Current condition, vulnerability and adaptive capacity of features

Estate lands and designed landscapes

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

Estate lands and designed landscapes 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 moderate adaptive capacity.

Many estate lands are well managed and have ongoing maintenance and development plans. The current condition for those held in private ownership is more difficult to determine. Extreme events including heavy rainfall and flooding, but particularly drought, could have a significant impact on estate lands and designed landscapes. There is capacity for adaptation as most have a management plan or similar system in place. Some estates are also given protection through their registered status.

Lowland pastoral landscapes

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Adaptive capacity rating

Lowland pastoral landscapes 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 vulnerable current condition and moderate adaptive capacity.

Lowland pastoral landscapes in the PNDP are vulnerable to changes in economic and political conditions, with agricultural intensification already affecting the historical character of many farms. One of the key potential impacts of climate change is a change in land use, particularly a turn to more arable usage with fields ploughed and remaining flower rich grasslands lost. Many small dairy farms have already been lost and been replaced by larger holdings with an increased demand for larger building and fields, together with fewer meadows and more fodder crops. However, sustainable and sensitive farming techniques could be implemented more widely to help offset some climate change impacts.

Slopes and valleys with woodland

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Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Slopes and valleys with woodland 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 variable condition and a moderate adaptive capacity.

Wooded slopes and valleys in the PDNP are already in a poor state, with low diversity and invasive species in many areas, and replacement by conifer plantations affecting others. An increased prevalence in extreme events, rainfall and higher temperatures would have a large negative impact on the woodland significantly affecting the feature. The feature may be damaged directly or indirectly by invasive species, nutrient changes and human behaviour change resulting from climate change.

Slopes and valleys with woodland are somewhat resilient as there are funds available through environmental stewardship options and other national schemes for maintenance, restoration and tree planting. However significant intervention will be required in order to make this feature resilient to 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

Vulnerability rating
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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 and how the land is used in the future. 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.

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.

Blanket bog

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Blanket bog and associated features in the PDNP have been rated ‘very 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 low adaptive capacity.

Historically in an extremely degraded condition, many areas are recovering under Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designations and through landscape scale conservation works. Areas undergoing conservation works are likely to be less vulnerable than those which are not; and modelling suggests that the lower altitude bogs on the eastern edge of the Dark Peak may be among the most vulnerable areas, whilst the more continuous and higher altitude areas in the north of the PDNP may be less vulnerable. The area and quality of active blanket bog in the PDNP may be reduced by climate change.

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.

Boundaries and patterns of enclosure

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Adaptive capacity rating

Boundaries and patterns of enclosure have been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with an often poor general condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

It is difficult to ascertain the overall current condition of dry stone walls as it is varied. However the condition of hedgerows is viewed as poor. Extreme weather is one of the key potential impacts increasing deterioration and maintenance costs leading to a greater risk of abandonment. Another is changes to land use, which may mean boundaries are removed to enlarge fields. Changing farming practices such as an increase in ploughing may affect earthwork features. Walls in poor condition are also often used as a source of stone to repair other walls.

There is limited funding available to improve these features and there is currently a shortage in terms of the number of people with the necessary dry stone walling skills needed for management and maintenance. Even the repair and rebuilding of walls, whilst retaining the landscape appearance, can remove or alter historic information that is very valuable (such as the physical relationships between features, or distinctive construction styles). Planting could improve hedgerows condition by filling in gaps and diversifying species. If not designated, prehistoric field systems are vulnerable to landscape change.

Meadows

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

Meadows and associated features 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 varied current condition and highly fragmented habitats, but with a moderate adaptive capacity.

Meadows are already in a poor state in the PDNP, with only a few small patches with very limited connectivity remaining. Climate change impacts are unavoidable; key plants and their associated species may be lost. Some meadow species will be unable to thrive with changes in weather, leading to habitat change. Agricultural intensification caused by pressure to grow more food may lead to further habitat loss. A mismatch between flowering and pollination timings may lead to a decrease in some plants. Pollution may cause changes to soil composition. Hay-making may become difficult due to unpredictable weather. Overall, climate change stressors are likely to lead a loss of habitat and biodiversity.

Wet grassland and rush pasture

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

Wet grassland and rush pasture in the PDNP have been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, the fragmented nature of the more rare and biodiverse rush-pasture type habitats, coupled with a moderate adaptive capacity.

Mismanagement and drainage has resulted in many areas of wet grassland becoming species poor, some being dominated by purple moor-grass. The reliance of these grasslands on water input coupled with the economically uncertain nature of upland farming mean that climate changes have the potential for large direct and indirect impacts.

However, through environmentally sensitive management and restoration of water tables it should be possible to partially offset some of these impacts. The key adaptation measures are to join up and enhance remaining fragments of rush pasture where it is possible to maintain or increase water levels; and to accept that some areas may need to be converted to other habitat types such as flower rich meadows. The diversification of the sward in purple moor-grass dominated blanket bogs through the reintroduction of Sphagnum mosses should increase the biodiversity and the future resilience of these wetlands.

Woodlands

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
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.

Riverside meadows associated with meandering river channels

Vulnerability rating
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Adaptive capacity rating

Riverside meadows associated with meandering river channels in the PDNP have been rated ‘very high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a variable current condition and a low adaptive capacity.

The extent of riverside meadows has been reduced over the last century with the ecological quality affected at many sites. Extreme weather conditions leading both to flooding and drought could have a significant impact on this feature. The adaptive capacity of river meadows is limited and there is no central organisation with responsibility for their condition. Although the PDNPA can make recommendations as to their management, it has limited power to see that it happens.

Vanishing rivers

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

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

The greatest impact on vanishing river systems will be changes in rainfall across the year. Greater extremes in precipitation will leave rivers dry for longer and in higher flow when active on the surface. Vanishing rivers have some capacity for adaptation, as their characteristic community is relatively hardy and there are some financial resources available which could increase their adaptive capacity.