Workshop 1: All Landscapes Matter!

The workshop was led by Michael Starrett, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Ireland with a presentation by David Vose, Senior Advisor, Landscape and Integration Team, Strategy Implementation, Natural England, in which he highlighted Conservation 21: Natural England’s Conservation Strategy for the 21st Century and its significance for Pennine Prospects and the South Pennines.

Four suggestions were raised by the workshop participants in relation to Pennine Prospects’ role within the South Pennines. It was argued that:

  • With increased cuts to resources amongst local authorities and statutory bodies Pennine Prospects should strive to act as a governing body for the South Pennines; co-ordinating landowners such as local councils, private owners, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and the National Trust. Pennine Prospects needs to prevent polarised approaches to the management of the region and act as an anchor for statutory organisations, such as Natural England and the Environment Agency to tackle regional issues including flood risk, moorland regeneration and general preservation, conservation and development.
  • Pennine Prospects should act as a hub for the public; to continue, effectively communicate and raise public awareness of issues concerning the South Pennines, something which is currently lacking, such as flood risk strategies. This is essential, not only to inform, but to encourage active debate and promote inclusiveness amongst the population, whilst enhancing the profile of Pennine Prospects as the go-to location for regional landscape concerns.
  • Pennine Prospects should act as an enabler, supporting and offering advice to individuals and local community initiatives that will benefit the South Pennines’ landscape. The organisation may also benefit from offering a sustainable volunteering programme, which could, for example, report on the state of conservation, for monuments and landscapes, for example. This could follow a model established by the National Trust in regards to monitoring moorland heritage. It is important, however, to ensure that any volunteer programme is sustainable and controlled by recognised professionals. Volunteers should not be used instead of professionals.
  • Participants felt that the biggest issue concerning Pennine Prospects and its ability to lead the promotion, conservation and development of the South Pennines is financial. At a time when statutory organisations, local authorities and central government are restricted financially, securing Pennine Prospects’ financial capacity to ensure success into the future may be difficult to achieve.

Workshop 2: From governance to funding, what value do our landscapes have?

The workshop was led by Helen McDade, Head of Policy of the John Muir Trust, with a presentation by Patrick Candler, Chief Executive of the Sherwood Forest Trust, Chair of the Regional Park Board. Patrick detailed the steps that have been taken to establish a Sherwood Forest Regional Park, which will be launched in spring 2017.

In his presentation Patrick explained how the trust had been formed:

  • The trust received lottery transition funding, which allowed board members to work on the trust’s legal status as an organisation. They used consultants to assess the relative merits of charity status, company limited by guarantee and CIC (Community Interest Company) status. Questions were raised regarding how this had helped; consultants had recommended becoming a CIC as this gave more flexibility to trade, but the board had chosen to remain a charity and company limited by guarantee mainly due to the protection this gives to board members.
  • The trust has a membership scheme in operation and there is the perception that members are more willing to join if the organisation is a charity. It was felt that this advantage would have been lost if it had become a CIC.
  • The trust is a pioneer; it is the first Landscape Partnership Scheme and a Regional Park, which is a designated space in planning terms but is a different entity from a National Park or AONB.
  • Participants discussed the situation in the South Pennines, where there is the involvement of business in supporting organisations; for example Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and Northern link with Pennine Prospects. This is not the case everywhere. There was discussion around linking with the train companies, which share a common interest around sustainable tourism.
  • Working with Local Nature Partnerships was also discussed. In Sherwood they have been involved with surveying local grassland, woodland and air quality. There was further discussion around how to put a monetary value on this work.
  • There was recognition that there is a need to put a monetary value on the landscape, and some input to say that Pennine Prospects is doing this already with Yorkshire Water.
  • Discussion took place around partnership working and the need for this to include a wider range of actors; more than interested parties who might be in competition with one another. Emphasis should be placed on smaller groups of people who will take action.
  • Participants also discussed the DEFRA 25 year plan, which includes elements of putting an economic value on the natural landscape.
  • The impact of Brexit on the environmental sector was also discussed. There was a call to be bold and say what we would like to see around enhanced legislation and protection. There was recognition that there is the facility to do this through the Environmental Audit Select Committee. This is still ongoing and can be both viewed and added to online.

Workshop 3: Local distinctiveness and special qualities/character of landscapes

Howard Davies, Chief Executive of the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, led the workshop and Nick Collinson, Head of Natural and Historic Environment Suffolk County Council, gave the presentation entitled ‘The Brecks: a story of distinctiveness and missed opportunities...landscape and governance’. Nick introduced the distinctive landscape of the Brecks on the Norfolk Suffolk border, which did not become an AONB.

Nick Collinson argued that we must identify opportunities and decide what we want to achieve in our distinctive landscapes. He introduced the Brecks, which has its own National Character Area (NCA). It is a dry landscape with distinctive characteristics, such as itspingos (a very rare type of pond), pine lines, wildlife and forests. It’s also the home of flint. And Boudicca rode out of the Brecks to go to war. He highlighted Thetford Warren Lodge, which was probably built around 1400 by the Prior of Thetford. This defensible lodge protected gamekeepers and hunting parties against armed poachers. Much later it was used by the local ‘warreners’ who hunted rabbits here.

Discussion points raised by workshop participants:

  • Is the South Pennines distinctive and special?Yes,it is because of its people, landscape and industrial heritage.
  • How do we communicate this?This may be possible through a similar vehicle to the Guiseley Neighbourhood plan, which collates neighbourhood planning and local community engagement. It is a template for the collection of information about the local area.
  • Howard Davies concluded there is no effective vehicle in place to communicate the South Pennines’ distinctiveness and therefore we need a new way method. Is there a need for re branding? A Destination Management Organisation (DMO) model may be useful.
  • Is there a DMO in South Pennines? No,however this may be an option but there is no funding to launch such an initiative.
  • Vehicles to achieve this:Working with communities, businesses and sporting events.

Conclusion

  • No need to reinvent the South Pennines.
  • Discussion around tourism; do we need to look at the vehicles through which we deliver on tourism?
  • The Guiseley Leeds/Bradford Gateway is a good model.
  • DMO:There isn’t one in the South Pennines but without one it may not be possible to achieve the coordination and the links.

Workshop 4: Distinctive landscapes and people

The workshop was led by Wilf Fenton, Environment Consultant, who also gave a presentation entitled ‘Strengthening the North’s Green Heart’ in which he suggested the creation of a Great North Green Ribband. Robin Gray, Development Manager, Pennine Prospects, gave a presentation on ‘Valuing our distinctive landscapes’ in which he examined the many ways in which the South Pennines is distinctive and has value, for its people, wildlife and the environment.

Robin Gray gave a short presentation outlining the South Pennines and the work of Pennine Prospects (PP):

  • PP’s operational area straddles many boundaries and two regions
  • PP is a rural regeneration company; a private company with directors
  • The South Pennines has no landscape designation, but includes habitats of international importance
  • National Character Assessment 36 describes the South Pennines including its distinctive wooded valleys, rare ground nesting birds, Mesolithic archaeology and working landscapes
  • The area faces challenges to address peat removal, erosion and uncontrolled fires in times of drought
  • The area offers significant benefits including openness, wild landscapes, water catchment, flood alleviation, history and experiences
  • PP’s operational area has a population of 7m+
  • PP involves local communities through programmes, but is aware that people from urban areas are less likely to engage
  • PP programmes are award-winning - Watershed Landscape Project awarded a Laureate in the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards 2013 for its education, training and awareness-raising
  • Other projects include Celebrating Our Woodland Heritage and Twite conservation

Wilf Fenton gave a short overview of the South Pennines as the North’s Green Heart:

  • Wilf overturned perceptions that landscapes sit on the periphery of cities, instead advocating that landscapes are the heart and that cities sit on the fringes; landscapes are the ecological heart of natural and human ecosystems and this way of thinking directs action
  • But he noted the challenges of visitors (erosion, parking, signage, etc.) and the need for balance in order to conserve nature and landscapes, which should always take priority
  • He noted the need for information and access, the support of local people and businesses and for sustainable development
  • Wilf cited examples of positive partnerships including:
  • Région PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) in France, a successful “community of communities” supporting food producers and businesses and an extensive cycling network, for example
  • Forest of Bowland which has won awards for “the Bowland Experience” with restaurateurs supporting the development of local producers of premium products, and including a voluntary 50p surcharge on bills going towards trampers (all-terrain mobility scooters)
  • Wilf recommended that in the South Pennines we need to:
  • Identify and be inspired by best practice
  • Develop a Sustainable Development Plan
  • Develop sustainable business models
  • Develop a regional partnership to create a “Great Northern Green Ribband” that is visionary but practical and includes a partnership charter and community forums

Wilf opened the floor for questions, comments and discussion:

Question: How can PP engage and influence other strategies etc. such as local plans? How can it advocate to decision makers? How can it help protect green belt from housing development?

Comment: Robin noted that Local Authority partners were careful not to concede any planning powers to PP when the Standing Conference for the South Pennines (SCOSPA), PP’S predecessor, was originally established. PP, therefore, does not comment on planning applications, but does input into strategic and local plans, regarding green infrastructure and safeguarding South Pennines’ heritage, for example, and providing evidence and data related to ground nesting birds and blanket bog.

Comment: Adrian (Planner from Rossendale) noted the need to better “sell” the wider benefits of the South Pennines, both landscape AND economic, particularly the tourism and active leisure cases, to challenge the strong imperative to build housing.

Question: Wilf noted the issues of visitors, but also the opportunities particularly those willing and able to purchase premium products and quality accommodation, and the need to provide this in the South Pennines.

Comment: Does this exclude the less well off?

Comment: Need to attract visitors with money to spend in the area.

Question: A question was asked about the potential advocacy role of PP representing the countryside?

Comment: It was noted that environmentalists are sometimes driven by their own agenda and do not always listen to others. Noted we need to listen to our communities better.

Comment: Noted that communications must engage diverse communities with different interests.

Comment: Local communities must be able to access.

Comment: Wilf noted the increase in cycling resulting from the Tour de France and that these visitors stop and spend. We need to attract more such visitors.

Comment: Wilf recommended that when consulting local people it would be ideal to offer them a “menu” of options. This is not restricting choice, but advising on the options. An example given was that you wouldn’t expect to be in a restaurant and be asked what you would like without a menu.

Comment: The need for honesty and clarity with people on the ground was agreed.

Question: Robin noted PP makes no apology for promoting South Pennine agendas, for example, engaging early years.

Comment: Noted that young people are bombarded by messages and that we need to promote opportunities for free recreation, particularly in light of the obesity crisis.

Question: Potential tensions regarding sustainable development were noted (i.e. between environmental, social and economic considerations).

Comment: Noted the most successful focus on all three.

Comment: Events like this one have the potential to engage all sectors.

Question: How is PP representative of the diverse South Pennines communities?

Comment: The potential of a charter was discussed.

Comment: An example of a successful charter was given – the EU Sustainable Tourism Charter. Members commit to attending a Sustainable Tourism Forum. To succeed the forum must have a high level partnership as well as a lower level focus on what people are interested in. It must be prepared for concerns, challenges and conflicts to emerge.

Comment: The opportunity for PP to engage partners that represent communities and other groups was noted.

Comment: The potential of collaborative working in sharing skills, knowledge and achieving good value across the NW through PP was noted.

Comment: The potential to use evidence of best practice through PP programmes including Moorwatch and the work with Fire and Rescue Services and Heritage Lottery Fund was noted.