DETERMINING THE IMPACT AND VALUE OF HERITAGE CONSERVATION UNDER CAP AND LOCAL AGRIENVIRONMENT SCHEME
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2020-11-07

For over 30 years Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funded agri-environment schemes (AES) have been a major source of investment for the conservation and management of the rural historic environment in the United Kingdom (UK). This investment has been complemented by a range of local AES funded by Local Authorities and designated conservation area bodies such as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. However, research to determine the impacts of AES on the conservation and management of the rural historic environment has tended to focus on specific features within specific schemes over limited time periods. This has resulted in many isolated reports and the fragmentation of the evidence base which is a barrier to effective AES policy making. There is an urgent need for research that draws together this disparate evidence and provides an overview and evaluation of the impact of AES on the rural historic environment. This paper traces the evolution of CAP and local AES policy in the UK from 1986 to the present day. It compiles and summaries the research that has investigated the impacts of AES on a range of historic environment features. It concludes with an evaluation of the evidence base and makes recommendations for future monitoring and evaluation.


Author(s): Gaskell, Peter (University of Gloucestershire; Countryside and Community Researh Institute)