The Cornish landscape - its classification (Land use policy (3))

There are a number of typographies used to describe landscapes in Cornwall. There are two sources here – the Interactive map operated by Cornwall Council and the MAGIC map which is operated under the auspices of Defra. Together they provide a useful source of information on land use and types.

 

Historic Landscape Characterisation

 These are set out below.

 Coastal Rough Ground,  Communications,  Dunes,  Farmland: Prehistoric,  Farmland: Medieval,  Farmland: Post Medieval,  Farmland: C20,  Industrial: Disused,  Industrial: Working Intertidal and inshore water,  Military,  Ornamental Plantations and Scrub,  Recreational,  Reservoirs Settlement: C20,  Settlement: older core (pre-1907) Upland Rough Ground,  Upland Rough Ground (relict industry) Woodland (deciduous)

 

Cornwall Character Area description”A greater level of local detail than in the National Character Areas. Here the landscape character is described through 44 Cornwall Character Areas (CCAs) and 19 Landscape Character Types (LCTs).”

 

Cornwall Character Areas 2022

These are broad areas based location such as coastal, river valleys, moors/downs and other areas.

 

https://map.cornwall.gov.uk/website/ccmap/?zoomlevel=4&xcoord=164316&ycoord=37879&wsName=ccmap&layerName=Cornwall%20Character%20Areas%202022

 

Landscape Character Types

This covers a range of landscapes as set out below. 

 China clay workings,  Cliffs and unenclosed cliff tops (including headlands),  Coastal valleys and coombes,  Downs,  Dunes Enclosed moorland,  Estuaries and creeks,  Hills and carns Historic mining farmland,  Intertidal sand and beaches,  Lowland farmland,  Offshore island,  Prehistoric farmland,  River valley floodplains,  Serpentine heathland,  Undulating historic farmland Upland granite moorland,  Valley system, Wet moorland

 

 

https://map.cornwall.gov.uk/website/ccmap/?zoomlevel=3&xcoord=168709&ycoord=37889&wsName=ccmap&layerName=Landscape%20Character%20Types%202022

 

Habitats [Living England Habitat Map

This sets out various categories of habitat.

 

Acid, Calcareous, Neutral Grassland, Arable and Horticultural, Bare Ground

Bare Sand, Bog, Bracken, Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland, Built-up Areas and Gardens, Coastal Saltmarsh, Coastal Sand Dunes, Coniferous Woodland, Dwarf Shrub Heath, Fen, Marsh and Swamp, Improved Grassland,

Scrub

 

https://magic.defra.gov.uk/

 

Conclusion

We have a rich source of identifying and classifying the landscapes and habitats of Cornwall. These are essential to understanding land use and policy.

 

Sources

Cornwall Council interactive map. Landscape assessment

 

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/people-and-communities/use-our-interactive-maps/

 

MAGIC

“MAGIC stands for Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside. This website provides authoritative geographic information about the natural environment from across government. The information covers rural, urban, coastal and marine environments across Great Britain. We currently present over 400 datasets in our interactive map, which can be explored using various mapping tools. Natural England manages this service under direction set out by a Steering Group of MAGIC partnership organisations.”

 

https://magic.defra.gov.uk/