Assessing and evaluating the cultural services of the South Pennines ecosystem services pilot (NECR128)

This work was commissioned to identify the cultural services that are delivered by the moorland landscape of the South Pennines for both visitors and residents within and adjacent to the area, who might be affected by changes in the landscape. The work focussed on the moorlands, and the likely changes to them that might arise from the delivery of other ecosystem services.
Between 2009 and 2011 Natural England ran three pilot schemes in upland areas to explore the delivery of ecosystem services. For details see NERR046 Delivering the ecosystem approach on the ground: an evaluation of the upland ecosystem service pilots.
The aim of the three pilot schemes was to provide practical examples of how to apply the ecosystem approach on the ground and to demonstrate that investment in the natural environment can result in multiple benefits.
However, although the quality of the landscape for inspiration, recreation and enjoyment by a wide public was acknowledged to be a key aspect of the South Pennines area, the pilot did little to try to assess these benefits.
Pennine Prospects are a rural regeneration company that works to raise the profile and deliver environmental improvements in the South Pennines. They helped to develop an understanding of the recreational use of the moorlands that has been used in this research.