
• Landscapes that tell a story of thousands of years of people, farming and industry
• An inspiring space for escape, adventure, discovery and quiet reflection

Feature description:

High, open moorland is an extensive and exposed landscape. It is found extensively in the Dark Peak and in some areas of the South West Peak, including Axe Edge and Goyt’s Moss. The high and undulating topography is a result of the underlying Millstone Grit, allowing expansive views to distant skylines. The gritstone also results in occasional rocky outcrops or tors. A thick layer of blanket peat enhances the smooth, gently rolling nature of the landscape. The peat is incised, however, by eroded channels known as groughs that feed into rocky clough heads.

Ancient tree stumps found within the peat are evidence that trees have been a part of this landscape in the past. The current management regimes of sheep grazing and cutting or burning for grouse rearing maintain the openness of the landscape. However, in some areas scrub is present on the moorland, typically dominated by birch, willow and rowan.

Traces of human activity are also present on many of the moorland plateaus and edges. These include lithic scatters (flint and chert), extensive prehistoric settlement sites and field systems, ancient routeways, boundaries, mineral extraction and military training sites.

How vulnerable are high open moorland and edges?

High open moorland and edges in the PDNP have been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a very poor ‘non-functional’ current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

High open moorland and edges in the PDNP are in generally poor condition, with blanket bog in the worst state ecologically and hydrologically. They are particularly sensitive to hotter, drier summers and the resulting wildfire and erosion potential. Moorland edges also often have a high heritage significance, and surface and buried archaeological features are very sensitive to factors such as changes in vegetation, soil erosion and wildfire.

High open moorland and edges have a moderate adaptive capacity, but realising this is reliant on economic subsidy and management regime agreement in the long term, unless radical changes to the landscape are allowed to take place. The adaptive capacity of archaeological sites is lower once they have reached the point of being exposed through soil erosion or wildfire for example.

Current condition:

There are extensive open uplands in the PDNP. Using a narrow definition of this feature group, there is an abundant resource of open areas for recreation, dramatic views and escape.

However, the condition of the habitats within these open areas is in some cases very poor. The blanket bog landscape of the PDNP is the most degraded in the UK. Extensive gullying means bogs are now much drier than when they were formed, meaning they are unable to function as bogs and form peat. The potential for blanket bog to be restored to an active state is limited by the extent of erosion and poor hydrological state. This also effects archaeological artefacts, earthworks and buried deposits especially at the plateau edges.

The peat of the PDNP is highly contaminated from historic industrial pollution, containing high levels of heavy metals. The high volume of recreational traffic in some areas can cause routes to erode, for example the so-called ‘Bog of Doom’ on the Cut Gate path.

Bracken dominates in some areas and Sitka spruce colonisation is a significant problem in the High Peak moors. Management of heather moorland by burning is still common despite an increasing body of evidence suggesting it can be harmful, particularly on deep peat. The pattern created by controlled burning has a strong visual impact on the landscape. Where areas have become dominated by one species such as heather or purple moor-grass, the aesthetic value of the uplands is also arguably reduced.

The high volume of visitor numbers during the busiest times of the year, particularly to key areas such as Kinder Scout or The Roaches can detract from the sense of remoteness and escape these open landscapes afford.

What are the potential impacts of climate change?

Overall potential impact rating

Sedimentation or erosion

Hotter, drier summers coupled with more extreme weather events may increase rates of erosion on damaged peatlands. Erosion could occur both during drought periods via wind and during winter storms via water. Data Certainty: High

Wetter winters in general could also lead to increased erosion of peat, which is already relatively thin in places. This erosion has the potential to cause root damage to heather and other species increasing sensitivity to winter desiccation, and to irreversibly damage archaeological sites. Data Certainty: High This could change the look of the landscape and make revegetation more difficult.

Direct impacts of climate change

Extreme events, such as heavy precipitation and severe wind, may lead to greater erosion of soils. Waterlogged ground could lead to changes in plant productivity and below ground biomass (e.g. root dieback due to anoxic conditions) in areas where waterlogging is not desirable. These extreme events could cause altered plant community composition. Data Certainty: High

Drier summers could also result in changes in plant species. Drought adapted species such as heather may colonise areas that have previously been too wet. Overall, this could cause areas of peat bog to transition to dry heather moorland. This would adversely affect palaeoenvironmental deposits. Data Certainty: High

Wetter winters could result in increased nitrogen deposition resulting in habitat structure and composition changes. Heather may become increasingly sensitive to temperature, and Sphagnum is particularly sensitive to increased Nitrogen. Data Certainty: Moderate

Invasive or other species interactions

Warmer, wetter winters and drier summers may lead to increased damage from species such as heather beetle, as well as an expansion of bracken to higher altitudes. Studies have shown bracken to be very damaging to archaeological sites. Data Certainty: High

Wetter winters could result in increased nitrogen deposition, which in turn could result in heather becoming more sensitive to heather beetle outbreaks. Furthermore, bilberry is at risk of being lost due to its sensitivity to Phytophthora. Data Certainty: Moderate

Dry bogs can result in fractured, fragile surfaces. This may lead to more opportunities for invasive or non-native plant species to colonise, resulting in changes to habitat character and potentially increasing evapotranspiration - exacerbating the problem. Data Certainty: Low

Human behaviour change

Drier summers and wetter winters could change the levels of livestock grown in the uplands. An increase in the intensity of agriculture could have negative impacts character of the open uplands. Furthermore, spring burning of heather could become increasingly problematic. Although the landscape would likely stay open in character, it may be in an even poorer condition than it is already, negatively affecting its special qualities. Data Certainty: High

Hotter summers may lead to increased tourist numbers. Visitor Hotspots, such as Kinder Scout, are typically sensitive to an increase in visitors. More visitors may lead to increases in litter and the chance of wildfire along, with a loss of peacefulness and a sense of wilderness. Data Certainty: Moderate

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels may increase the demand for renewable energy installations. Such installations may be small scale (for individual settlements) or larger scale wind farms. The expansive, rolling nature of the landscape means any installations are likely to have a large detrimental visual impact, damaging the landscapes inspirational features. Further damage to the peatlands hydrology may also occur. However, the likelihood of this occurring may be low. Data Certainty: Low

An increased risk of flooding to downstream catchments may result in a demand for action by residents. Policy makers may decide to increase efforts currently underway to restore the hydrology of the uplands through, for example, revegetation of bare peat or woodland establishment around the edges of bogs. Such actions could reduce the impact of increased extreme events such as flooding, and would also diversify the appearance of the landscape. Data Certainty: Low

Other indirect climate change impacts

Hotter, drier springs and summers could result in water table level changes. Drier ground is more susceptible to wildfire, which can lead to vegetation damage and increased soil erosion and loss, including damage to archaeological sites. This risk of wildfire would be compounded by an increase in visitor numbers during hotter, drier periods. There may be a loss of public access to come areas at some times, either as a precaution, or in the aftermath of a fire. Data Certainty: High

Nutrient changes or environmental contamination

Wetter winters followed by drier summers risks nutrient flushing and concentration in upland habitats. This could result in habitat composition changes, particularly in areas of wet heath of the species-rich flushes found on moorland edges. Data Certainty: Low

What is the adaptive capacity of high open moorland and edges?

Overall adaptive capacity rating

The large size of upland habitat patches in the PDNP, paired with some topographic heterogeneity will increase adaptive capacity to climate change. Data Certainty: High

Overall, the uplands areas with more diversity in species and topography will be more resilient to change. However, areas dominated by a single species such as heather or purple moor-grass have less adaptive capacity. Data Certainty: High

The relatively high growth rate of heather and moorland grasses increases their resilience; however, erosion lowers this capacity by reducing the seedbank. In contrast, the regenerative capacity of peat is extremely low due to its slow accumulation rate. Data Certainty: Moderate

Economic subsidies are currently in place for the maintenance and restoration of heathland, meaning the landscape will likely remain open in the short to medium term. However, the future of environmental land management schemes is very uncertain. Data Certainty: High Furthermore, organisations (including Moors for the Future Partnership, South West Peak Partnership, National Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) are currently working to restore upland habitats in the area. Data Certainty: High

Although many skills and techniques are already in place, there is very likely to be substantial disagreement between different stakeholders about the future of land use in the uplands. Data Certainty: Moderate

Key adaptation recommendations for high open moorland and edges:

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.

• 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

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.

• 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.