Vital Uplands Vision

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Vital UplandsA 2060 vision for Englands upland environment


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Upland hay meadows, such as this one in Weardale, North Pennines, are a much-lovedyet rare and fragile component of the upland environment


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CheviotsBorder moorsand forests

Lake District &

Cumbria Fells

Forest ofBowland

YorkshireDales

SouthPennines

Peak District

Shropshire andHerefordshire Hills

OswestryUplands

BlackMountains

Exmoor

Quantocks

Dartmoor

NorthPennines

North YorkMoors

BodminMoor

The upland boundary we have used is coincident with theSeverely Disadvantaged Area boundary designated as part of theEuropean Less Favoured Area legislation.

Uplands

Where are the uplands?

Crown copyright and database right 2009. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100022021.Licensed to: Natural England for PGA, through Next Perspectives


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Volcanic eruptions

and crumpled rocksgenerate a newmountain chain acrosswhat is now northernEngland.

England on theequator. The uplandswere present, withshallow tropical seasand deeper basins.

What is thisvision for?Vital Uplandssets out Natural Englandslong-term vision and ambitions for Englandsupland environment. We are indebted to ourupland partners and stakeholders for theirinput of evidence and views whilst we weredeveloping this vision.

Our upland environment has been formedthrough centuries of peoples interactionwith nature. The uplands are a national asset,prized by people as places of inspirationand enjoyment, as well as a source of vitalbenefits such as food and clean water.They are a working landscape for farmersand others who derive a living from theland. However, the environment, and thevital benefits and services it provides, isunder pressure from climate change, fromchanging social and economic circumstances,and from the impacts of unsustainable use.

We hope the changes we propose here will:

highlight the importance of the uplandenvironment to society as a whole;

provide a common goal that inspireseveryone to embrace future change andplay their part in achieving this vision;

stimulate new thinking and action abouthow to deliver this vision includingfunding sources and practical changes onthe ground; and

encourage those who farm and manageupland landscapes to seek out newopportunities for sustainable businessventures that will be central to the VitalUplands of 2060.

Natural England will use the vision to set thedirection for our work across the uplands,nationally and locally. It will inform and shapeour delivery of agri-environment schemes,and other plans, projects and research in

the uplands; our work with partners andstakeholders; and our advice in support ofthe upland environment.

1 Vital Uplands: A 2060 vision for Englands upland environment

OUR EVOLVINGUPLANDS

400 millionyears ago

360 millionyears ago

(Carboniferous)

Floods like these in Keswick, Lake District, may become more common as the climate changes

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England in the heartof the supercontinentPangea. Dominatedby rock desert.

Thick glaciers coveredmuch of the uplandlandscape.

Relatively short

warm period whenupland woodland wasinhabited by hippos,straight-tuskedelephant, as well asearly humans.

Why do we needa vision?Over the coming years, society will faceimportant choices about how we best use andmanage our uplands. In recent decades,upland land use, and associated policies andinvestment, has focused on food productionfrom livestock and moorland management forgame shooting. Food is vital for our wellbeing,

and we now understand more about the vastimportance of the uplands for other criticalservices and benefits such as water supplyand quality, soil carbon stores, and outdoorrecreation and learning. By modifying themanagement of the environment, we can helpto deliver more of these services, and improvetheir quality as well.

21st century challenges and

opportunitiesWe expect significant direct impacts fromclimate change in the uplands. Summers willbe hotter and drier, winters will be warmerand wetter and there will be more extremeweather events. This will affect vegetationgrowth (eg more grass might be available forlivestock grazing), increase erosion rates and

possibly incidence of wildfire, and change thetypes of wildlife species found in the uplands.

Land use decisions will be even moreimportant if we are to get all the vital benefitsand services from the uplands that we need.

People and communities in the uplands, aswell as those outside them, are facing anumber of other challenges andopportunities. The population is changing: theaverage age of farmers is increasing and newsocial groups are becoming more established.Land management incomes tend to be low.New technology, such as broadband andrenewable energy, is changing the way peoplelive and work. Changes in public policy candrastically affect funding for farming andother land management. Society more widelyis changing in its values, aspirations andeconomic prosperity, affecting in turn howpeople engage with the natural world.

We hope everyone will use Vital Uplandsto

create opportunities for integrated practicalaction, policies, business investment andcommunity involvement to support thesustainable use and management of ourupland environment. Making the rightdecisions about land use and managementtoday will help secure a future for ourenvironment and all of us who depend on it.

280 million

years ago(Permian)

2 million years ago

(Quaternary)

1 million years ago

(Interglacial)

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Our vision

Imagine what our uplands could belike! It is England, in 2060...

Our healthy upland environment, with itsoutstanding wealth of wildlife habitats andcultural landscapes, is crucial to everyoneswellbeing. Millions now depend on theuplands for vital benefits that sustain life and

living. The uplands are a rewarding place tolive, work and enjoy. They play a crucial rolein helping us adapt to a changing climate.People are motivated to protect and lookafter the environment for their own sake,and to provide an enduring legacy for futuregenerations.

n Upland communities and economies are vibrant,sustainable and forward looking, their success isintricately linked with a healthy naturalenvironment. There are abundant newopportunities for businesses which deliver thevital outcomes.

n Clean water supplyfrom upland rivers and lakesis more important than ever before, as ourlowlands are now hotter and drier.

n Risks and impacts of natural hazards arereduced by the uplands. The risk of downstreamflooding is minimised, and wildfires are prevented.This helps save homes and countryside from themore frequent storms and unpredictable weatherpatterns of 2060.

n Health and wellbeing benefits from wildexperiences and inspirational memories ofupland landscapes and historic environmentsarevalued, shared and celebrated in our largelyurbanised world.

n Food, wood and other raw materials are

produced sustainably, conserving soils, reducingcarbon emissions, and providing localemployment.

n Upland land use helps to mitigate and reduceclimate changeby storing and capturing carbonin soils and woodland; and by deliveringrenewable energy from a variety of sources.

n Resilient upland ecosystems, where naturalprocesses adapt to large-scale change, provide ahaven for wildlife under pressure.

Vital outcomes fromthe 2060 uplands

Upland communitiesand economies arevibrant, sustainable

and forward looking

Clean water supply

Risks and impactsof natural hazardsare reduced by theuplands

Upland land usehelps to mitigateand reduce climatechange

Food, wood andother raw materialsare producedsustainably

Resilient uplandecosystems

Health andwellbeing benefits

from wild experiencesand inspirational memories

of upland landscapes andhistoric environments


The uplands arecovered in densewoodland. By 10,000BC hunter-gathererswere present.

Introduction offarming. Woodlandscleared for crops andgrazing land. Burialcairns and hengesconstructed.

Cooler and wetterweather causes water-logging and peatgrowth.

1,500 years ago(Holocene)

4000 BC 2200 BC(Neolithic) 1000BC(Bronze Age)

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Bringing the vision to life

People are central to achieving a healthyupland environment those who directlymanage it, and those who use or benefit fromit. By 2060, people have extended the successof previous good practice in land andresource use and management. They haveeffectively integrated the vision outcomes, toachieve resilient, stimulating and valuedupland landscapes which demonstratesustainable living.

Innovative land owners and managers arevital in the 2060 uplands including farmers,

foresters, sporting and recreation managers,as well as those who manage catchments,common land and nature reserves. They areflexible and responsive to the new demandsand opportunities of the mid 21st century.They have found new markets for goods likewater and carbon, and they work together todeliver a wide range of valuable marketproduce alongside vital public benefits.

Thriving upland livelihoods andcommunitiesin 2060 have a moreeconomically secure future supported by abroad mix of businesses like food and rawmaterials, tourism, recreation and sportinggame management, education, health, water,the arts, green energy and transport, andconservation. Such businesses thrive in theuplands because they are underpinned by ahealthy environment.

Sustainable consumers.The millions ofpeople who benefit from the upland

environment those living there and peoplefurther afield recognise and value thesebenefits, and reduce any negative impacts onthe environment, through their choices aboutfood, travel, energy, leisure and education.

Uplands crossed byroads and dotted withforts to act as policeposts. Exploitationof mineral resourcessuch as lead and silver.

European brown bearextinct in England.

Foundation ofmonasteries in remoteareas running largescale sheep farms.Designation of largeareas as hunting foreststo preserve game.

D200 (Romans)

AD1000 1200 Medieval9

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Many businesses in the Lake District benefit from the high quality environment and want to put something back. The CumbriaTourism and Conservation Partnership recruits tourism business members to raise money for conservation work. Oneexample is the Miles without stiles project which promotes better countryside access for those with limited mobility.



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How might the uplands look in 2060?These pages show an upland landscape in 2009, and how the sameplace might look by 2060, if some of the vision outcomes areachieved. Although the image is based on real landscape terrain, thefeatures in the photographic drape are modelled.

n The intention of these images is to provide a tool for discussiononly. They show one possible view of the future in this type oflandscape.

Through target notes and photographs, we have highlightednsome of the key features from 2009 which we would want to seemodified by 2060.

Area ofartificiallydrained peatbog withlarge erodinggullies andbare peat.

Footpatherosion, madeworse byincreasinglyintense rainfallevents.

Soil erosion resulting in

streams with high sedimentloads and peat stainedwater. Further downstreamwater will pick up nitratesfrom fertilised (deep green)pastures.

Bracken,grassland andmoor grazed bysheep providingfood and wool.Intensive grazingcan cause soilerosion and compaction, and preventregeneration of scrub and trees. Thusspeeding water run-off.

Rotational burning of vegetationpatches and predator control forgrouse moor management. This canprevent growth of scrub and squeezeout some upland species whilstbenefitting others.

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2009

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Imagery licensed to Natural England for PGA, through Next Perspectives TM


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Blanket bogand uplandheath withwider range ofspeciesincludingraptors like henharrier.

Restored blanket bog withpools,Sphagnummoss andcotton grass. Carbon losses areavoided and downstreamwater quality improved.Rotational moor burning forgrouse continues, but awayfrom blanket bog habitats.

Woodland and scrubdeveloping on brackencovered slopes preventing soil erosion,filtering water, storingcarbon and providingwildlife habitat.

Small scale hydro powerinstallation on stream,providing power for youthhostel. Water is clear (not peat

stained) and free from nitrates,as it flows into the drinkingwater reservoir below.

Hay meadows restored andmanaged with annual cutting andaftermath grazing. Livestock fromthese fields often taste better andtheir environmental impact is lessbecause no artificial fertilisers areused (paler green fields).

Single large grazing unit ofrushy pasture, woodlandand scrub. Allows morenatural processes tooperate, helping adaptationto climate change and stillproducing food.

Farm has expanded with eco-buildings running on renewableenergy. In addition to livestockbuildings, it now includes a smallsawmill to process timber, aninterpretation centre for visitorsand an expanded campsite.

2060

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What is needed to achieve the2060 vision?

Distinctive places

We recognise that each upland valley,mountain top or catchment has a differentstarting point on the journey to 2060, basedon its geography, history, ownership andpurpose. The detail of what we collectivelydo, and where we do it, will need to build onthese distinctive differences in order to

strengthen landscape character, protect thehistoric environment and allow sensitivelandscape evolution. We set out the Top 10changes which we think are needed to secureour vision outcomes by 2060. Each changewill usually contribute to a number of thevisions outcomes.


Grey wolf extinct inEngland.

Development of steampower allows deepmining for mineralssuch as tin, copperand lead.

European beaverextinct in England.

1680 18th century 1780

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Grazing by native cattle breeds, such as this Blue-grey in the Yorkshire Dales, benefits the limestone grassland and produceshigh quality meat


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The Top 10 changes for a betteruplands (not in any order of priority)

Changes on the ground by 2060

1 Stabilised soils

All eroding peat soils and blanket bog havebeen stabilised, wetted-up and vegetated,and are actively absorbing carbon from theatmosphere. All other soils are managed sothat compaction and erosion are minimised,and they can accumulate organic matter, andtherefore carbon.

Grouse moor managers, as owners of themajority of northern Englands upland peatresource and heather moorland, have

embraced the challenge of managing soilcarbon resources sustainably. They havetaken account of research outputs andmodified their management whereappropriate.

2 Diverse open uplands

Open upland heaths, bogs and grasslands area major part of what makes our uplandlandscapes distinctive, supporting a wider

range of associated wildlife. Grouse moormanagement remains an importantcomponent of our open uplands shapinglandscapes with sustainable grazing andburning practices. Such practices, now well-integrated with other vital outcomes, supporta greater diversity of vegetation structure andhabitat mosaics, including scrub and trees.They also reduce soil erosion and limitwildfire. In places, some areas such as blanket

bog or high altitude heath, are ungrazed andunburnt.

3 Grazing systems that produce food andmuch more

Grazing, at different scales and intensities,is still part of the character of many of our

upland landscapes. Domestic herbivores cattle, sheep and ponies as well as wildones, such as deer, are managed within awider spectrum of grazing systems, includingthose that are closer to nature. On theground, grazing is matched to each place toachieve the best outcomes. For example,

from food production with higher stockinglevels; to water quality improvement withlower, or sometimes zero, grazing. Across theuplands as a whole, food production fromlivestock is now fully integrated withproducing other vital outcomes. This hasimproved the long-term assurance of foodsupplies, clean water, carbon stores,landscape and wildlife.

4 More, and better managed, woodlandsThere has been a substantial increase inwoodland cover, and more existing woodshave been brought into management. Treesand woodlands now cover up to 25 per centof the uplands. This includes the fullspectrum of woodland types single trees,grazed wood pasture and parkland, highaltitude scrub, native woodland andplantations. Often this is located along

stream and gully sides, on former bracken-covered land and in mosaics with otherhabitats.

Large working mixed and conifer forests arewell integrated with other land uses. Thefuture of 2010s remnant native woods ismuch more certain as grazing levels allowmore natural regeneration. Improvedconnectivity between woods is helpingwoodland plants and animals adapt to the

impacts of climate change.


Romantic movementmakes upland areasa destination forpainters and poets,seeking inspiration.

Scientific farming,

developing the useof lime fertilizers.Enclosure of moorsand former huntingforests.

Driven grouse shootsdevelop with breechloading shotguns.First use of uplands asmilitary training areas.Wordsworth

1770-1850

1850 19th century15

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1950s


5 Green energy

Renewable wood-fuel, water power, groundsource heat, solar and wind technologiesproduce energy for residents, visitors, andsupply power outside the uplands. Powerinfrastructure is sited to minimise irreversibleor unacceptable impacts on the environment

and landscape.

6 Low-carbon growth

Upland business, industry, built developmentand transport are focused on low-carbongrowth. A low-carbon recreation and tourismindustry is booming. Visitors use highlyefficient transport to get to the heart of theuplands, where they can enjoy an excitingrange of outdoor recreation activities that use

the environment sustainably. New-builtdevelopment, and restoration of buildings,bridges and walls, involves innovative,carbon-neutral architecture that takesinspiration from, and reinforces, the locallandscape character. Upland farming,forestry and other land management nolonger relies on fossil fuels the use ofexternal inputs, such as oil-based fuel andgreenhouse gas-intensive fertiliser and feed,

has been minimised, and produce processingis more efficient.

Changing perceptions and approaches

7 Better understanding

People across England understand moreabout the role of a healthy uplandenvironment in supplying their life needsincluding water, food, energy and space forrecreation. Upland education programmesand activities enthuse and challengeparticipants and help many more peopleacross society to maintain a life-longrelationship with these special places. Peopleare motivated to do whatever they can tovalue, support, protect and improve theupland environment.

8 Professional knowledge

Farmers and other land managers have theright skills, knowledge and resources tomanage the environment for the range ofbenefits it provides, and take pride in doingso. They work with nature and naturalprocesses to maximise sustainable productionand achieve their business objectives, usingdiverse land management systems.

9 Reward and recognition

Upland farmers and other land managers arerewarded for providing a range of vitalenvironmental goods and services, primarilyby the people and places that benefit.Innovative new markets and other supportencourage practices that achieve the visionsoutcomes. This has revolutionised the wayupland land managers generate their income.

10 Co-operation

By co-operating across ownership andadministrative boundaries people achieve thelandscape-wide results needed for many ofthe visions outcomes. Joined-up thinking andcollaboration between different interestgroups leads to lasting solutions andwidespread support.

The Kinder Scout mass

trespass action wasthe first in Englandto try and get massaccess to the moorsfrom the cities.

National Parks

and Access to theCountryside Act. Siteof Special ScientificInterest designationgets underway.

1932 1949

Peak District National Parks Moorland Centre reflectsits upland setting. It has a living turf roof for insulationand is heated by a ground source heat pump

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Drainage of peatdriven by desire forself-sufficiency infood.

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Acknowledgements

Natural England would like to thank the manyorganisations and individuals for their challengingresponses, comments and questions which havehelped refine our thinking and presentation of thisvision. We know that they will be working hard overthe coming years to help achieve many of theoutcomes described here. We look forward toworking with them.

For more information go to:www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/securefuture/default.aspx

Image credits

All photographs Natural England unless otherwisestated.

Front cover: Photolibrary Group Ltd

Inside front cover: Rebecca Barrett/North PenninesAONB Partnership

Page 1:(Main) Stuart Holmes/Sharp Edge Images(1) Tom Pfeiffer/Volcano Discovery/Getty images(2) Adam Gault/Getty images

Page 2:(5) Reconstruction by Nick Arber. Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service

Page 3:(7) Museum of London (8) Peter Roworth

Page 4:(Main) Charlie Hedley(10) www.copyright-free-photos.org.uk

Centre pages:(2) LDNP (3) RSPB-images.com(6) PDNPA/Moors for the Future (7) RSPB-images.com

(10) LDNP (11) David Glaves (12) Mick Posen

Page 6:(15) The Wordsworth Trust (17) Getty Images

Page 7:(Main and 18) PDNPA(19) North York Moors National Park Authority

Common Agricultural

Policy paysproduction subsidies,intensifying grazingand agriculturalimprovement in theuplands.

Agriculture Act enables

creation of firstEnvironmentally Sensitiveareas, beginning a change ingrant aid, from productionsubsidy to payment forenvironmental benefit.1973

1986

Discussing land use changes amongst the commoners of Caldbeck in Cumbria

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Vital Uplands: A 2060 vision for Englands upland environment


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Natural England is here to conserve andenhance the natural environment, forits intrinsic value, the wellbeing andenjoyment of people and the economicprosperity that it brings.

Natural England 2009

ISBN 978-1-84754-174-1

Catalogue Code: NE210

www.naturalengland.org.uk

Natural England publications areavailable as accessible pdfs from: www.naturalengland.org.uk/publications

Should an alternative format of thispublication be required, please contactour enquiries line for more information:

0845 600 3078 or email [email protected]

Printed on Defra Silk comprising 75%recycled fibre.

Lone climber on Ingleborough, Yorkshire Dales.

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Vital Uplands Vision