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THE RURAL STEWARDSHIP SCHEME

Section 1 Designed Landscapes

1.1 What are Designed Landscapes?

These are planned landscapes, laid out with aesthetic pleasure in mind as much as profit-making agricultural enterprise. Much of the Scottish landscape is characterised by the plantations and other features which form part of the designed landscape settings of country houses. Most of these designed landscapes have their origins in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, though some incorporate older features and others show the effects of more recent changes. Designed landscapes reflect changing styles and fashions, and may survive long after the original mansion house has been demolished.

1.2 Why are Designed Landscapes important?

Designed landscapes are an important part of our cultural and natural heritage, and provide the setting for many important historic buildings. Works of art in their own right, some incorporate elements from different periods of their history, others represent the work of one particular designer. They can dominate wide areas of landscape, especially where several estates are in close proximity. Because these landscapes were laid out with amenity in mind, they frequently make excellent places for informal public recreation. Some contain woods, wetlands and ornamental ponds that may have been comparatively undisturbed for up to two centuries, giving them high value as wildlife habitats. Other estates contain important collections of ornamental trees and shrubs amassed by previous generations.

1.3 How do I find out if I have a Designed Landscape?

The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland (1987) includes details of 275 nationally important landscapes. Historic Scotland and SNH are currently working to add further sites to this Inventory. Both those currently listed in the Inventory and the candidate sites will be eligible under this Scheme. For further information, please refer to Section 5 in Part 1 of this Booklet.

1.4 How do I manage a Designed Landscape?

It is important that the overall integrity of the landscape is protected, and also that the individual surviving features are maintained as far as possible, whenever changes of any sort are proposed. Appropriate management of a designed landscape often requires a balance to be found, between nature conservation and historic conservation objectives for the designed landscape as a whole or the feature concerned. In existing areas of parkland, arable cropping can be detrimental to parkland trees, which are often of historic importance, and applicants will be encouraged to convert these areas to permanent pasture. Such land, if classed as eligible for Arable Aid Area Payments, could be converted to species-rich grassland under the Scheme's Creation and Management of Species-rich Grassland option. If the existing grassland is unimproved, you may wish to consider managing the area under the Management of Species-rich Grassland prescription. Such an area of species diverse grassland will provide a valuable wildlife habitat, fulfil an historic conservation objective and establish useful grazing pasture.

If any measures are proposed within part of a Designed Landscape, you or your adviser must consult Scottish Natural Heritage.

The following relevant works will attract capital payments under the RSS:

* A ha-ha is a feature, usually a ditch faced on one side with stone, which was increasingly used after the 18^th century to allow efficient farming within an ornamental landscape. It provided a stock-proof boundary to a park or garden without interrupting the view from the principal house.

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