Tara Skryne Landscape Conservation Area Project: Progress Report: Phase 1

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1 Tara Skryne Landscape Conservation Area Project: Progress Report: Phase 1 A partnership project between Meath County Council, the Heritage Council and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Progress report Phase 1: Conception and Research

2 Phase I Conception and Research Phase I Conception and Research Start March 2009 End May 2009 Status Complete The first stage of this national pilot project involved an extensive scoping exercise to define the work programme, set up the project structure, to undertake background research and establish detailed baseline data for the area. The following tasks were completed: 1. Review of existing published material on the Tara Skryne Landscape (including extensive site visits) Meetings were held with organisations and individuals with data and knowledge of Tara Skryne Landscape. Publications were collated and reviewed. Extensive site visits The Local Study Section of the Meath County Library contained a number of useful publications including an archive of Riocht na Midhe, the journal of the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society. Files pertaining to the M3 were reviewed A number of academics discussed their research activities on Tara and on historic landscapes and were generous with their time and in sharing their knowledge. Meetings were held with members of the County Meath Heritage Forum, a nonstatutory advisory group to assist in the formulation and implementation of the County Meath Heritage Plan. The Heritage Forum represents a partnership between all relevant stakeholders and includes representatives from local government, government departments and state agencies, local heritage and community groups, NGOs local businesses, local development, the farming sector, educational institutions and the

3 heritage professions. Selection of research publications on the Tara Landscape 2. Collating available remote sensing and digital data and establishing a dedicated project Geographic Information System (GIS) to present, display and analyse spatial data. The Discovery Programme supplied the following datasets: o High resolution LiDAR data captured for Tara by a FliMAP 400 sensor covering and an area of 2.38km 2 capturing 150 million data points to give the most accurate topographic model of the Hill and its immediate vicinity ever captured with a ground resolution of 12cm (60pts per m 2 ) and accuracy (relative) horizontal ± 5cm vertical ±3cm. o Colour aerial ortho-photography (1:7,500) flown in May 2008

4 Figure 2: High Resolution LiDAR of the Hill of Tara A dedicated project GIS to display and analysis spatial data was established by Kealan McMoreland and Steven Kavanagh (Meath County Council, Planning Department). Datasets incorporated into the Project GIS include: Aerial photography LiDAR Terrain Data (Digital Terrain Model, topography, slope and elevation) Landcover data Topography Digital Elevation Models Soils and subsoils Bedrock geology

5 Depth to bedrock Rivers and drainage patterns Ordnance Survey historical mapping Archaeological data (RMP data and geophysics), Natural heritage data Protected Structures Planning history data Figure 3: Discovery Programme 1:7,500 Tara Photogrammetric project 3. Review of existing land use policy and strategic policy documents (local, regional and national and international) A review of existing local, regional, national and international land use policy and strategic documents was conducted to inform this pilot project including: Meath County Development Plan ; County Meath Tourism Strategy; County Development Board Strategy; Regional Planning Guidelines for Greater Dublin Area; East Border Region River Basin Management Plans; (Draft) Landscape and Landscape Assessment Guidelines; Heritage

6 Council Strategic Plan; Landscape Character Assessment Study; Heritage Council Policy Paper on Landscapes; Ireland landscape Conference 1999; National Spatial Strategy; Rural Housing Guidelines; European Landscape Convention; Conservation Principles: Policies and guidance for the sustainable management of the historic environment; ICOMOS Burra Charter; Cultural Landscape Management; English Heritage Historic Landscape Characterisation: Landscape Character Assessment Guidance for England and Scotland; 4. Planning History Study 1999 to 2009 To establish baseline data on planning within the Tara Skryne Landscape a study was undertaken by Pamela Harty (Planning Intern), Heritage Council under the guidance of its Planning Officer Alison Harvey. The scope of the study involved establishing a baseline and understanding of the planning history of the Tara Skryne Landscape for the past 10 years to establish the forces of change and identify the types and current level of development within the area. This involved examining over 400 planning applications lodged in Meath County Council during the period 1999 to 2009 through the Council s iplan system and analysing data by townland, development type, and development plan period. The study was carried out at the Planning Offices in Meath County Council and the Heritage Council. 5. Review of international best practice in the sustainable management of cultural landscapes In developing this pilot the approach to managing cultural landscapes in other countries was examined and involved extensive online research to build a reference library of useful information, reports and case studies. In particular: A meeting between the Heritage Council and English Heritage to enhance cooperation between the organisations, attended by Loreto Guinan and Ian Doyle, was held in May Discussions focused on the following key areas: o Roles of English Heritage and the Heritage Council o Approached to the implementation of the European Landscape Convention o Discussion relating to the management of protected areas including: (i) General discussion on protected areas (ii) Role of consultation/community involvement (iii) Management of protected landscapes (iv) Resources and Incentives (tax breaks, agri-environmental schemes) (v) Role of research and learning

7 (vi) Relationship with local government and development management (vii) Stonehenge World Heritage Site Management Plan The work of Natural England, UK National Parks, Lake District World Heritage Project Scottish Natural Heritage, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Parks Canada and Landscape Observatory in Spain was examined.