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| Cost Effective Landscape: Learning from Nature |
| Part 1 : Understand the Context and Set Objectives |
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Landscape Character Understand the site. The Scottish landscape is extremely diverse in character. A thorough understanding of the site and its context is the means to learning from nature and maximising the landscape and ecological potential. Consideration should be given to;
Consultation with a wide cross-section of the community can contribute a rich source of understanding. Natural vegetation characteristics understanding the site - natural characteristics This picture typifies the natural vegetation patterns on the Evan Water banks. It is important to study, record and apply the small scale detail of vegetation patterns and other distinctive features which contribute to the landscape character. Evan Water river diversion. 1997 Design life Project characteristics 30 years after planting, this vegetation is being removed from the side slopes of the A74 to make way for the M6. The life expectancy of road side planting is extremely hard to predict. From experience, the area within 10 metres of the road edge is the most vulnerable as roads are often improved or designed within a 30-50 year time period. "Offsite planting" is more likely to survive to maturity. Design and management objectives and solutions must take account of life expectancy. It is not cost effective to implement a woodland management plan designed to cultivate individual trees to maturity if they are only expected to live 50 years. Rock outcrops Understand the site - use natural characteristics Where the design intention is to construct a rock cutting that is natural in appearance, design inspiration can be gained from the study of the natural characteristics of established and natural outcrops in the vicinity. Diversity of physical rock form and texture and the creation of niches for pioneer plant species will also result in an appropriate diversity of vegetation which is well adapted to the prevailing conditions. Landscape character Understand the site It is not always appropriate to blend the road seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. The East Lothian landscape is characterised by constant change through agricultural practices. As a consequence the road verge cannot blend with the landscape and other objectives must be developed. This presents an opportunity to redress some of the losses of local biodiversity where the intensive management of agricultural land leaves little room for wildlife. The A837 in the west highlands illustrates that different landscapes have different needs and in this instance integration is a prime objective. Woodland understanding the site - natural characteristics This predominantly single species woodland has developed its natural characteristics because it has been allowed to develop without routine intervention. The natural characteristics of age difference, the relationship between age and plant spacing, regeneration by seed and local provenance should be studied and understood so that similar characteristics can be applied elsewhere to promote valuable, cost effective and self sustaining landscapes. Pine woodlands often occur as a mosaic of well segregated age classes rather than the intimate mixes observed in other semi natural woodlands. The substrate and availability of seed generally dictates what tree species will predominate over time without human intervention. Other associated species can be introduced where the ground conditions are appropriate e.g. in wetter areas alder, willow and aspen. |
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