Objectives

Produce a detailed map of landscape types for the Brecon Beacons national park, including a landscape strategy and management guidelines for each landscape type

Client: Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

Date: March 2021

The diversity of landscapes across the Brecon Beacons National Park requires different land management options appropriate to the character of each landscape type. A map of Level 2 (1:50,000) landscape types was generated for the whole of the national park. The strength of character and ecological/cultural condition of each landscape type was evaluated, based on a combination of field work, remote mapping from Google Earth imagery (©Google Earth) and assessment of the Phase 1 habitat survey.

The results showed that landscape types characterised by recent coniferous planting (Forested Moorland Slopes) or intensive agriculture (Village Farmlands) show lower overall condition scores, compared with, for example, some of the upland landscape types (Moorland Hills & Slopes) where visual impact is low and the survival of semi-natural habitat is greater. The results of this analysis were then reviewed within the context of medium-term projections of land cover change to 2030[1], to generate a strategy/vision for each landscape type with accompanying land management guidelines. It is anticipated that this mapping and analysis will assist the National Park with the development and monitoring of their Nature Recovery Action Plan.

[1] Manzoor, S.A., Griffiths, G., Christian Rose, D., Lukac, M., 2021. The Return of Wooded Landscapes in Wales: An Exploration of Possible Post-Brexit Futures. Land 10.                https://doi.org/10.3390/land10010059.