a) Landscape Enhancement Initiatitive – Quernmore and Conder Valley Project
b) Defra Environmental Land Management System 'Tests and Trials' – National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NAAONB) proposal
Minutes:
a) Landscape Enhancement Initiative – Quernmore and Conder Valley Project
Robin Gray, Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit updated the Board with a presentation on the Quernmore and Conder Valley Landscape Enhancement Initiative which was bid for in April 2019. Over the last two months, Sandra Silk and Robin Gray have been working towards submission of an expression of interest bid by 15 February 2019 to the National Grid. The maximum amount of bid is £200,000 and the total budget is £266,667. Works were identified in excess of this budget, however they have been scaled back accordingly to bring the project budget back in line with the available grant. The matched funding required would be made up from 4% Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership, 5% Woodland Trust (tree stock), 12% Landowners (labour to carry out works) and 4% Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty staff time.
The outputs from the project were that there were 30 different landowners and the project would deliver 4,294 metres of hedgerow on existing fence lines (mostly where there were previous hedges) and restore 2.314 metres of existing hedgerow (gapping up and protection). 2,811 metres of hedgerow would be laid, a central component of the landscape character and create 2.261 hectares of woodland and field corner planting. 450 metres of drystone walling would also be restored and six training sessions would be delivered.
Other (possible) outputs being developed in parallel to the Landscape Enhancement Initiative (these are not funded through the initiative) were to restore two hectares of semi-natural grassland at Crook o'Lune, restore 200 metres of riparian habitat and restore four hectares of ancient semi natural woodland at Bushy Bank. Two visitor car parks could also be refurbished and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit was working with Abbeystead regarding this.
There were also 6-7 schemes outside the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty formal boundary but within the setting of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designated area.
The next steps were to prepare the full application for submission which closes on 10 May 2019. Notification of the application and grant agreements was due around Christmas 2019 time and if successful, the release of funds would be around the first week in January 2020.
Helen Dix stated that there was a flood risk review around Galgate taking place and there was lots of potential for more funding from the Lune Rivers Trust and urged that Robin spoke to Simon Bennett from the Environment Agency regarding this.
Other benefits from the project was some consultancy time for woodland and hedgerows consultants and landowners could call for their advice. There was also shared learning between the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership too.
Sandra and Robin were thanked for their contribution on the project.
b) Defra Environmental Land Management System 'Tests and Trials' – National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty proposal
Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager informed the Committee that the Government was proposing a replacement for the agricultural basic payment scheme by an Environmental Land Management System. In the short term, Defra wanted to carry out tests and trials as to how this system might work and had asked the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to consider putting forward trial proposals. A proposal had gone forward from the National Association of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to deliver a series of trials across 12 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Forest of Bowland had submitted proposals jointly with North Pennine and Nidderdale which looked to support, viable high nature value farming in the uplands and would look to work with farmers to develop land management plans based on identification of natural capital assets on farm and establish the value of these assets and associated ecosystem services. Further work would then be progressed to look at how farmers might be paid to maintain and improve these assets for the public good. This work on the Environmental Land Management System would also be accompanied by farm business advice to establish how Environmental Land Management System on a farm could also support a viable and profitable farming enterprise. Elliott would keep the Committee updated if the trial progresses.