Action plan
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Key Partner(s) | Activities | Status | Flag | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1A | Ensure all local planning authorities and other interested organisations have access to AONB Landscape Character Assessment GIS data layers and understand how these can be used as a planning tool |
All LPAs supplied with GIS data layers. 2014 Hold at least 1 meeting per year with LPA or other partner to raise awareness of AONB LCA and its uses. Annually |
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| 1.1B | Utilise the AONB Landscape Character Assessment to monitor landscape change within the AONB, as part of a 'State of the AONB' Report |
AONB LCA used to establish baseline information in State of the AONB' report 2015 |
1 | Completed | View | ||
| 1.1C | Continue to support the 'Traditional Boundaries' programme, managing and restoring hedgerows, dry stone walls and railing fences |
Develop at least 3 traditional boundary restoration projects per year Annually Hold 3 training events/competitions per year Annually |
6 | View | |||
| 1.1D | Establish new funding sources for the 'Traditional Boundaries' programme to supplement AONB support |
Develop a fund-raising plan for 'Traditional Boundaries' Programme 2014 Submit bids for external funding, where available and appropriate 2015 |
3 | Ongoing | View | ||
| 1.1E | Develop and disseminate advice note with design guidance for fencing in sensitive open landscapes (e.g. moorland, open river floodplains) |
Advice note developed 2014 |
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| 1.1F | Develop plan for managing landscape change due to loss of woodland and veteran trees through increased incidence of tree disease (e.g. Phytophthera ramorum, Chalara fraxinea). |
Hold woodland management seminar/field visit 2014 Management plan developed 2015 |
2 | View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Key Partner(s) | Activities | Status | Flag | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2A | Re-establish an AONB Biodiversity Working Group (BD Working Group), representing key agencies, local authorities, environmental organisations |
Working Group re-established 2014 Produce a brief annual delivery plan for Working Group Annually |
3 | Completed | View | ||
| 1.2B | Carry out 'ecosystem approach' self-assessment produced by Natural England |
Self-assessment completed 2014 |
3 | Completed | View | ||
| 1.2C | Contribute to research on the value of 'ecosystem services' provided by the natural environment of the AONB and communicate findings to a wide audience |
Research opportunities with Natural England identified 2014 Research commenced 2015 |
3 | View | |||
| 1.2D | Explore opportunities for biodiversity offsetting with local planning authorities (recognising the mechanism as a last resort after options for avoidance and on-site mitigation have been exhausted) |
Hold 'planning and development' seminar to discuss opportunities for biodiversity offsetting within the AONB 2014 |
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| 1.2E | Play an active role in the government's 'Catchment-based Approach' (CaBA) to river management and restoration for the Lune, Ribble and Wyre |
Meet with EA catchment management staff and Rivers Trusts for Lune and Wyre re:CaBA 2014 Attend at least 2 Ribble Life stakeholder exchange meetings per year Annually Investigate opportunities for catchment-based management options and agreements for the New Environmental Land Management Scheme (NELMS). 2014 |
7 | Ongoing | View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Key Partner(s) | Activities | Status | Flag | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3A | Ensure AONB's SSSIs are in favourable or recovering condition and take appropriate action to bring those SSSIs that are currently in recovering condition into favourable condition |
Ensure 100% of the AONB's SSSIs are in favourable or recovering condition 2019 Ensure at least 50% of SSSIs are in favourable condition 2019 |
9 | Ongoing | View | ||
| 1.3B | Carry out a mapping exercise of priority habitats (including local important and locally designated sites) and commission condition surveys of the priority habitats identified |
Peatland and species-rich grassland habitat survey work complete 2014 Agree further work on priority habitat surveys (e.g. woodlands, mires and wet grassland) 2014 Survey at least 2 additional priority habitats 2016 |
7 | Ongoing | View | ||
| 1.3C | Develop opportunity maps for potential habitat creation and restoration for priority habitat identified; linking with LNP ecological frameworks research and mapping for Lancashire and priority areas identified in North Yorkshire (e.g Long Preston Wet Grasslands) |
Habitat creation and restoration opportunities mapping developed for 4 priority habitats 2016 |
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| 1.3D | Restore and re-wet areas of blanket bog habitat as identified in the AONB Peatland Restoration Plan |
Restoration and re-wetting of 35hectares of blanket bog habitat (subject to funding availability) 2019 |
8 | Ongoing | View | ||
| 1.3E | Play an active role in local and regional peatland initiatives (e.g. Lancashire and Pennine Peat Partnerships) to seek additional funding to deliver AONB Peatland Restoration Plan |
Lancashire Upland Peat Partnership restoration plan (incl. AONB data) complete 2014 AONB projects included in Pennine Peat Partnership bid for EU LIFE+ funding 2014 |
5 | Ongoing | View | ||
| 1.3F | Conserve, restore and create species-rich grassland habitats |
Jointly deliver 'Networks for Nectar' project with YDMT (funded by LEF to end Sep 2015) 2015 Restore 10ha. of hay meadow 2015 Restore and ensure management of 12 small species-rich grassland sites |
5 | Completed | View | ||
| 1.3G | Support the creation of new native woodland in appropriate sites and the expansion of existing woodlands to reduce habitat fragmentation |
Utilise woodland opportunities mapping to guide future woodland creation and expansion 2016 onwards |
2 | View | |||
| 1.3H | Conserve and enhance native woodland through appropriate management (e.g. small-scale, traditional coppice techniques), aiming to maintain good structure and maximise biodiversity |
Hold woodland management seminar/field visit 2014 Secure funding for at least 1 pilot woodfuel economy project 2016 |
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| 1.3I | Liaise with local authorities to maintain or enhance the biodiversity of roadside verges, through maintenance of appropriate and timely cutting regimes |
Extend Ribble Valley pilot 'Roadside Verges' project to other local authority areas in the AONB 2015 |
3 | Ongoing | View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Key Partner(s) | Activities | Status | Flag | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4A | Identify local and national 'species at risk' within the area; prioritise and carry out surveys where necessary and work with existing datasets/risk registers on populations of rare species in the AONB |
Establish risk register 2014 Commission surveys for 2 'priority species at risk' 2015 Commission surveys for at least 2 further priority species at risk 2016 |
3 | Ongoing | View | ||
| 1.4B | Develop local species recovery plans for priority 'species at risk' identified; ensuring synergy with national species recovery plans where these exist |
Produce 4 local species recovery plans 2015 Produce at least 2 further local species recovery plans 2016 |
2 | Ongoing | View | ||
| 1.4C | Continue to support research and monitoring and encourage implementation of habitat projects for characteristic bird species such as hen harrier, merlin, peregrine, ring ouzel, lapwing, snipe, redshank and curlew; including support for relevant species recovery plans |
Identify and agree appropriate habitat intervention opportunities for at least 2 species 2016 |
2 | View | |||
| 1.4D | Support local actions to provide suitable conditions to re-establish hen harrier as a breeding species in the AONB, in line with the government's emerging national species recovery plan |
Develop local actions to support the re-establishment of breeding hen harrier in the AONB 2014-15 Active participation in the new 'Northern England Protected Landscapes Hen Harrier Group' Annually |
2 | Ongoing | View | ||
| 1.4E | Investigate feasibility of establishing pilot predator control areas to reduce the impact of predators on ground-nesting bird populations (waders in particular) within the AONB |
Feasibility study complete 2015 If appropriate, seek funding to establish at least one pilot predator control area 2015 |
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| 1.4F | Play an active role in county-wide Invasive Non-native Species (INNS) projects such as 'Lancashire Invasives', to help manage and eradicate Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and Giant hogweed in the AONB |
Organise 15 volunteer days per year Annually Complete INNS Strategy and Action Plan 2014 Secure funding for continuation of county-wide INNS project for Lancashire 2014 |
2 | View |
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Key Partner(s) | Activities | Status | Flag | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5A | Develop information to raise awareness and improve understanding of the geological landscape of the AONB, both on the AONB website and interpretation at appropriate viewpoints, buildings and landscape features |
Geodiversity content on AONB website updated and improved, including information on Local Geodiversity Sites in the AONB 2015 Investigate opportunities for use of mobile app technologies (e.g. BGS augmented reality geology app) in the AONB. 2015 Install on-site interpretation on geodiversity in the landscape developed at a Local Geodiversity Site or viewpoint in the AONB 2019 |
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| 1.5B | Identify potential geodiversity projects involving quarrying and civil engineering industry and local communities |
Hold discussions with companies based in or close to the AONB 2015 Develop 1 geodiversity project 2019 |
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| 1.5C | Investigate opportunities to add existing 'geo-walks' to AONB suite of promoted routes, where appropriate |
Include 3 'geo-walks' within AONB promoted routes 2019 |
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| Action | Targets and Timescales | Key Partner(s) | Activities | Status | Flag | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6A | Work closely with statutory agencies to identify designated heritage assets 'at risk' and develop management plans to facilitate the removal of assets from English Heritage's 'Heritage at Risk Register' |
Hold meeting with English Heritage to discuss establishment of 'Heritage at Risk Register' for AONB 2014 Complete first designated heritage asset management plan 2016 |
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