Landscape Evolution
Most people imagine the English landscape as a "natural" environment, unchanged for thousands of years. The reality is very different.
The English landscape, and its habitats, evolved over a relatively short time and and has constantly evolved adapting to human needs and economics. It would be wrong to try to fossilise the countryside in its present form, or even worse try to return it to some point in its history. So what is the future for our countryside?
The Northmoor Trust wants to see a more sustainable countryside, and one that recognises a greater variety of economic land use than the present emphasis on cereal and meat production. Agricultural subsidies must give way to payments to landowners to preserve and restore local distinctiveness and wildlife, and to create meaningful jobs. Where possible, new and appropriate rural industries such as forestry should be encouraged to maintain the land on an economic basis. The expectations of all those concerned about the future of our landscape must be balanced with those of landowners and conservationists.
Planning for the future will be made more difficult by the likelihood of climate change, and the increasing globalisation of world trade. These factors reduce our confidence in what will be possible in fifty years from now, and in our ability to plan nationally.
To help the public understand these complex issues, the Northmoor Trust is embarking on the Wittenham Clumps Heritage Landscape Project, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and many local, regional and national agencies. The project will research the history of the local archaeology and landscape in and around Little Wittenham Nature Reserve, and create a new educational facility, the Landscape Evolution Centre to tell the story of landscape evolution, and the possible future of our countryside.
