The Solway Coast AONB Historic Landscape Charaterisation
Client: Cumbria County Council and the Lake District National Park Authority.

The Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) stretches from Rockcliffe in the north to Maryport in the south. It is one of 40 AONBs in England whose primary legislative purpose is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area. Using Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) data this case study examined how HLC might be used to further the aim and objectives of the Solway Coast AONB Management Plan. The vision for the AONB in terms of cultural heritage concentrates on sites and conservation areas, but the vision for the landscape includes diversification, the return of traditional management techniques, traditional, well-managed field boundaries and increased biodiversity brought about by the sympathetic management of the salt marshes, sand dunes and raised mires. This case study looked at the opportunities created by partnership working between the HLC programme and the Delivery Plan for the Solway Coast AONB.