Mark Fisher RURAL VISION A view of Bradford District’s rural landscape and its public goods and services. Workshop at the Rural Conference, 21 October 2004 LAND WATER TREES
ACCESS LAND Access land Moorland line ( m) www. countrysideaccess.gov.uk Open country (mountain, moor, heath and down) and registered common land
Agricultural Land Classification Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 No arable or horticulture
Farming - Less Favoured Areas Disadvantaged Severely Disadvantaged Dairy farming - only holding on in valley bottom Sheep and cattle – precarious viability on hillsides & moors
Average Annual Rainfall Rainfall highest into the Pennine upland
Reservoirs & Watercourses River Aire North Beck River North Harden Beck Clayton Beck Bradford Beck Flood Risk Areas Reservoirs
Landscape Conservation Areas Special areas of conservation Twite Lapwing Curlew Owl Sparrow hawk Kestrel
Woodland Coverage Woodland or plantation Flood risk areas < 5% woodland cover in Bradford District Flooding risk in all riparian habitats
Baildon Access Area woodland & wildflowers Midgeley wood Water wood Trench wood Broadstone wood BAILDON BANK BAILDON MOOR Loadpit Beck SHIPLEY GLEN Sphagnum moss Bog asphodel Sundew Heath orchid Ragged Robin Cranberry Water mint Greater birdsfoot trefoil
Baildon Moor - south Bracken Woodland spreading in from Mitton Spring Millstone grit guild Birch, rowan, holly, gorse, broom, heather Moorland grass and sedge, with some heather and bilberry
A AB B C C D D East side West side Baildon Moor southern area - re-wooding the bracken areas
Baildon Moor re-wooding – action -plan Identify archaeological sites Survey soil depths Devise planting plan – birch, rowan, holly, hawthorn, willow, broom, gorse – with some oak? Fence off areas or use individual tree guards? Check whether commons registration affects ability to fence- off
ISSUES 1. The low tree cover in the District (4%) compared to the national average (10%) 2. The level of local information and promotion of open access areas in the District, and guidance on the public's use of the land 3. Because of the nature of land use in the District, there needs to be recognition that landowners as well as farmers need support for environmental management of their land. ACTIONS 1. Develop a view and strategy for the public goods and services of the rural landscape of the District, exploring new woodland as a way in by considering the examples of tree planting in riparian habitats for flood mitigation and for the control of bracken on Baildon Moor. 2. Explore the potential of planning obligations as a means of raising funds in the District for organisations such as Forest of Bradford to carry out tree planting identified in action plans arising from the strategy. 3. Improve local information on open access by presenting feature walks on the council's website (i.e. the reservoir walks on the Yorkshire Water website) and accompany it with general information on open access and the Countryside Code. Refresh and vary the Guided Walks program of the Countryside Service. Workshop Feedback