Landscape Character Assessment for Heritage Management

Landscape Character Assessment for inheritance ManagementIn 200 words or less describe why democracyscape characterisation has over the past decade provided a signifi postt new dimension to heritage management employmentLandscape Characterisation has been described by English Heritage as a powerful tool that provides a frame browse for broadening our understanding of the consentaneous embellish and contri scarcelyes to decisions affecting tomorrows landscape.1 Landscape characterisation enables archaeologists, landscape specialists, and conservationists to work together to manage change within landscapes, using a rough-cut source that compiles a thoroughly deal disparate research into the character of landscapes into a unified and affectionate map of the area. For heritage management this development is particularly practiseful because it allows for a to a greater expiration than encyclopaedic analyze of the area under management such as the identifying, mapping and as sessing of habitats. This allows for more careful consideration of development planning in particular in semi- folksy areas where land is sought for residential use. To better understand the character of a landscape is to learn how to best protect it and this offers the potential for a better case for preserving beta and/ or historic features of landscapes. The process is unique as it helps to facilitate the compilation of data from a great variety of specific historical, archaeological, and paleontological sites onto internationally accessible databases this instruction is then used to help professionals manage change within landscapes on a national scale. This information can be put to good use in heritage management, particularly in terms of resources for education and visitor information. Landscape characterisation also helps the cohesion and implementation of management accomplishment plans and facilitates the strategic conservation of heritage. It does this by providing a historical context for already existing descriptions and research on landscapes, thus developing the understanding of how to manage landscapes especially on a local and regional level. Issues that interact through the process of landscape characterisation include local development and its control, environmental issues, and government proposals. Its use has also widened the scope for heritage management practice as it provides valuable data for existing heritage computer programs and assists in future proposals involving historic field systems. victimisation at least three examples describe the benefits and uses of characterisation for managing landscape change. Your examples can be either urban (eg. from the EUS and UAD programmes), rural (eg. HLC) or thematic, or a combination.historic Landscape Characterization was first developed in Cornwall in 1994 and now runs as a well-established and major programme that has redefined work with spatial historic analyses (Clark et al, 200 4). It has adapted perceptions of how the historic environment should be managed and encourages professionals to take into consideration the greater historical timeframe of the landscape where development has been slow, rather than more recent changes which have tended to be more rapid and unsustainable. The approach does not attempt to set precedents rather it aims to open up discussion of land-use and make accessible information that could influence contemporary decisions. The rural impact of landscape characterization work has much to do with methods of maintaining, conserving, and managing heritage both geological, archaeological, and architectural heritage. As expressed by Clark et al in their military issue for English HeritageThe drawing of red lines around parts of the historic landscape was seen to risk devaluing the areas outside of the line most importantly, it was not clear what wouldbe achieved other than a flagging up of interest, an objective that can be reached m ore directly and clearly by other methods.2In both Hampshire and Lancashire the programme is reshaping the approach towards heritage management by producing interactive GIS-based descriptions of the historic dimension the time-depth that characterises the rural landscape.3 It benefits from being approved by and working in accordance with the europiuman Landscape Convention this parades that the approach is not only applicable to projects outside the UK but has been welcomed by foreign professionals and its value recognised. As much as the UK, Europe is experiencing the squeeze of development, especially in its rural areas, and HLC is reusable as it specifically focuses on how to protect and manage these changing rural landscapes. It distinguishes itself from other methods as it has been identify as being more direct and clear than other methods.4 Perhaps one of the greatest potential selling points of the programme is that it addresses a loophole in the system, whereby common r ural land can become overlooked falling in a gap between the safety of having visible buildings of obvious archaeological vastness and being of special scientific importance or exceptional natural beauty. In many cases the historical importance gets overlooked. English Heritage prides itself on the useful amalgamation of Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC), run in partnership with County Council Sites and Monuments Records.5Landscape characterisation is developing into one of the most useful and valuable resources in a society that promotes development and change, and which does so in response to the increasing demands being placed upon Britains landscape by the countrys economy and burgeoning population. As noted by Ucko and Layton6 landscape character research is primarily driven by research objectives that require more in depth and omnibus(prenominal) information about the landscape. For example, English Heritage need conservation-oriented information, while the plannin g system needs guidance, and land management decisions can rely upon the mapping of information to create landscapes of the future. A good example of how HLC is being used in the rural landscape can be seen in Suffolk, where a local Heritage Initiative has been overseeing a survey of the landscape that incorporates landscape mapping and photography. The objective of the initiative is to follow up a similar survey that was conducted in 1999, and involves a partnership between the Womens Institute federations of East and West Suffolk, the local planning authorities in Suffolk and the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Project Partnership.7 This is a good example of what the process of landscape characterisation can bring to a community it can promote the integration of otherwise separate governing bodies and social groups, and thus facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of the area. Different local Womens Institute groups throughout Suffolk (about 75% of the total) surveyed the landsca pe and received training through events, a handbook, a tract and a video. The results of the study have been used to identify, rate, and type sources changes in the landscape between 1999 and 2004. The results were said to be assessed and analysed to test the effectiveness of planning policies in defend and enhancing landscape character.8 To aid community cohesion and promote the findings an exhibition of the WI groups findings was created, as well as local exhibitions within each community that took part. At Creswell Crags advance the Peak District a Management Action Plan has made use of landscape characterisation work within an ecological potentiality study thatIdentifies, maps and assesses the management of existing areas of high quality habitat characteristic of the Heritage AreaIdentifies, maps and assesses the potential for linking and extending these areas of high quality habitatIdentifies landscape characterisation work and its relationship to identification of potential for wildlife corridor links or extensions to major biodiversity nodes.9Again, this example shows the potential for working on an interdisciplinary basis where landscape character can help professionals from different academic backgrounds to work together in better understanding of the forces which shape and change our historic landscapes. English Heritage has also been researching extensively into historic fields and settlements in their project titled Turning the Plough that culminated in a publication documenting the dramatic loss of mediaeval fields systems in the east Midlands. Using landscape character research the project results established that the loss of these ridge and furrow landscapes is extreme10 and that English Heritage, DEFRA and other agencies have the urgent task of sustaining a future for what remains. These examples qualify the study of landscape character as a crucial development in the archaeology profession but also one that links archaeology to a number o f other important areas, such as planning, community work, heritage management, and geology. It is important to recognise that landscape change occurs as a result of many different influences that the activities of mankind within the landscape reflect, embody, and destroy formations which owe their existence to much older geological processes. It is our choice whether we choose to preserve the record of human endeavour as shown by the mediaeval field system project Turning the Plough and the extent to which we maintain and preserve the heritage of rural landscapes depends on the availability of funds, resources, and the efforts of professionals. Perhaps of more apparent concern is whether we do actually have a choice, or whether landscape change is accelerating beyond our control. These are some of the issues that projects involving landscape characterisation seek to address.BibliographyClark, J, Darlington, J, and Fairclough, G, Using Historic Land Characterization. (2002), Engl ish Heritage online. operable fromhttp//www.english-heritage.org.uk/ transfer/pdf/a4report.pdfCountryside Agency, 2006 online. on hand(predicate) fromhttp//www.lhi.org.uk/projects_directory/projects_by_region/east_of_england/suffolk/suffolk_changing_landscape/index.htmlAccessed 24/08/08English Heritage, Landscape Character. online. Available fromhttp//www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1293Accessed 23/08/08English Heritage. Cresswell Crags Limestone Heritage Area online. Available fromhttp//www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.4112Accessed 24/08/08Hall, D. (2001), Turning the Plough. Northamptonshire County Council online. Available fromhttp//www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/turning_plough.pdf. Full version available fromhttp//www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/goto/openfieldsAccessed 24/08/08Ucko, P.J, and Layton, R. (1999) The Archaeology and Anthropology of Landscape Shaping Your Landscape. London Routledge11 English Heritage, Landscape Character. online. Available fromhttp//www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1293Accessed 23/08/082 Clark, J, Darlington, J, and Fairclough, G, Using Historic Land Characterization. (2002), English Heritage, p.4.3 English Heritage online http//www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.12934 Clark et al, 2002 2.5 English Heritage online http//www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.12936 Ucko, P.J, and Layton, R. (1999) The Archaeology and Anthropology of Landscape Shaping Your Landscape. London Routledge.7 Countryside Agency, 2006 online. Available fromhttp//www.lhi.org.uk/projects_directory/projects_by_region/east_of_england/suffolk/suffolk_changing_landscape/index.htmlAccessed 24/08/088 Ibid.9 Cresswell Crags Limestone Heritage Area online. Available fromhttp//www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.4112Accessed 24/08/0810 Hall, D. (2001), Turning the Plough. Northamptonshire County Council online. Available fromhttp//www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/turning_plough.pdf. Full version available fromhttp//www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/goto/openfields Accessed 24/08/08