Management Plan 2026 - 2031
Place
The Place theme focuses on the landscape and the elements that make the Quantock Hills stand out and unique from other landscapes. The focus on land use includes both the extensive uplands, the farmed and forested combes and rolling hills and the villages and settlements that fringe the Quantock Hills. This chapter includes the topics of landscape, natural resources and capital, farming, forestry and land management geology, planning development and infrastructure.
3.1 Context and Significance - Place
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3.1.1 Landscape
The Quantock Hills boasts diverse landscapes, distinctive settlements, a rich historic environment and tranquillity, giving them their special sense of place. Landscapes evolve over time and will continue to evolve, and it is the management of that change which will achieve the outcomes – social, environmental and economic – that we wish to see. To achieve this decision-makers need to understand the baseline and implications of their decisions for that baseline.
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In this nationally protected landscape, adopting the Landscape Character Approach is a significant step towards providing guidance and advice and adopting management policies based on a real understanding of the shape, nature and character of this special landscape. Importantly it identifies what makes one area of the Quantock Hills different from another (given the variety of character in a relatively small area). Understanding the key characteristics of the landscape and the sense of place provides the articulation of the special qualities of the Quantock Hills and scrutinises in detail the landscape that we are working to protect.
In 2003 the Countryside Agency published the Quantock Hills Landscape, An assessment of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The assessment provided the first spatial document for the Quantock Hills. In 2019 the National Landscape produced an enhanced Landscape Character Assessment as part of an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Quantock Hills Landscape Character Assessment 2019 identifies the landscape character types, the strength of that landscape type and the opportunities and threats facing the landscape (Figure 2: Quantock Hills Landscape Character map).
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Formed from an underlying geology of Devonian sandstone, the Quantock Hills stand proud and imposing above their low lying, agricultural hinterland to form a strong backdrop and skyline feature that influences the landscape scene over a wide area. With a general summit height of around 300m Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), the Quantock Hills are much lower than they appear but nonetheless provide inspiring views and panoramas to include the Severn Estuary coast to South Wales, the wide vales around the Rivers Tone and Parrett, the flat, low lying landscape of the Somerset Levels and Moors and the hill and upland landscapes including the Blackdown Hills, Mendip Hills, and Exmoor.
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The highest point on the Quantock Hills forms a watershed with tributary streams carving valleys through the hills, down and into the valleys and vales of the River Doniford to the west (and on to the Bristol Channel), the River Tone to the South and the River Parrett to the East. Some streams issuing in the hills run directly to meet with the Jurassic Coast such as the River Holford. ​
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Figure 2: Quantock Hills Landscape Character Assessment
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Although covering a relatively small area, the Quantock Hills encompasses great variety of different types of landscape. The rugged Jurassic Coast with its striated cliff face and blue lias terraces stretches into the Severn Estuary. A mantle of farmed hills and combes are dotted with small farm woods, historic parkland, sparse settlement and large country houses that occupy commanding positions. The western side of the hill is flanked by a steep wooded and farmed escarpment that gives way to the upper reaches of the Doniford Valley. On the northeast side, deep stream-cut combes, dense with sessile oak woodland, spread like fingers into the almost unbroken expanse of upland heathland hills and combes. Open hilltops of neutral grassland and hills and combes dense with coniferous forests complete the scene.
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The open unenclosed nature of the Quantock Hills with its expansive views, relative remoteness and feelings of tranquillity are distinct. Mapping by CPRE in 2007 showed the Quantock Hills as having some of the most tranquil landscapes in Somerset. However, tranquillity is hard to quantify, and is too easily lost through, for example, increasing standardisation and suburbanisation, loss of distinctive elements of the natural and historic environment. As it is hard to quantify the cumulative impact of individual cases may not appear to have a significant impact but together, they can drastically erode areas of distinctive character.
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Dark, expansive starry skies are one of the sights which make the Quantock Hills so special. Night-time darkness is a key characteristic of the area’s sense of tranquillity and relative remoteness. The Quantock Hills is the sixth darkest National Landscape in England, with very low levels of night-time brightness; 95.5% of the area is in the two very darkest categories as evidenced by 2016 research by CPRE – Night Blight 2016: Mapping England's Light Pollution and Dark Skies. In recent years the dark skies around the fringes of the Quantock Hills have been impacted by the development of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station and concentrated development areas, such as around junction 24 of the M5 between North Petherton and Bridgwater.
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3.1.2 Natural resources and natural capital
The benefits we derive from nature are technically described as ‘ecosystem services’: society and sustainable economic growth relies on them. These services are the flows of benefits which people gain from natural systems, and natural capital is the stock of natural ecosystems from which these benefits flow. So, a forest is a component of natural capital, while climate regulation or timber might be the ecosystem service it provides.
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These benefits can be broken down as: Provisioning services provided by natural resources such as food, water, fibre, and fuel; Regulating services provided by natural systems including clean water and air, fertile soils, and climate regulation; Cultural services including recreation, cultural heritage, spiritual and aesthetic values, inspiration and education; Supporting services providing the basic infrastructure of life including soil formation, the cycling of water and nutrients, fixation of carbon by plants and the ecosystems themselves.
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Some products like timber have a known financial value, but research is ongoing in other cases - such as the role of bees in pollinating crops or the storage of carbon in woodland and heathland - to understand the costs and the potential impacts of damaging them. Understanding the wide range of public benefits provided by the special landscape of the National Landscape can help us ensure that our natural resources and systems are properly valued into the future.
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Some key public benefits of this type provided by the Quantock Hills are listed below. The natural capital and the ecosystem services provided by the National Landscape are supported through objectives and policies in this Plan.
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Provisioning services
Food – farmers in the National Landscape produce food including crops, dairy, beef and lamb. Game in the form of pheasant and venison is also significant.
Timber – Foresters in the National Landscape produce timber in extensive plantations; smaller-scale timber harvests come from farm woodlands. ​
Fuel – Woodlands, including small farm woodlands, provide
fuel.
Water – The National Landscape has an important water catchment role for Hawkridge and Durleigh reservoirs along with many private supplies. The hills form part of the
upland catchment for the River Parrett.
Genetic diversity – Local livestock breeds help maintain genetic diversity.
Regulating services
Water flow and flood risk – heathland, porous soils and woodlands help to regulate water flow and alleviate flooding.
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Disease and pest regulation – Healthy and diverse ecosystems are less vulnerable to pests and disease and can help regulate them.
Pollination – Pollination of crops is important for food supply – healthy ecosystems such as lowland heath support this service.
Climate regulation and carbon storage – Extensive Quantock woodland and well-managed heath and grasslands store millions of tonnes of carbon both in the plant material and in the peaty soils.
Cultural services
Cultural heritage and historic environment – The cultural history of the Quantock Hills is evident in its exceptionally coherent landscapes and historic features, with over 50 scheduled monuments and a ritual landscape of national importance at its core.
Spiritual values – The Quantock Hills landscapes and tranquillity provide spiritual inspiration and enrichment from nature for many people.
Aesthetic values – The Quantock Hills is renowned for the beauty of its landscapes that have inspired poets and artists.
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Sense of place – The distinctive landform provides residents and visitors with a sense of place and cultural heritage.
Education – The Quantock Hills provides a location for educational activity particularly focused around the Outdoor
Education centres at Kilve and Great Wood Camp.
Recreation and tourism – The wide-ranging open access areas and rights of way network within the National Landscape provide extensive recreational opportunities (visitors in turn support the local economy – 2017 estimate: £7.9m per annum).
Supporting services
Wildlife / biodiversity – The Quantock Hills contains important and rare habitats and species, and their conservation is vital to sustaining the ecosystems that deliver the range of services set out above. ​
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Soil production – Soil formation is driven by the interaction between plants and micro-organisms and the underlying
geology. Many ecosystem services depend on healthy soils.
Nutrient cycling – Plants, animals and micro-organisms play a crucial role in the cycling of nutrients essential for the delivery of ecosystem benefits.
3.1.3 Farming, forestry and land management
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The highly valued and protected Quantock Hills landscape has been created through the interaction of local geology and landform with thousands of years of land management by people. From the early (prehistoric) clearing of forests with soil exhaustion creating open heathland, to field-creation (enclosures) on lower richer soils and creation of plantations to supplement remaining woodland, the story of Quantock Hills land-management is displayed in its landscape.
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Heathland, farmland, coast, forest and woodland within the Quantock Hills National Landscape are highly significant natural capital in landscape, wildlife, water management, recreational and economic terms – it is critical for the special qualities of the National Landscape that the landscape, habitat quality and diversity of these areas is maintained and enhanced through appropriate land management. In respect of ecosystem services, the natural benefits provided by healthy ecosystems, it is the management of the land that fundamentally determines whether the potential benefits – from carbon storage to natural flood management, and from timber to the health benefits of access to natural environments – are available.
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The agricultural sector is in a period of major change, especially funding and market uncertainties, while arrangements for post Brexit environmental land management system is still developing. Broadly, existing government direct payments to farmers are being phased out and a new system will recognise and value broader societal benefits with payments being based on the provision of public goods, including carbon storage and nature recovery.
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Farmers are under increasing pressure to respond to many factors that are influencing the way they use and manage land. Key challenges and changes in agriculture have implications for conserving and enhancing natural beauty.
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The number of small family farms are declining and there is an on-going trend towards the amalgamation of farm units and the separation of farmhouse from the land. Thus, farming is being concentrated on fewer, larger, sometimes dispersed units, while many farms are becoming essentially residential, for keeping horses or as small holdings. This risks not only reducing the opportunity for younger people to enter farming but also can lead to the countryside taking on a more suburban appearance. On the other hand, new land managers can bring new opportunities, resources, and ideas that conserve and enhance the natural beauty. Contract labour is used more, often using larger vehicles and machinery and travelling between properties, which can have a wider landscape impact as these vehicles can easily damage the verges and banks of narrow Quantock Hills lanes and lead to pressure to widen field gateways. The pattern of land management may also change as farmers seek new, profitable activities and markets, including green finance opportunities. To boost profitability especially for dairy farms, there is a shift towards robotic milking, large livestock sheds and zero grazing (animals kept indoors all year). Forage crops that provide high protein/ high volume (such as maize) may be favoured that can result in more compacted soils, risk of runoff from bare soils on slopes and removal of permanent grassland. New crops for energy generation (such as anaerobic digestion) are also a driver for change, while use for recreation or tourism activities is sought on other land.
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Quantock Common covers over 1,788Ha, accounting for 72% of the Quantocks SSSI. For centuries these valuable habitats have been managed by commoners, farmers who have rights of common such as grazing. Since the 1960’s the economic viability of farming commons has declined, putting the heritage of commoning and the natural and cultural heritage of commons at considerable risk. The decline in the collective management of the land, lack of understanding of commons and commoning and uncertainty of public funding present significant risks to the special habitats at the core of the Quantock Hills.
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Soils are one of the most valuable natural resources we have. Healthy soil supports a range of environmental, economic, and societal benefits. These include food production, climate change mitigation and increased biodiversity. Poor soil management or inappropriate land use can cause soil degradation, which reduces the ability of soil to perform these vital functions. Soil health also underpins the unique character and distinct form of the area’s landscape and biodiversity.
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Regenerative agriculture is a suite of practices that put soil health front and centre, allowing farming to be more in tune with nature. As a result, it is seen as a more climate resilient approach to farming whilst also supporting nature recovery. Regenerative agriculture starts with building healthy soil by focusing on rebuilding organic matter and the natural living biodiversity in the soil. This improves the ground’s ability to:
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draw down carbon from the air and store it underground.
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hold and clean water.
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help wildlife above and below the ground.
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produce nutrient-dense food year after year.
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Regenerative agriculture also delivers on climate change via minimally disturbing soils, which improves soil carbon storage and sequestration, and aids nature recovery from the ground up.
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There are many reasons why new tree planting is important, at a local and global level, not least in society’s response to climate change, both in terms of increasing offsetting of carbon, and to mitigate the impact of climate change. For example, new planting in strategic locations can reduce the risks of flooding, while planting a diverse range of species can create resilient ecosystems that can cope with changing weather patterns such as prolonged periods of dry weather.
However, careful principles of woodland creation and design objectives are required to maximise the potential benefits and ensure that the woodlands have a strong chance of developing and thriving into the long term. Furthermore, any new planting also has the potential to bring a range of benefits locally and that opportunity should be understood.
For example, consideration needs to be given to the suitability of the land to support different woodland types; the surrounding habitats that the new planting could connect with; and the opportunities to work with the local landscape and cultural heritage to deliver multiple benefits, whether nature recovery or public access. As a principle, all new woodland creation and planting schemes should consider the scheme’s impact on landscape, biodiversity and heritage from the outset, utilising Landscape Character Assessment 2019 and Somerset Tree Strategy.
Both ancient woodlands and veteran trees represent a historic part of the landscape and past land use, given they have been undisturbed by development and human activity. Furthermore, they are known to host a diverse array of plants, fungi, bats, birds and insects due to their undisturbed soil and decaying wood, providing optimum growth conditions.
They are also a significant carbon store as they have been sequestering atmospheric carbon for centuries. Their support for conservation and climate change mitigation, as well as their status as iconic monuments of our landscape, means ancient woods and veteran trees are widely valued as an irreplaceable resource. Many of the characteristic ancient broadleaved woods, which support priority species, were previously managed as coppice but are now undermanaged or have been planted with conifers.
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Tree diseases pose an increasing and significant pressure on the natural beauty of the Quantock Hills, for example ash dieback especially in the southern extent of the National Landscape and Phytophthora ramorum in mixed and conifer woodlands.
Effective woodland management is essential for growing timber of high value, but it also supports delivery of ecosystem services. Thinning out trees increases their capacity to sequester carbon and enhances their habitat quality as more light is let through. This form of low-intensity management is particularly supportive of good-quality and young-medium age trees which are most efficient at sequestering carbon. Well-managed woodlands also lead to thriving habitats that support wider ecosystems.
Hedges are an integral landscape feature to the Quantock Hills, of historical importance, defining the farmed landscape, and supporting wildlife, while also helping to control soil erosion and reduce flooding. Within these are many hedgerow trees and, along with in-field trees, these provide additional habitat and carbon sequestering opportunities.
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3.1.4 Geology
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There are four broad geological types in the Quantock Hills National Landscape:
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The northern plateau, underlain by the hard Hangman Sandstones.
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The central area where the varied Ilfracombe Slates, a mix of slates, siltstones, sandstone and bands of limestone, overlie the Hangman Sandstones.
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The southern area where the Ilfracombe Beds are overlain by the softer Morte Slates which have weathered to create lower, more rounded hills.
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The fringes of the ridge composed of younger rocks mainly of the Triassic Period – including the most significant geological sites in the National Landscape, the Triassic and Jurassic exposures along the coastal cliffs.
The Quantock Hills ridge is formed mainly by rocks of the Devonian Period which produce the soils of the National Landscape, setting the parameters for farming and other land-uses, giving rise to many of the special qualities of the National Landscape while providing distinctive stone for many of the buildings and settlements of the area. The cliffs and foreshore are internationally recognised for their special geological interest; they include an International Stratotype “Golden Spike” (internationally agreed reference section for a particular boundary on the geologic time scale) at East Quantoxhead and the Quantock Hills coast is entirely within a designated Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. The highly visible cliff stratification and foreshore “pavements” come from alternating limestones and shales known as Lias. They are punctuated by ammonite and other fossils and have a strong and distinct landscape beauty. Blocks of this stone have been used locally as a building material. The coastal Site of Special Scientific Interest – Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast Geological SSSI – is protected under the “earth heritage” heading.
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3.1.5 Historic environment and cultural influences
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Each generation of human occupancy has inscribed its own impression on the Quantock Hills landscape and overlain the marks of earlier generations. This National Landscape is the result of thousands of years of human endeavour creating a landscape which possesses not only the beauty associated with long and slow development, but an inexhaustible store of information about human activities in the past. The Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Century Romantic Movement, and our subsequent appreciation of the natural environment, is indebted to the Quantock Hills for the inspiration this landscape offered Coleridge and Wordsworth. ‘So much more than the view…’ published by England’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Parks in 2015, highlights the wide range of benefits these iconic areas provide to society. It featured the quote “All this altering year you’ve called me from the hills above Nether Stowey, in the shifting of fossils and siltstones that clutter Kilve’s wilderness shore.” An extract from Coleridge Changes his Library Books inspired by the Quantock Hills National Landscape, it was included by kind permission of Deborah Harvey. It also made the very relevant comment: “The evidence of farming lives and methods across the ages lives in the landscape and also in present-day communities through deep-rooted festivals and traditions.”
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The Quantock Hills make up an important historic landscape with a wide variety of highly significant archaeological features. These range from the upland Common, which has particular prehistoric significance, to the surrounding farmland, much of which is Saxon in origin and shape. Superimposed on this are the mainly 17th and 18th century parklands, and the enclosures and boundary modifications of subsequent years, evolving as marginal land came into, and drifted out of management. The Quantock coastal belt includes important medieval manors at Kilve and East Quantoxhead, and an early 20th century oil retort at Kilve Pill. Abandoned harbours can be found at Kilve Pill and Lilstock and there are a number of lime kilns to be found along the coast.
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Principal cultural influences on the hills include:
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Neolithic (4000-1750 BC) – emergence of pastoral farming, clearance of post-glacial forest.
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The Bronze and Iron Ages (1750 BC – 450 AD) – social and agricultural development, some basic patterns of current countryside. Hilltop barrows, hill forts and defended enclosures.
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Roman (43AD - c.410AD) – substantial southern Quantock Roman Villa.
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Romano British to the Early Medieval (450 – 700 AD) – restructure post-Roman Empire. Iron Age character of landscape pretty intact.
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Saxon and Medieval (700 – 1350 AD) – population growth and developing markets, influx of new wealth and new systems of land tenure. Growth of villages, shaping of the field and farm patterns we see today.
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Late medieval (1350 – 1540) – collapsing manorial system, decades of cool wet weather, epidemics of Black Death, some desertion of land.
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Post medieval (1540 – 1900) – enclosures and intensification of land use (use of lime). Increased sheep farming, charcoal burning and bark-stripping for tanning. Managed landscapes, big houses, parkland. Coleridge and Wordsworth.
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The 20th century – extensive coniferous plantation, agricultural intensification. Late C20 sensitive agri-environment policies ie Stewardship initiatives, increasing development and visitor pressures.
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The early 21st century – continued agricultural intensification and further increases in development and visitor pressures. Agri-environment schemes mitigate but fail to reverse continued biodiversity loss and landscape degradation leading to policy development that looks towards selective payment for public goods over straightforward agricultural subsidy.
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3.1.6 Planning development and infrastructure ​​
The prime objective of the National Landscape designation is conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the landscape. The Quantock Hills National Landscape is visually very vulnerable, with much of the landscape having a pronounced physical form – the open slopes, prominent ridge line and exposed summits are visible from considerable distances. Equally the more intimate landscapes such as the combes, foothills and coastal areas and landscape features such as irregular hedged fields and small stone-built hamlets and villages, can be stripped of their special character by insensitive development and the cumulative effect of smaller changes over time. ​
It is important that impacts on the Quantock Hills National Landscape are properly recognised and accounted for in decision making. In an area like the Quantock Hills where timelessness and escape from the modern world are written into the core qualities underpinning the designation, some degree of harm will inevitably occur because of development and needs to be explicitly recognised and assessed. The Management Plan and supporting documents should help planning authorities, developers and land/homeowners understand the landscape’s capacity for change and assess impact. Mitigation is a response to harm, a way of ameliorating but not eliminating impact, and should not be a justification for allowing inappropriate development. A clear understanding of the National Landscape ’s special qualities and distinctive characteristics will help to develop proposals which avoid or minimise harm.
The special qualities and defining characteristics of the Quantock Hills National Landscape predominantly relate to the distinctive nature of the farmed landscape; the mosaic of land use types and hedges, and the isolated, dispersed type of development much of it driven by the topography of the area, which in turn is a product of the unique geology. Much of the appeal of the area stems from the relatively low level of "modern" development. Essentially what we are considering in the Quantock Hills are large tracts of an intact historic/cultural farmed landscape. The challenge, therefore, is to seek a sustainable approach to development that respects this inherent character and landscape assets whilst also fostering the social and economic wellbeing of local communities.
The layout, form and density of all new developments need to reflect the historic rural grain of the National Landscape. It is important that all new development, especially housing development, is of a scale and layout that conserves and enhances the distinctive pattern of built form found across the Quantock Hills, specifically a low density, dispersed pattern of development. Location and context are important; development should respect the importance of the setting of the National Landscape, of individual settlements, hamlets and historic farmsteads, maintaining the existing pattern of fields and lanes, the integrity of the hedgerows as well as open agricultural vistas, and enhance the sense of place.
Development proposals in or affecting the Quantock Hills should avoid sensitive locations that will impact on the special qualities of the National Landscape – notably views – including prominent locations on the western scarp slope, on skylines and hilltops, the open plateaux and ridgelines, and undeveloped valley slopes. Attention should be given to noise and activity arising from developments together with lighting to avoid having an adverse impact on the area’s tranquillity and dark skies.
​The sense of place is easily lost suburbanisation and the cumulative effect of ‘permitted development’ break down local distinctiveness while replacing small-scale, locally distinct features with ones of a standard design erodes local character – for example the choice and style of gate, fence, wall or hedge around a house, or pavements, kerbs and driveways in new development.
Agricultural buildings and development are significant issues and can be detrimental to natural beauty if not handled sensitively. As some agricultural practices continue to intensify and with an increasing awareness of animal welfare requirements, the demand for modern large-scale agricultural buildings, which are increasingly taller and larger, at odds with an inherently small-scale landscape, is continuing. Compliance with environmental regulations can result in large-scale slurry storage facilities, often in isolated and elevated locations with associated landscape and visual impacts, and the enclosure of open yards, often infilling the gaps between existing structures resulting in the visual massing of buildings.
Inevitably most people in rural areas need a vehicle to access employment, services and other opportunities. Nevertheless, reduction of unnecessary car use will contribute to reducing carbon emissions, quality of life and conservation of the area’s natural beauty. In terms of supporting that shift, the availability of electric vehicle charging points is expanding but is still very limited.
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Much of the road network is made up of rural roads and lanes, not built or maintained for the volume, traffic size and use which they now must sustain. The design and management of the rural road network should reinforce the local character and distinctiveness of the Quantock Hills. The distinctive character of minor roads contributes to the character of the wider landscape, and they are an important means for people to experience the area. Insensitive, over-engineered changes to these roads can have a detrimental impact. The increasing use of larger heavy goods vehicles and farm vehicles is having damaging impacts.
Road improvement schemes within and outside the National Landscape should not increase noise pollution or emissions from traffic. Approaches such as speed management schemes may, for example, be more appropriate than road widening. Potential impacts within the Quantock Hills National Landscape of proposed road improvement schemes beyond the boundary should be considered, especially in respect of the adjacent development proposals. Road management and improvement schemes should minimise landscape impact and avoid urbanisation of rural roads – for instance through sensitive and appropriate design and use of materials, and avoiding unnecessary signage clutter, road markings and coloured road surfaces. Wildflower-rich verges should be managed appropriately, and traditional features such as fingerposts and milestones should be retained. ​​​​
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3.2 Guiding principles - Place
Principle 1:
The distinctive character and special qualities of the Quantock Hills need to be understood and valued if natural beauty is to be conserved, enhanced and restored.
The Quantock Hills National Landscape has a suite of special qualities that together make it unique and outstanding, underpinning its designation as a nationally important protected landscape. These are the special qualities, individually and in combination, that we need to conserve and enhance for the future to secure sense of place, essence, character and local distinctiveness.
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Principle 2:
Our historic environment and rich cultural heritage should be conserved, enhanced and celebrated.
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The landscape’s time-depth has a strong influence; from field patterns and enclosures, archaeological sites, land use and settlement pattern, and including well-preserved local vernacular buildings. This historic natural and built environment, along with traditions and cultures, provide scope to connect people to the place, engaging diverse audiences and adding value to the local economy.
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Principle 3:
We need to ensure that any development and infrastructure affecting the National Landscape is of the highest quality, sensitive to landscape setting and historic character and significance, conserving and enhancing wildlife and other special qualities.
Landscapes are not static; they change and evolve over time. Change in the landscape is inevitable, and can be welcomed, but that change needs to be managed carefully to ensure that what makes the Quantock Hills special and distinctive is not lost.
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Principle 4:
Sustaining a thriving local economy that makes prudent use of the resources of the National Landscape will contribute to conserving and enhancing natural beauty.
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Economic activity can drive positive change that conserves and enhances the character and qualities that are valued and for which the landscape was designated. We also want to ensure that the area is home to engaged, resilient and balanced communities. The high-quality landscape has a role as a basis for generating income, providing local jobs and valuable products. However, these aspirations must be consistent with the area’s unique qualities and compatible with other principles across all four themes.
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3.3 Aims - Place
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3.3.1 Landscape, natural resources and natural capital.
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That the beautiful character, special qualities and diversity of the Quantock Hills National Landscape are understood, conserved and where possible enhanced.
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3.3.2 Farming, forestry and land management.
Productive and sustainable farming and forestry businesses support and enhance the landscape beauty, historic character and setting, biodiversity and water management of the Quantock Hills.
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3.3.3 Geology and historic environment.
That the distinctive geological diversity of the National Landscape is identifiable and understood; that potential climate change impacts are considered in respect of the resilience of the National Landscape’s special qualities.
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That the National Landscape’s historic environment is protected and understood in detail; that both characteristic and exceptional man-made elements are conserved and enhanced, and the cultural contributions of the Quantock Hills to society are recognised.
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3.3.4 Planning development and infrastructure.
That development affecting the Quantock Hills respects and reinforces local character and the special qualities of the National Landscape in scale, location, design and detail.
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3.4 Objectives – Place
Landscape, natural resources and natural capital
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P1: To strengthen the Quantock Hills special sense of place encouraging and delivering understanding, conservation and enhancement of the character and quality of the landscape through land use and development management that supports its special qualities.
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Farming, forestry and land management
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P2: To support sustainable farming, forestry and land management to conserve and enhance the special qualities of the Quantock Hills National Landscape delivering for a range of ecosystem services.
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Geology and historic environment
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P3: Strengthen the Quantock Hills special geological qualities through protection of and sound management of exposures, increased understanding of the role of geology in the formation of landscape character and subsequent land cover.
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P4: To ensure the historic and culturally significant landscape and features of the Quantock Hills are protected, conserved and understood in detail.
Planning development & infrastructure.
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P5: To ensure development and infrastructure conserves and enhances the special qualities of the Quantock Hills; that it is compatible with its distinctive character described by the LCA and that landscape character, heritage, biodiversity, dark night skies, tranquillity and local distinctiveness are protected from inappropriate or excessive development.​
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3.5 Current Status – Place
3.5.1 Landscape, natural resources and natural capital
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Dark skies. While the Quantock Hills retains an area of relatively dark skies, comparison of the 2017 CPRE mapping with the 2006 mapping shows increasing light levels around the fringes of the National Landscape, primarily Taunton, Bridgwater / North Petherton and Hinkley Point C development are having significant impacts.
Figure 3: CPRE data on light pollution affecting the Quantock Hills National Landscape. Â
Quantock Hills Water Quality – Defra have recently changed the way they report on water quality in Protected Landscapes under the PLTOF. The table below shows the number / proportion of water bodies in each ecological class. This does not appear to have improved since the last Management Plan though direct comparison is difficult due to the different methods used. ​
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Water Framework Directive (ecological status of watercourses and water bodies). PLTOF data January 2024. ​
Ecological class
High
Good
Moderate
Poor
Bad
Not assessed
Total
Rivers length in km (%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
5.144 (27%)
13.668 (73%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
18.813
Number of waterbody catchments (%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
9 (60%)
4 (27%)
0 (0%)
2 (13%)
15
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3.5.2 Farming, forestry and land management
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% of land under agriculture = 45%
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Number of farm holdings = 76
Size of farms = 9 <5Ha / 30 (5-19Ha) / 12 (20-49Ha) / 8 (50 – 99Ha) / 17 (>100Ha).
Type of farming = 7 general cropping / 5 horticulture / 45 grazing (lowland) / 8 mixed.
Livestock numbers = 3,563 (cattle) / 15,425 (sheep) / 1,947 (poultry) / 144 (horses) /
Area managed under agri-environment schemes has decreased from 4,680Ha (46% of NL) in 2017 to 3,814Ha (39% of NL) in 2021 and further reduced to 3,700Ha (37% of the NL) in December 2023. The figures for 2023 are from the PLTOF dataset that utilised a different methodology.
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Total claimed value of agri-environment schemes has decreased from £364,674 in 2017, £303,551 (2021) to £224,200 (December 2023). The figures for 2023 are from the PLTOF dataset that utilised a different methodology. ​​​​​​​​​
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3.5.3 Geology and historic environment
Geological SSSI (Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast)
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Heritage assets
Listed buildings
Scheduled monuments
Registered parks and gardens
Total
No. at risk 2024*
1
6​
1
8
Trend (change since 2019)
-1
-3
No change
-4
No. in Quantock Hills
205
51​
3
259
*Historic England data 14th November 2024.
Significant features on the Historic Environment Record = 474 in 2019
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3.5.4 Planning development and infrastructure
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Planning applications considered:
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Period​​
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5-year average (2012 – 2017)
5-year average (2019 – 2024)
Inside the National Landscape​
79.6
78.2
Outside the National Landscape​
75.4
29
5-year average inside and outside the National Landscape​
137
107
Photo: Archaeologists and volunteers undertaking a dig as part of the Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme. © Quantock Hills National Landscape Team
3.6 Targets – Place
Government has set targets for Protected Landscapes under the Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework (see appendix 1 [pdf]). The Quantock Hills National Landscape will contribute to the following targets under the PLTOF:
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Target 5
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Ensuring at least 65% to 80% of land managers adopt nature friendly farming on at least 10% to 15% of their land by 2030.
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Quantock Hills National Landscape contribution towards Target 5 – Ensure at least 80% of land managers adopt nature friendly farming on at least 10% of their land by 2030.
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Target 10
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Decrease the number of nationally designated heritage assets at risk in Protected Landscapes.
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Quantock Hills National Landscape contribution towards Target 10 – No heritage assets (Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens, Scheduled Monuments) on the national Heritage at Risk Register by 2050.
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3.7 Policies – Place
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Landscape, natural resources and natural capital
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PL1: Protect the special qualities of the National Landscape through recognition of requirement to further the purpose of National Landscapes in forward planning documents and support those delivering these elements.
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PL2: Conserve and enhance the special qualities of the Quantock Hills National Landscape through seeking opportunities to restore and strengthen landscape character, especially where features are missing or in poor condition.
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PL3: To further develop, promote and utilise landscape character and Historic Landscape Characterisation approach in decision making including development of Landscape Character Assessment based guidance.
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PL4: Promote and support landscape scale multiple benefit approach to good soil management, water quality improvements and reduced flood risk.
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PL5: Protected the dark skies and tranquillity of the Quantock Hills National Landscape from inappropriate activity that may undermine the intrinsic character, including within its setting.
Farming, forestry and land management
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PL6: Conserve and enhance through appropriate management the locally vernacular hedgebanks and native hedgerows and their role in conserving and enhancing the special qualities, especially the small field patterns associated with the Quantock Hills.
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PL7: Support appropriate management of woodland and plantations to enhance the special qualities, distinctive character, strengthen landscape quality and provide multiple benefits.
PL8: Accommodate biofuel / biomass crops, new crops and new forms of horticulture in ways which are sensitive and supportive of the special qualities, through a landscape led approach to change which reflects the statutory purpose.
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PL9: Promote and support the use of funded schemes such as Environmental Land Management Schemes to deliver conservation and enhancement of natural beauty.
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Geology and historic environment
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PL10: Support initiatives to reduce and address heritage at risk within the Quantock Hills National Landscape including appropriate conservation and management.
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PL11: Support the conservation and enhancement of heritage assets, promoting the use of the Somerset Heritage Environment Record (HER) to inform management activities.
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PL12: Promote and support investigation, study and recording of historic and culturally significant features within the Quantock Hills National Landscape.
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PL13: Support the maintenance of representative example exposures of the geology of the Quantock Hills that form part of its Special Qualities.
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PL14: Support initiatives that protect and enhance the coastal landform especially the geological SSSI, including its fringing agricultural setting.
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Planning development and infrastructure
PL15: Ensure all relevant strategic, local and neighbourhood plans and planning related decisions seek to further the purpose of the National Landscape, using the Quantock Hills Management Plan and other resources and guidance produced by the National Landscape Partnership, giving greater weight to the conservation and enhancement of the Special Qualities making up the natural beauty of the Quantock Hills.
PL16: Ensure development and infrastructure in the National Landscape is appropriate in location, landscape sensitivity, scale and design, respecting its distinctive character described by the LCA and its special qualities outlined in the Statement of Significance, including tranquillity and dark skies.
PL17: Ensure the conservation and enhancement of the special qualities of the National Landscape in consideration of permitted development.
PL18: Ensure development in the setting of the National Landscape does not harm the natural beauty, landscape character and special qualities of the Quantock Hills.
PL19: Protect and enhance the character of views into and out of the National Landscape including consideration on impact on the open skyline.
PL20: Ensure the conservation and enhancement of the special qualities of the National Landscape of road and transport schemes affecting the National Landscape, taking into account the very rural nature of the highway network and special features such as hedge banks, wildlife-rich verges and locally distinctive historic highway infrastructure.
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