'Understanding Historic Landscape Character'

Topic Paper 5 published by the Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, September 2003

Authors: Graham Fairclough, English Heritage; Lesley Macinnes, Historic Scotland

This summary sheet produced September 2006

Human actions in the past, and their evidence in the landscape, are highly significant to present day landscape character. Topic Paper 5 emphasises the importance of having a sound understanding of historic landscape character when carrying out a Landscape Character Assessment (LCA). The study of historic landscape character is carried out in England and Scotland under two separate programmes which have much in common. In England, English Heritage have developed the Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) programme in partnership with local government at county, unitary and National Park level. In Scotland, Historic Land-Use Assessment (HLA) is a joint programme conducted by Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

HLC and HLA were both developed as freestanding programmes in response to the need for attention to the historical and archaeological perspectives on landscape character outlined in the Countryside Commission's working paper 'Views from the Past' (1996). HLC and HLA both follow principles closely connected with the European Landscape Convention's definition of Landscape as "an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors". These principles have subsequently been adopted by the EU Culture 2000-funded network European Pathways to the Cultural Landscape.

This paper outlines the concept of 'time-depth', key to HLC/HLA: this is the imprint of the past on the contemporary landscape. General principles of methodology are outlined, and progress towards national coverage in England and Scotland is described. The paper also outlines key applications of HLC/HLA in the areas of spatial planning, land management, agri-environmental policy, landscape policy, local distinctiveness and community-based initiatives, research, education and communication.

The paper describes the complementary relationship HLC/HLA has with LCA, but also highlights their important differences and emphasises the need for the two approaches to be freestanding. It underlines the importance of integrating the two approaches to produce holistic and far-reaching understanding of the landscape. It goes on to describe some of the requirements and factors to be considered when integrating HLC/HLA with LCA, and recommends conducting an HLC/HLA before a LCA so that that the former informs the latter.

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