Landscape is more than just ‘the view’. It is the dynamic backdrop to our lives. It is how we perceive the relationship between nature and culture in our surroundings.

It is shared cultural heritage, a living record of the interaction between people and place that is vital to our local and national identity. It is a driver for local economies, a resource that must be carefully managed and maintained. Decisions that change the landscape directly affect the quality of our lives and all landscapes require tailored approaches that protect, manage and plan for their sustainable futures.

Landscape character is defined as 'a distinct, recognisable and consistent pattern of elements in the landscape that makes one landscape different from another, rather than better or worse'. Put simply, landscape character is that which makes an area unique.

Only by paying proper regard to the existing character of our landscapes can informed and responsible decisions be made regarding their management, and sustainable future landscapes planned for. Through understanding how places differ we can also ensure that future development is well situated, sensitive to its location, and contributes to environmental, social and economic objectives.

Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is an approach to understanding the differences between landscapes, and can serve as a framework for decision-making that respects local distinctiveness. It is a way of 'unpacking' the landscape and understanding how its distinctive elements contribute to sense of place. As such, LCA is a useful tool for engaging stakeholders in sustainable development. Communities, developers, farmers and land managers, landscape and planning professionals and others all have a role in identifying the characteristics that make a particular landscape unique, and using this understanding to plan and manage landscape change.

LCA is also important for the UK's implementation of the European Landscape Convention (ELC) - the first international convention on landscape, dedicated exclusively to the protection, management and planning of all landscapes in Europe. It provides a method to identify and assess landscapes, understand landscape change, and a framework for developing landscape quality objectives in partnership with stakeholders - all specific measures of the ELC.

A detailed Landscape Character Assessment is currently being developed for the Arnside and Silverdale AONB.