QGIS is the operating system I have been using to produce the maps that show the extent of Landscape Character Assessment and Historic Landscape Characterisation work that has been done in the southwest region.  The exercise has been a good test for its usefulness to CPRE as a tool at Regional and County level. CPRE National Office make use of this system.

Below is a screen shot, showing my current workspace.

The system is free and can be downloaded from

http://www.qgis.org/en/about-qgis.html

I am familiar with GIS and in particular with MapInfo.  Even so, it has not been easy getting use to Qgis and at the start I had problems with the simplest tasks.

However, I have found a source of Help, you can find this at  QGIS GETTING STARTED and a number of very useful video tutorials, listed below.

QGIS 1 – Introduction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Oer-i6nVc&NR=1

QGIS 2 – Tools

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsC_AEqtRRI&NR=1

QGIS 3 – Symbology

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duuYMufA-RU&feature=related

QGIS 4 – Finding & Selecting Data

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbnCrfoWnNk&NR=1

Sorry for the delay. I have made some changes to the way that I capture the boundaries of the images. They should be more accurate now at large scales.

Cornwall Landscape Character Assessment draft for consultation 2009

http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/landscape_character_assessment/index.htm

C is also for

Bristol City Council, Clifton and Durdham Downs Landscape Character Appraisal: Consultation Draft April 2005

Christchurch Borough Council, Christchurch Borough Wide Character Assessment, 2003

Cotswold District Council,  Assesment of Landscapes Outside the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 2000

Countryside Commission, The Cornish Landscape, 1997

Countryside Commission, The Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Landscape, 1995

MAFF, Cotswold Hills Environmentally  Sensitive Area Landscape Assessment, 1994

Countryside Commission, The Cotswold Landscape, 1990

map

LCA Text

This is the first of many postings that will show where Landscape Character Assessments and Historic Landscape Characterisation studies have been carried out within the Southwest Region.

A is also for Agricultural Land Classification.

Have at last, had some success importing data into Quantum GIS and Google Earth Pro . I’m now able to create maps that show where the most important soils occur, for agriculture, in the region.

It supports my concerns that development is being planned to go where the best soils are located. This is clearly the case for areas that straddle the M5 Motorway around Bristol, North Petherton (near Bridgewater), Wellington, Cullompton and Exeter. In the next image, I have shown Grade 1 land on top of Google Earth. One could imagine that the blue is indicating areas allocated for development.

Its ironic that at a time when it is being suggested that we shall need to produce more home grown food in the future, that the best sites to grow this food are under threat from development. These are also the sites that can grow food without the need for huge inputs of artificial fertilisers,  where “low carbon food” food can be grown.  Perhaps it will be fine if all the gardens and parks are Allotments?

If anyone is interested in finding out the land classification in their area, please let me know.

ABC… for CPRE

A is for an ABC… of Landscape Studies (in the Southwest region) and my Award.

I hope that you will know by now, that I have been fortunate enough to have been awarded funding from the Vodafone World of Difference Foundation. This makes it possible for me to carry out a project for my chosen charity, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). The work I have chosen to do, is to investigate Landscape Character Assessment in the Southwest Region.  Landscape Character Assessment is the name of an analytical technique which identifies, describes and maps areas classified according to various landscape character types  (see LCA). The approach I am planning to take, is to;

• - map and assess what work has been carried out already,
• - report on how the studies are being used to influence planning decision making and engage   communities  and
• - investigate how CPRE can encourage more community landscape assessment projects at the local community/parish level.

I hope to improve my own skills in the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and to be able to contribute to an increased use of mapping in our Regional and County work.

I have been asked to pass on my experiences to you in the form of a Blog. I hope that you find what I have to say interesting and that you are able to follow me to the end. There is the chance for you to comment along the way.

To give what I have to say some structure, I have decided to adopt an A to Z format.  Please visit me again soon to find out what I have to say for B.

A is also for Appropriate Agriculture or Alien Anomaly?

Miscanthus producing a strong new pattern in the landscape

Aims,

To find out the current state of Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) and Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) in the southwest region, report on studies and methods being used to include the work into LDF process, the minds of planners and communities,

Test ways that local community groups could set about carrying out local level landscape assessment themselves.

Investigate how CPRE southwest region could develop a flagship landscape project.

and Approach.

Mostly through maps, a blog in the form of an ABC which can become a PowerPoint presentation or booklet. Emphasis on images.

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