Current condition, vulnerability and adaptive capacity of features

Country houses

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Country houses and associated features in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, but a generally well managed current condition and a high adaptive capacity.

An increase in extreme climates, pests and diseases may pose a threat to species which define the character of the gardens at these homes and the historical archives contained within them. Changes to landscape may affect people’s desire to visit, decreasing the amount of resources available to protect the building and grounds from further harmful effects brought on by changes to climate. If they are well managed and resourced, country houses and their parkland settings have a high adaptive capacity.

Paths, tracks and trails

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Adaptive capacity rating

Paths, tracks and trails in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to moderate sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a varying current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

The condition of routes often depends on their popularity with those heavily used becoming worn quite quickly and needing more maintenance and upkeep. Routes are sensitive to severe weather including wind and rain that can cause erosion. Increases in this damage due to climate change pose a significant risk to their condition. Damage to the physical infrastructure such as bridges may also occur. However, both the constituent highway authorities and PDNPA work to maintain routes and while funding is limited, campaigns have successfully raised money for specific work such as the Great Ridge.

Local events

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

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

Changes in the climate could have a significant impact on local events particularly those that rely on the weather or are tied to a specific date. The majority are run by volunteers and depend upon funds raised one year to finance the following year’s event. A series of poor years could mean the event is lost entirely.

In recent years a small number of events have been lost, however local events do have a high adaptive capacity as demonstrated by the Bakewell Show which changed its date and format in 2019 due to wet weather.

Open access land and public access

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Open access land and public access in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to moderate sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a varied current condition, and with moderate adaptive capacity.

Erosion could be one of the key potential impacts of climate change, as many paths are susceptible to extreme weather events and the most popular routes that are heavily used already suffer from erosion.

There is limited funding available particularly for larger projects. However new initiatives for fundraising such as the ‘Mend our Mountains’ campaign are having a positive impact for specific routes.

Transport links into the PDNP

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

Transport links into the PDNP have been rated ‘low’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to moderate sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a reasonable current condition, and high adaptive capacity.

Transport links in the PDNP are generally in good condition, but subject to some pressures including weather. Major routes are already susceptible to adverse weather with snowfall often leading to the closure of the high level routes. Increases in extreme weather conditions are therefore a key potential impact of climate change on the transport infrastructure.

However, research is now being carried out by organisations responsible for transport infrastructure to look at what measures can be undertaken to increase resilience to the potential impacts of climate change.

High open moorland and edges

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

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.

Limestone dales

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Adaptive capacity rating

Limestone dales in the PDNP have been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, a variable current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

The condition of limestone dales in the PDNP is generally good but subject to some pressures. Changes to water levels could have a major impact on habitat, how the land is used in the future, and on the archaeological evidence of how the land was used in the past This will affect the appearance and appeal of the landscape. Damage to parts of this feature will be irreversible, reducing its adaptive capacity, however there are schemes which could help with adaptation and a large proportion of the sites are formally protected.

River valleys

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

River valleys in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a variable current condition, but with a high adaptive capacity.

River valleys in the PDNP are generally in functional condition, though as active hydrological systems changes are fast. An increase in rainfall intensity and flooding is the key potential impact of climate change in river valleys. However, natural flood management schemes are part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA’s) 25-year plan and there are multiple management strategies that could be implemented to increase significantly the adaptive capacity of river valleys.

Show caves and caverns

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Show caves and caverns 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.

An increase in flooding of the caverns is one of the key potential impacts of climate change. This could mean they close for longer and more regularly resulting in the attractions possibly becoming more seasonal. Changes in water levels and associated erosion could potentially damage historic features within the caves and caverns.

All four show caverns are in private ownership and appear to be reasonably sustainable businesses however it is not known what financial resources they have to invest in adaptations, and the range of changes that could be made is relatively limited. The feasibility of investing in natural flood management techniques in the catchment that feeds the caverns should be investigated.

Heather moorland and mixed heath

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Adaptive capacity rating

Heather moorland and mixed heath in the Peak District National Park has been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, with a relatively poor but recovering current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

Current heath condition in the PDNP is generally poor due to historical stressors and poor management. Modelling suggests that areas such as Eyam Moor and heathland around Chatsworth (for example Brampton East Moor) are likely to be some of the most vulnerable to climate change due to their south-easterly location and lower altitude. Changes in human behaviour may have an important impact on this managed environment. Less biodiverse areas are likely to have the lowest adaptive capacity, meaning moorland with high heather dominance is at risk from climate change. Heathland does however have the advantage of economic and organisational resources dedicated to its conservation, and has high connectivity across large areas. Large areas are protected under Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designations. In the future, PDNP moorlands are likely to become important habitat for species that currently have a more southerly distribution, such as the Dartford warbler.

Limestone grassland

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

Limestone grassland in the PDNP has been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, but also a high adaptive capacity.

Limestone grassland in the PDNP has a limited extent, but much of what remains is protected by Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation. Overall habitat persistence is likely to be determined by non-climate or indirect human factors, for example changes in agricultural economics, with areas such as the dales likely to be impacted. The iconic Jacob’s-ladder grassland may be particularly vulnerable and in need of conservation actions.

Woodlands

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

Woodlands 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 poor fragmented current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

Woodland condition in the PDNP is variable, with smaller patches generally in poor condition, but larger areas under Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) protection faring better. Smaller woodlands with low tree species diversity are likely to be more vulnerable than those that are larger and more diverse. The area of woodland in the PDNP may be reduced by climate change, especially single species woodlands, though the demand for climate change mitigation may encourage new woodland creation.