User Guide

What is landscape?

Summary

The European Landscape Convention defines landscape as 'an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors.'

Explanation

Landscape is more than just scenery: it is the interaction between people and place; the bedrock upon which our society is built. Landscape is what gives meaning and value to the world around us, contributing greatly to our sense of identity and quality of life. Landscape does not just mean rural; it includes urban areas as well as inland water, coastline and marine areas. Landscape includes both beautiful and everyday places, as well as those in need of restoration.

Landscape makes connections between people, between people and places, and between society and its environment. Landscape links culture with nature, and the past with the present. The European Landscape Convention defines landscape as 'an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors.'

Why is landscape important?

Summary

Well-looked after and highly valued landscapes are essential to social well-being and an economically healthy society.

Explanation

Landscape has many values, not all of them tangible (such as sense of place); and it matters to people – it is people who create and value landscape.

Well-looked after and highly valued landscapes are essential to social well-being and an economically healthy society. We value our landscapes because of their inherent interest, their contribution to both our national identity and our local distinctiveness, their artistic inspiration - and for the goods and services they can provide, including food, water, mineral resources, disease management, climate regulation, spiritual fulfilment and aesthetic enjoyment.

Climate change: why landscape matters

Summary

Climate change will put pressure on the landscape. The landscape, however, can help us to adapt and combat the affects of climate change.

Explanation

Climate change will put pressure on the landscape. The goods and services that the landscape provides for people, such as food and water, will be affected by climate change. We can use the landscape, however, to help us to adapt and combat the affects of climate change, such as by managing fens to capture carbon.

There may also be pressure on the landscape from interventions that aim to tackle and adapt to climate change, such as introducing renewable technologies into the landscape. It is important to understand the landscape character and sensitivity of the landscape when planning for climate change.

Planning: why landscape matters

Summary

New development changes landscape character, understanding the landscape character context for new development is essential for sustainable planning.

Explanation

New development changes landscape character, understanding the landscape character context for new development is essential for sustainable planning. Development can be used to create and enhance landscape character if it is appropriately planned, however, inappropriate development can weaken and erode landscape character. It is therefore essential that the planning of new development takes account of landscape character and seeks to strengthen and enhance it. Considering landscape during the planning process is important for meeting the requirements of the European Landscape Convention which requires strong forward looking planning actions to enhance, restore or create landscapes.

Land management: why landscape matters

Summary

Explanation

How a landscape is managed will impact upon landscape character. Managing a landscape to enhance characteristics will have a positive landscape impact whilst the introduction of new and inappropriate elements may erode or damage the strength of landscape character. Appropriate landscape management can harmonise and guide changes brought about by social, environmental and economic processes, in line with the requirements of the European Landscape Convention.

Biodiversity: why landscape matters

Summary

Biodiversity, like the landscape, is strongly influenced by the actions of people. Shared approaches to the management of landscapes and biodiversity that consider these natural and cultural factors are likely to result in more effective use of resources.

Explanation

The guide that accompanies the Convention on Biological Diversity states that;

“biodiversity is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms. The biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend.”

It is clear from this that biodiversity, like the landscape, is strongly influenced by the actions of people. Indeed it can be argued that there are no truly natural habitats in the UK as every part of the country has been affected by the influence of people. Just as cultural factors have shaped biodiversity, so too has biodiversity shaped culture. There are important cultural meanings attached to various aspects of biodiversity, many of which express the relationship between people and place. Shared approaches to the management of landscapes and biodiversity that consider these natural and cultural factors are likely to result in more effective use of resources.

Recent decades have seen many landscape scale changes in biodiversity across the British Isles, many of which are associated with changes in land management that have been driven by technological advances in agriculture and changing patterns of subsidies. Landscape scale changes to biodiversity require landscape scale responses. Techniques emerging from landscape ecology highlight the importance of considering landscapes as a whole and particularly the connectivity of habitats.

Historic environment: why landscape matters

Summary

The historic environment helps us to understand the origins and significance of our landscape. It therefore provides important information on how the landscape needs to be managed.

Explanation

The historic environment is defined as all aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible or buried, and deliberately planted or managed flora.

The 'historic environment' is defined as ‘all aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible or buried, and deliberately planted or managed flora.’

The historic environment shapes landscape character and helps us to understand the origins and significance of our landscape. It therefore provides important information on how the landscape needs to be managed.

The historic environment can be seen everywhere, from the use of natural resources for building or industry through to settlement patterns, military defences and sea and land management practices. It provides a wide range of tangible and intangible benefits. For instance, it contributes to the tourist economy, local distinctiveness, and senses of place and of community.

Geodiversity: why landscape matters

Summary

Geodiversity underpins the physical landscape through geology, geomorphology, soils and water, and the active natural processes which maintain them.

Explanation

Geodiversity is defined as the natural range (diversity) of geological features (rocks, minerals, fossils, structures), geomorphological features (landforms and processes), soil and water features that make up the landscape. It forms the non-biological substrate and context for all living things, including human life.

Geodiversity underpins the variety of our physical landscapes through rock type, topography, drainage pattern and soils. It provides the depth dimension to understanding the evolution of our physical environment.

Geodiversity is valued as a natural asset in its own right, and also for its utilitarian value through the ecosystem services it performs in our landscape, including provision of water and minerals, climate regulation, flood protection, soil formation and intangible cultural assets.