Condition of Landscape Character
Indicator
The percentage of landscape units (Land Cover Parcels) in which
the condition has changed.
Status
The percentage of landscape units in which condition has changed
is good, and remains constant.
Overview
This indicator is measured by re-assessing the landscape
character condition scores for a sample of 6 Land Cover Parcels
(LCPs) within each Landscape Type and comparing them with their
baseline condition scores.
(LCPs are the smallest units of landscape character. Landscape
Types are a generic classification category for landscape, assigned
to units that share the same types of landscape features – e.g.
hedgerow pattern or tree cover – in the same combination.)
The baseline condition assessment was undertaken for the whole
county (912 LCPs) in 2008 using the 2005 aerial photographs. The
current assessment has been undertaken for using the latest version
of Google Earth (images dating from 2006-2007).
Landscape condition is assessed by viewing aerial photographs
and assigning scores to each LCP for each of 6 landscape
attributes: field boundaries, enclosure pattern, tree cover pattern
and character, land use and settlement pattern. Based on these
total scores, parcels are then assigned to 'high', 'medium' or
'low' condition categories. During the reporting process, the
selected parcels are reassessed and it is noted if their score
changes sufficiently to move them up or down a condition
category.
Reporting on this indicator annually and consistently is
problematic: aerial photographs are only taken on a 5 year cycle,
and, while Google Earth can be used to make assessments in the
interim, it is unclear when or how frequently this dataset is
updated for Worcestershire. Field survey is possible but too
time-consuming to be feasible on a yearly basis. However, change in
the character of landscape is generally slow – gross changes may be
observed when larger areas of land are lost to large-scale
development but generally, landscape character is eroded gradually
through loss of one or more features. For example loss of
characteristic hedgerow oaks which tend not to be maintained or
replaced; a change in woodland character or cover and the tendency
for new woodland to have geometric or regular outlines even in
ancient landscapes; and an increased proportion of arable farming
in landscapes with a characteristically mixed land use. As a
result, 3-5 yearly monitoring should be more than sufficient to
observe trends in the landscape.
Performance
In the base line year (2005 aerial photograph set, assessed
2008) the percentage of landscape units (LCPs) in the high
condition category was 69%, the percentage in the medium condition
category was 27%, and the percentage in the poor condition category
was 4%. (This is a countywide assessment, but excludes urban
areas.) This means that current status of the landscape character
in Worcestershire is good as illustrated in the pie chart
below:
In 2009 a sample of 125 LCPs were chosen for reassessment. Six
LCPs were selected from each Landscape Type (except for Wooded
Forest for which there is only 1 LCP and Limestone Estatelands for
which there are only 4 LCPs in the county). Parcels were chosen
from both peri-urban and rural locations and with the aim of giving
a good cross-county distribution.
Based on the 2009 reassessment (which used Google Earth images
dating from 2006-2007) there was no change noted in the condition
of any of the parcels and therefore no units moved either up or
down a condition category. This illustrates that, currently, the
condition of landscape character – that is the characteristic field
boundaries, enclosure pattern, tree cover pattern and character,
land use and settlement pattern – is good and stable.
Geographical Context
At a county scale, many other local authorities have completed
or are in the process of undertaking landscape character
assessments. There are two phases to LCA: (1) classification and
description and (2) analysis and evaluation. Condition and
sensitivity assessment form part of this second phase but as yet,
other counties have not undertaken or published condition and
sensitivity analyses. However, an established methodology exists
and it will be interesting to compare the Worcestershire assessment
with other counties' when they become available.
At a national scale, landscape condition is assessed using much
larger units – Joint Character Areas (JCAs) – as part of the
Countryside Quality Counts project
http://countryside-quality-counts.org.uk/. This study, sponsored by
Natural England, Defra and English Heritage, seeks to determine
whether the scale and direction of change suggests that the
character of JCAs has been maintained or enhanced, or alternatively
whether current changes suggest that an area remains neglected, or
is continuing to transform. The most recent matrix is for the
period 1999-2003 and reads:
Actions
Wherever possible, opportunities should be sought to strengthen
landscape character by ensuring that land management activities and
new development take into account the characteristic features of
the landscapes in which they take place. Extensive information and
advice about the distinctive character of the Landscape Types found
in Worcestershire is available through our website (see below). All
LSP partners should be aware of this work and should apply it
accordingly when/if their activities will potentially impact on the
landscape character and promote/share this knowledge with others
where appropriate.
Further Information
More information about the landscape character of
Worcestershire, including full access to the database, methodology
and documentation is available from the Landscapes of
Worcestershire website, at: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/lca
Back to Land Use theme
