This major project was led and project managed by Fiona Fyfe. Fiona was involved in all stages of the project, including fieldwork, photography, stakeholder workshops and writing of the final report. The landscape character assessment was carried out using the recognised best-practice methodology for landscape character assessment, and also incorporated the Welsh LANDMAP GIS resource. The project brought together a large amount of data and background information on the National Park’s geology, ecology, archaeology, designations, landscape history, population, settlement and development issues. It presents this information in an attractive and easily readable way using text, maps, illustrations and photographs. The Landscape Character Assessment includes a brief ‘story of the Brecon Beacons landscape’, and a summary of the forces for change currently acting on the area’s landscape. It identifies fifteen distinctive Landscape Character Areas within the National Park, and sets out their distinctive characteristics, special qualities, sensitivities, landscape history, key views, Green Infrastructure and ecosystem services. It also looks at the forces for change acting on each Landscape Character Area, and makes recommendations for their future management in order to retain and enhance their special qualities.
The accompanying Supplementary Planning Guidance provides recommendations on how the planning system can be used to enhance landscape character. As well as text, this document also uses ‘before and after’ sketches and flowcharts to illustrate how consideration of landscape character can be positively applied to development proposals.