Landscape Character Network

29th January 2008, Austin Court, Birmingham

Download workshop proceedings (1.2MB)

The European Landscape Convention (ELC) is a new instrument devoted exclusively to the protection, management and planning of all landscapes in Europe.

The ELC defines landscape as “an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors.”

This definition applies to landscapes everywhere and in any condition – land, inland water, marine, natural, rural, urban & peri-urban, outstanding or degraded. Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is a tool that can help us to manage change, and it can inform decisions about land use and landscape planning. LCA can help us to deliver the aims and objectives of the ELC.

The Convention encourages the UK to establish and implement policies aimed at landscape protection, management and planning and involve the public in the process. When national planning policies are reviewed there is a need to ensure that the ELC aims are incorporated.

The integration of landscape into broader policy must also be achieved at regional and local levels. Regional Spatial Strategies, Local Development Frameworks and other Development Plan Documents must place landscape protection, management and planning at their core.

This workshop provided opportunities to learn more about the European Landscape Convention. It included presentations by practitioners and opportunities for open discussion. It was organised by Natural England and adminstered by Countryscape.

Speakers:

Professor Adrian Phillips CBE: World Commission on Protected Areas of IUCN; board member of the National Trust and Woodland Trust; adviser to the Heritage Lottery Fund

Chair and introduction

Professor Michael Dower CBE: Visiting Professor at the University of Gloucestershire; member of organising group, PREPARE Partnership for Rural Europe; member of organising group, CURE - Convention for a sustainable Urban and Rural Europe

'The European Landscape Convention - its origins, focus and relevance at European level to land use and landscape planning'

Richard Partington: European Landscape Convention Project Manager, Natural England

'The ELC Framework for Implementation, and Natural England's Action Plan'

Maggie Roe: Senior Lecturer in Landscape Architecture, Newcastle University

'How are we doing? Research to support the implementation of the European Landscape Convention in England'

John Gittins: Executive Director, Cheshire Landscape Trust

'Community Involvement and Planning in relation to the in the European Landscape Convention'

Doug Harman: Dorset AONB Landscape Planning Officer, Dorset AONB Partnership

'The implications of the European Landscape Convention for landscape planning in the Dorset AONB'

Riccardo Priore: European Network of Local and Regional Authorities for the Implementation of the European Landscape Convention (ENELC)

'The contribution of local and regional authorities to the implementation of the European Landscape Convention’