Bathscape eroded plateau

The part of the Bathscape to the west of Bath consists of a gently rolling plateau, hills and ridges divided by relatively narrow valleys. It is a mix of arable farming and grazing, and the vast majority of land here is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. 

The most relevant priorities for nature here are to protect, manage and better connect woodlands (particularly ancient woodland) and existing species-rich grasslands; and to increase the nature-friendliness of farming in the landscape. All of this should be in keeping with the World Heritage Site setting. 

Many of the woodlands here will be affected by ash dieback, and dealing with this in a way that minimises impacts on nature and even improving the ecological condition of some woodlands is also a priority.

On the edge of the City, opportunities for local, regenerative/agroecological food growing is a priority, such as that practiced by Middle Ground Growers, due to the opportunity it provides to reconnect people with food and nature while boosting wildlife.

 

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Priorities for nature recovery

Delivering the priorities for nature recovery is particularly important in the mapped Focus Areas for Nature Recovery. ‘Landscape recovery’ measures, which will have the biggest impact on nature recovery, are particularly relevant in these Focus Areas.

There is a greater amount of land where extensive grazing creates diverse, dynamic and shifting habitat mosaic, including successional habitats and scrub.

Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
On areas that are currently biodiversity-poor, use a mix of free-roaming herbivores with different grazing habits to create a dynamic and shifting mosaic of habitats. Ideally, this should be done in a large enough area for natural processes to create habitat variety. Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Reduce the intensity of existing cattle grazing to improve biodiversity and create dynamic grassland mosaics; this could include introducing more hardy, native breeds of cattle, and introducing ponies alongside them.  Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Manage areas of scrub that are in good condition to avoid them losing their scrub or thicket-like characteristics by, for example, coppicing on a suitable rotation and using appropriate grazing regimes. Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery



There are more and better-connected species-rich lowland calcareous grasslands on limestone soils that support specialist pollinator and insect populations, including the small blue, marsh fritillary, chalkhill blue and grayling butterflies.

Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Restore species-rich calcareous grassland on infertile soils and/or adjacent to existing species-rich grasslands. Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Convert improved grassland or enhance ‘semi-improved’ grassland to species-rich calcareous grassland with greater species diversity. Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Arable reversion to species-rich calcareous grassland where land is unproductive or arable farming is financially unviable. Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery



Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Create semi-natural broadleaved woodland, following the principles set out in the Forest of Avon Plan and ensure the woodland has a suitable management plan in place. Where possible (i.e. next to or close to existing woodland), allow woodland to naturally generate rather than planting trees. Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) to native woodland. Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Create or restore wood pasture and parkland, which incorporate extensive grazing alongside trees. Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Allow natural regeneration of scrub and woodland close to existing semi-natural woodlands, which provides important ‘edge habitat’. Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship



Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Restore and establish traditional orchards, including community orchards, with a focus on maintaining locally distinctive varieties Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Protect existing traditional orchards and continue to manage them well for wildlife Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery



Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Manage existing wood pasture and parkland to maximise their value to wildlife and ensure continued survival of mature and veteran trees Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Carry out specialist tree surgery as needed to extend the lives of veteran and ancient trees Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery



There is more woodland that is managed and in good ecological condition, including minimising the impact of ash dieback and reducing grazing pressure on sensitive woodlands from deer.

Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Improve the management of existing areas of woodland for wildlife, following the principles set out in the Forest of Avon Plan Farmers and landowners Woodland Landscape recovery
Reintroduce coppicing as a form of woodland management that benefits wildlife while potentially providing woodland products such as fuel  Farmers and landowners Woodland Landscape recovery
Open up rides and glades in existing woodland to develop ecotones and scrubby areas that better support a wider range of wildlife. Where appropriate, use new open woodland areas caused by ash dieback to create new wood pastures or glades Farmers and landowners Woodland Landscape recovery
Consider introducing grazing animals in larger woodlands to create a more dynamic ecology and enable habitat succession. Farmers & landowners Woodland Landscape recovery
Take measures to reduce deer grazing in woodlands, such as putting up deer fencing, to reduce their negative impact on woodland ecology due to overgrazing.  Farmers & landowners Woodland Environmental stewardship
Leave deadwood in situ to provide habitat for a variety of species including fungi, lichens, invertebrates, mosses, bats and birds. Farmers & landowners Woodland Environmental stewardship
Periodically thin ‘high forest’ type woodlands (tall trees with little shrub layer) to maintain structural diversity and a varied age structure where appropriate Farmers & landowners Woodland Environmental stewardship
Avoid placing game bird pens in woodlands with a high botanical value Farmers & landowners Woodland N/A
Ensure public access to and recreational activities within woodlands minimises impacts on woodland ecology, including clearly marked paths.  Farmers & landowners Woodland N/A
Only fell trees affected by ash dieback when there is a material safety risk, a clear future safety risk, or as part of normal silvicultural operations, and leave deadwood in place where possible for the benefit of wildlife Farmers & landowners Woodland Environmental stewardship
Where there is a diverse mix of tree species present, allow natural regeneration to replace trees lost through ash dieback. Where natural regeneration is not possible, replace trees lost through ash dieback with a suitable mix of native broadleaved species Farmers & landowners Woodland Environmental stewardship
Adopt ecologically sound forestry practices in woodlands used for timber production. This can include continuous cover management regimes that attempt to mimic natural processes, and integration of areas and corridors of native broadleaved woodland in coniferous forests Farmers & landowners Woodland Environmental stewardship
Include fire and fuel breaks and/or fire belts in woodland to reduce the risk of wildfires, and ensure woodlands are resilient to climate change in the future Farmers & landowners Woodland N/A



Existing species-rich grasslands and meadows, including lowland calcareous grasslands, are protected and well-managed.

Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Keep or put in place the appropriate extensive grazing regime for existing species-rich grasslands and lowland meadows, avoiding overgrazing or undergrazing that can lead to grassland habitat being lost Farmers and landowners Countryside Landscape recovery
Prevent scrub from encroaching on species-rich wildflower grasslands, while maintaining a minority area of scrub that is managed to create a varied age, composition and physical structure including glades and scalloped edges Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship
Where there is an absence of scrub and successional habitat in or adjacent to grasslands, encourage a minority amount to improve structural diversity and benefit wildlife Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship



There are more waterbodies that are in good ecological status and support thriving populations of fish and other freshwater wildlife.

Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Create a sediment pond or trap to provide an area where muddy run-off from fields or tracks is allowed to pond, so that sediment will settle out before entering watercourses Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Reduce run-off of pollutants from farmland through the use of best practice in applying fertiliser, manure and slurry Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Establish a buffer strip (which can contain long grasses, trees, and shrubs) of 4-12m on field boundaries or runoff channels. This can reduce nutrient and pollutant runoff into watercourses and provide habitat for wildlife Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Improve management of manure and slurry to reduce pollution (e.g. roofing manure storage or manure storage pads) Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Reduce the pollution caused by the transport network (particularly by cars through tyre and brake wear) by encouraging reduced use of private cars and more careful driving styles, encouraging manufacturers to produce tyres with less ecologically damaging components, and ensuring regular emptying of gullies. Local Government

Businesses

Communities		 N/A N/A
Reduce the frequency of continuous and intermittent point source pollution from sewage discharges Businesses N/A N/A
Reduce the quantity of pollutants entering the freshwater environment from wastewater treatment works Businesses N/A N/A
Ensure correct management of private septic tanks to reduce leakage of pollutants into the environment; and investigate and resolve drain misconnections in homes Communities N/A N/A
Reduce demand on water supply through more efficient use of water in homes, businesses, and in farming Businesses

Communities

Farmers and landowners		 N/A N/A
Use constructed wetlands in wastewater treatment to reduce the amount of pollutants entering the freshwater environment, while providing wetland habitat Businesses N/A N/A



The extent and quality of our hedgerow network for wildlife is improved, helping to connect wildlife-rich sites.

Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Manage hedgerows in a thick and tall condition for wildlife, following best practice set out by Hedgelink and only cutting every three years on rotation Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship
Create/restore hedgerows where they have previously existed, or where they would fit in with the existing field system Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship



Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Plant field trees within hedgerows where they are not already present Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship
Protect existing trees within the farmed landscape, particularly veteran and ancient trees, and consider fencing off ancient and veteran trees to enable new trees to grow Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship
Create shelterbelts (windbreaks) made up of trees to protect livestock and crops from inclement weather Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship
Incorporate trees in grazing systems (silvopasture). This could include trees that can produce a fruit or nut crop alongside continued livestock grazing Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship
Establish agroforestry systems alongside crop production (silvoarable systems) Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship



The farmed landscape is more hospitable and permeable to wildlife, especially to pollinators and to farmland birds that have suffered historic declines.

Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Provide graded margins up to a thick hedgerow to create nesting sites for farmland birds such as linnets and yellowhammers Farmers and landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship
Establish beetle banks and other areas for natural predators within arable farming Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Establish flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Incorporate nectar strips and/or herb-rich arable leys into arable rotations Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Sow a wild bird seed mixture to provide a seed-rich winter cover crop, and/or leave unsprayed and unharvested arable headlands to provide food for farmland birds  Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Leave overwinter stubble on cropped fields, and sow spring-sown crops to provide food for farmland birds Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Leave areas unsprayed in arable fields to support arable wildflowers, particularly in areas where important species are present Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Create skylark plots (unsown squares) in arable fields Farmers & landowners Countryside Sustainable farming
Create/restore and properly manage farmland ponds for wildlife, including great-crested newt Farmers & landowners Countryside Environmental stewardship
Protect existing swallow and house martin nesting sites, and provide artificial nesting sites where there is a lack of potential nesting sites Farmers & landowners Countryside; Gardens and other outdoor space and larger spaces; Development and regeneration; Gardens and other outdoor space N/A



There is more sustainable and regenerative agriculture that minimises the use of potentially harmful inputs including pesticides and artificial fertilisers, and regenerates the health and carbon stock of soils.

Measures Most relevant to Land type Indicative level of land-use impact for nature
Use sustainable soil management techniques, including undersowing of crops, reduced or no tillage, reducing compaction etc. Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable Farming
Establish a multi-species winter cover crop to protect soil from erosion and compaction, and improve soil biology Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable Farming
Reduce the use of pesticides through integrated pest management, including use of companion crops; and leave areas unsprayed to support arable wildflowers Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable Farming
Use precision farming techniques to reduce the use of pesticides Farmers and landowners

Communities		 Countryside Sustainable Farming
Reduce or eliminate the application of fertiliser or manure on grassland, including through the use of precision farming techniques Farmers and landowners

Local Government		 Countryside Sustainable Farming
Provide a more species-rich herbal ley for grazing livestock in place of an intensive perennial rye grass sward Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable Farming
Reduce the use of antibiotics and worming products in livestock, to improve the value of their dung to wildlife Farmers and landowners Countryside Sustainable Farming



Relevant priority species

  • Adder
  • Barbastelle Bat
  • Bath Asparagus
  • Chalkhill Blue
  • House Martin
  • Marsh Fritillary
  • Small Blue
  • Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
  • Swallow