Natural England - South West Peak ESA
South West Peak ESA
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme has now closed to new applicants and has been superseded by the Environmental Stewardship scheme. Some existing agreements will, however, continue until 2014.
The South West Peak ESA covers an area of 33,800 ha and is situated mainly on gritstone rocks at the south-western end of the Pennines. The ESA covers a major part of north Staffordshire and smaller parts of Cheshire and Derbyshire. The White Peak lies to the east, the Chesire Plain to the west, and the Churnet valley to the south. It consists of a moorland plateau about 450m above sea level, rising to over 550 m on Shining Tor and Axe Edge, and is flanked by lower hills and indented by valleys. The whole ESA lies in the Less Favoured Area.
Description
The area is characterised by very small village settlements at the heart of widely scattered small farms. Fields on the inbye tend to be very small, and many are surrounded by drystone walls rather than hedges. There are many field barns in the area and a high proportion of farmsteads have ranges of traditional buildings. The mosaic of vegetation, small fields, traditional farm buildings, historical features, individual trees and woodlands combine to create an area rich in landscape, ecological and historic interest. The farming is based on sheep in the upland plateau and on dairying, with some beef and sheep on grassland in the surrounding hills and valleys.
Significant habitats and species
The environmental value of the area lies in the mosaic of core moorland, moorland fringe and farmed upland. There are intricate patterns of dwarf shrub heath, acid grassland and blanket bog within the moorland. The adjoining semi-improved and unimproved grasslands, which include hay meadows and extensive pastures, contain diverse plant communities. The ESA also supports an outstanding assemblage of declining upland breeding birds, including curlew, lapwing, snipe, skylark and twite.
ESA management options
There were four main management options available within the South West Peak ESA:
To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of enclosed land by encouraging traditional management, and the recreation of wet areas and other habitats of benefit to upland birds in particular.
To maintain and enhance the landscape quality of enclosed land through the management of characteristic landscape and historic environment elements, including field boundaries and traditional buildings.
To maintain and enhance the landscape and nature conservation interest of moorland through sensitive management.
To maintain and enhance the nature conservation and landscape interest of small-scale native woodland.
Contact
Within the Peak District National Park: Natural England’s Derbyshire office
Outside the Peak District National Park: Natural England's Wolverhampton office
