The management of farmland and woodland for food and other products has been, and still is, the key human influence on the landscape of most of Britain, including most of the Norfolk Coast. The economic health of farming and woodland management, and the ability of these land uses in the future to deliver environmental benefits at the same time, are vital for the maintenance of a landscape worthy of the AONB designation.

Historically the farmed landscape has reflected the economic and social needs of the time. Arable farming has been a major land use since designation, but profitability has varied over the last decade. When arable margins are high compared to livestock enterprises, the availability of suitable grazing livestock has made it harder to manage valued conservation habitats such as heathland, downland and grazing marshes.There has been a consequent decline in the quality and quantity of some habitats over many years. However, there may be opportunities for new approaches to habitat creation and management, and linking isolated habitats, using socio-economic drivers.

Woodland, copses and even individual trees make an important contribution to the area's landscape character, although it is not rich in woodland generally, particularly ancient woodland. The economic viability of woodland for timber products is low at present but woodland can provide recreational and wildlife benefits as well as supporting income from shooting or other activities. There is also scope for more woodland in appropriate locations, as well as for improved management for a range of uses.

Like agriculture, fishing still has a key role to play in the area's natural beauty. Now based mainly on shellfish and much reduced in economic importance, local fishing activity has shaped the character of coastal settlements. It still contributes to that character in many cases, through activity at harbours and beaches, and through quays, boat and building styles. The area is widely recognised for the quality of its local seafood.

Issues arising from the assessment of current Condition of the area’s natural beauty

The assessment of the current condition of the natural beauty of the area has highlighted one key issue related to farming, forestry and fishing:

Lack of good information on location, extent and condition of key habitats in the area hampers assessment and targeting of contributions from environmental stewardship schemes.

Potential impacts of key external pressures for change

Each of the four key external pressures for change (coastal processes, climate change, development pressures and global markets and national and international policy) affect the maintenance of farming, forestry and fishing in the area:

1. Coastal processes

Wash coastline, North Norfolk Heritage Coast, Sea Palling to Winterton – primarily flooding.
Weybourne to Bacton – primarily erosion.

Impacts (current / anticipated)

Loss of agricultural land to erosion and flooding.

2. Climate change

Impacts (current / anticipated)
Changes in:

Viability of agricultural crops;
Agricultural pests and diseases;
Possible demand for more summer irrigation; and
Marine / intertidal habitats and species, including those on which local fishing industry is based.

3. Development pressures

None noted at present.

4. Global market forces and national and international policy

The European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Health Check (2009-13) has abolished set-aside and will phase out intervention support, export refunds and dairy quotas. Additional funding will be diverted to provide financial support for beneficial environmental management and rural development. Ongoing CAP Reform may impact upon the area in a number of ways. These changes may potentially impact upon those farmers who are either reluctant (or unable) to change and adapt to new uses of land and new sources of income. It is predicted that farm subsidies, provided by the Single Payment Scheme, will be progressively reduced in the next 15-20 years.

Global market commodity prices are currently highly variable and are subject to variations from supply and demand, and profit margins in agriculture, forestry and fishing are also affected by high input costs, including fuel and fertiliser for agriculture.

Environmental Stewardship support schemes (Entry Level and Higher Level Environmental Stewardship – ELS and HLS) are now targeted locally. For many farmers, support for environmental management will provide an increasing share of the total farm income but uptake of these schemes is also affected by farmers’ comparison with the value that can be realised from market prices for crops and the commitment to an agreement over several years.

Agricultural land ownership appears to be stable but there is a trend in land management towards contract farming, particularly on small to medium farms, with a loss of ‘local stewardship’ of land.

The Forestry Commission will potentially grant aid the majority of the woodland. HLS will cover relatively small and high environmental value woodland. Small scale woodland management seems to be commercially unviable at present and therefore may attract financial support under the new Norfolk Coast and Broads Rural Development Programme.

Limits to fishing activity are defined by the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy, which is influenced by considerations of commercial fish stocks maintenance and also by political considerations. The means of limiting catches (fishing days and discards) are not always effective in terms of sustainability of either stocks or the industry. Local regulations also exist which are more amenable to effective partnership between the local regulator (Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee) and fishermen. Under proposals in the Marine Bill, Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities will formally combine environmental responsibilities and powers with the fisheries responsibilities and powers of the current Sea Fisheries Committees, although locally this has already happened to a large extent through the Wash and North Norfolk Coast European Marine Site Management Scheme.

Other factors affecting marine fisheries include:

Technical difficulties for some fisheries affecting current viability; and
Inshore water quality.

Impacts (current / anticipated)

Most of these influences are by their nature unpredictable, and the effects are even more difficult to predict, since they act in combination.

Global market prices and changing policy, particularly as a consequence of the changed policy towards setaside, may drive farming to become more intensive, at least in parts of the area. This would continue a long-term trend of landscape and habitat degradation and decline of farmland wildlife, particularly farmland birds. Impacts of this trend could include:

Loss of setaside, resulting in negative impacts on farmland biodiversity (a replacement for setaside is currently out for consultation. There are currently two proposed alternatives. One option is for farmers to manage a small proportion of their cultivated land within a new cross- compliance requirement . The alternative, promoted largely by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and Country Landowners and Business Association (CLA) is for a voluntary scheme. Any new scheme is due to be introduced in 2010);
Increase in large scale / contract intensive farming with ‘blocking’ of crops (depending on crop prices) resulting in:
- Loss of characteristic landscape features, farmland wildlife, historic landscape character, possible impacts on buried archaeology;
- Damage to soil structure (causing increased silting of rivers); and
- Increased demand for irrigation.
Loss of sugar beet as a prominent local crop through loss of production support and market viability. Beet is an important ‘break’ crop in the rotation with no obvious alternative at present and is important for farmland bird species such as skylarks. Wintering geese use harvested beet tops as an important food source and may transfer to other crops (e.g. winter barley), with impacts on value of crop;
Demand for increased biofuels / biomass production – potential changes in crops and characteristic biodiversity and landscapes;
Difficulty in sustainable economic management of some characteristic habitats e.g. heathland, grassland (grazing), woodland - effects on landscape and wildlife from lack of active management;
Loss of continuity in transferring from pre-existing Countryside Stewardship to new Environmental Stewardship – possible loss of sensitively managed landscape / habitats;
Environmental Stewardship not widely adopted because of funding levels compared to market prices;
Diversification into other activities e.g. tourism, for smaller farms in particular – possible landscape impacts (but also possibly some relief of recreation pressures on coast); and
Over-fishing of some species and some fishing techniques have impacts on marine habitats and ecosystems.

Both international policy and global market forces, while powerful influences, are beyond effective local control. Action should therefore focus on managing and influencing more local controls and initiatives such as:

Effective local targeting and promotion of environmental stewardship schemes;
Development of / support for schemes that add value and reduce production and transport costs for local products that contribute to the area’s natural beauty; and
Development of local guidance and support for environmentally sensitive and beneficial management within commercial operations.

Vision of the future for farming, forestry and fishing

A twenty year vision for farming, forestry and fishing in the area sets the scene and guides the activities of the Norfolk Coast Partnership:

Agriculture is the prime means of maintaining the natural beauty of the area's countryside. Farming and forestry provide an economically sustainable livelihood through producing crops for a wide range of uses including food and bio-fuels as well as providing recreational opportunities.

Farming, the management of woodland and food production in general, including some new crops that are being grown in response to climate change and market demand, are in tune with the local climate and soil characteristics.

Crop and animal production methods do not impact adversely on water resources, soil structure and local eco-systems and at least maintain, and often enhance, landscape character, local distinctiveness and biodiversity through a mixture of units with smaller tenant and family owned farms sitting alongside larger estate-based units. The area is considered one of good practice and at the vanguard of sustainable agricultural management.

Financial support is available to enable land managers to maintain and enhance specific landscape features, habitats and species while maintaining an economically viable operation, and use of this support is actively encouraged.

Fishing is a sustainable and viable economic activity, at least in combination with other economic activities, and contributes positively to the distinctive character of the area.

Five year objectives and policies

The five year objectives and policies for farming, forestry and fishing are designed to achieve the twenty year vision:

F1. Management of farmland and woodland has contributed positively to the special qualities of the area:

F1.1. Promote appropriate take-up and best use of available farming and forestry grant schemes;

F1.2. Provide clear guidance for the farming and forestry sector on accommodation of new crops and practices;

F1.3. Promote examples of best farming and woodland management practices; and

F1.4. Develop additional support for grazing as a means of maintaining specific areas of distinctive landscape and habitat and meeting conservation objectives.

F2. The local land based economy has been developed in a sensitive and sustainable manner, in line with the special qualities of the area:

F2.1. Develop local and national identity and value for local, sustainable farming and forestry products that support delivery of conservation objectives and enhancement of natural beauty; and

F2.2. Ensure farming and forestry diversification respects, and ideally contributes to, the special qualities of the area.

F3. Management of local fisheries has contributed positively to the special qualities of the area:

F3.1. Promote appropriate take-up and best use of available grant schemes for the fishing industry.

F4. The local sea-based economy has been developed in a sensitive and sustainable manner, in line with the special qualities of the area:

F4.1. Develop local and national identity and value for local, sustainable fishing products that support conservation and enhancement of natural beauty; and

F4.2. Ensure sea-based diversification respects, and ideally contributes to, the special qualities of the area.

Other relevant plans and initiatives

Other relevant plans and initiatives involving partner organisations that can help to achieve objectives and implement policies for this theme include:

Wash Estuary Management Strategy (Wash Estuary Strategy Group);
Wash and North Norfolk Coast European Marine Site Management Scheme;
Broads Plan (Broads Authority);
Environmental Stewardship (Natural England);
Catchment Sensitive Farming Initiative (Natural England);
Regional Woodland Strategy (Forestry Commission);
Soil Strategy (Defra);
Rural Development Programme for the Norfolk Coast and Broads, and;
Existing local products networks.

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