Landscape glossary of terms

This glossary explains words and phrases used when assessing and describing landscapes.  There may be many different explanations of these terms - this is how we use them in our work.

Charrette  
An intensive brainstorming session traditionally used by architecture students. It now describes a collaborative process that is used with members of the public and professionals together to create a vision for large developments.

Historic land-use assessment  
The process of mapping the extent of past and present land use areas, categorised according to their form, function and period of origin.

Landscape
An area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors. (Article 1, European Landscape Convention Council of Europe, 2002).
The explanatory note expands on this definition as follows: "Landscape" is defined as a zone or area as perceived by local people or visitors, whose visual features and character are the result of the action of natural and/or cultural (that is, human) factors. This definition reflects the idea that landscapes evolve through time, as a result of being acted upon by natural forces and human beings. It also underlines that a landscape forms a whole, whose natural and cultural components are taken together, not separately."

Landscape capacity
The ability of a landscape to accommodate different amounts of change or development of a specific type. Capacity reflects the landscape's sensitivity to the type of change, and the value attached to the landscape, and is therefore dependent on judgements about the desirability of retaining landscape characteristics and the acceptability of their loss. (p.4 Landscape character assessment guidance for England and Scotland. Topic paper 6: techniques and criteria for judging capacity and sensitivity. The Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, 2004).

Landscape character
The distinct and recognisable pattern of elements that occurs consistently in a particular type of landscape. (para 7.8, Landscape character assessment guidance for England and Scotland. The Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, 2002).

Landscape character area
Unique geographical areas of a particular landscape character type. Landscape character areas take on the names of specific places, such as 'Galloway uplands' and 'Dumfries coastlands'. See also landscape character type.

Landscape character assessment
The process of systematic description, classification and analysis of landscape, in order to identify, describe and understand its character. The scale and detail of the assessment will depend upon the purpose for which it is being undertaken. (para 7.8, Landscape character assessment guidance for England and Scotland. The Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, 2002).

Landscape character type
Distinct types of landscape which are generic in character in that they may occur in different parts of the country, but wherever they are they share broadly similar combinations of geology, topography, drainage patterns, vegetation and historical land use and settlement pattern. Names are generic, for example 'moorland slopes and hills', 'open, intensive farmland' and 'high cliffs and sheltered bays'. See also landscape character type.

Landscape classification
The process of identifying the character of different landscapes in any particular area and sorting them into distinctive landscape character types. The landscape character types can be mapped and described in a systematic way at various scales.

Landscape condition
The degree to which the individual characteristics of a landscape are in a good state of repair or health from an ecological, functional and visual perspective. The term 'landscape condition' is an attribute, not a valuation like 'quality', although the two may be used synonymously. Condition and value are separate issues - some landscapes in poor condition can still be highly valued, as in the case of crofting landscapes.

Landscape elements
The individual components which make up the landscape including, for example, hills, valleys, rivers, woods, trees, hedges, buildings and roads. Because they are physical and visible, they can be measured and quantified and they can be described in an objective way.

Landscape evaluation
The process of attaching relative value(s) to landscapes, through the application of a consistent methodology and agreed criteria. Landscape evaluation is carried out for a specific purpose, such as the designation of protected landscapes or the identification of landscapes of value to a particular group or community. It is a separate process from landscape character assessment, and it relies on judgements being made as to the relative worth of landscapes. There is currently no single recognised methodology for evaluating landscapes, because it is influenced by the objectives of the valuation exercise and the responses of people who may value the same landscape in different ways. However, the process of attaching values to a landscape should be through the application of a consistent methodology and agreed criteria, carried out for a specific purpose. 

Landscape impacts
The likely effects on landscape character or components due to a development proposal or change in land management. They can therefore affect the way in which the landscape is experienced. Impacts can be positive (beneficial) or negative (detrimental); and can also be cumulative.

Landscape integrity
The intactness of the individual characteristics of a landscape. An aspect of landscape condition, this term is less concerned with the state of repair of the landscape characteristics, more with how complete or entire they are.

Landscape features
Prominent or eye-catching elements or focal points such as a tree clump on a hill top, a loch; or distinctive topography or land cover.

Landscape management
Action, from a perspective of sustainable development, to ensure the regular upkeep of a landscape, so as to guide and harmonise changes which are brought about by social, economic and environmental processes. (European Landscape Convention)

Landscape planning
Strong forward-looking action to enhance, restore or create landscapes. (European Landscape Convention)

Landscape protection
Actions to conserve and maintain the significant or characteristic features of a landscape, justified by its value derived from its natural configuration and/or from human activity. (European Landscape Convention)

Landscape qualities
The less tangible, aspects of a landscape, such as the appreciation of its beauty or history, it sense of wildness or its challenge for recreation. While these qualities are dependent on individual perception, they are commonly recognised and valued.

Landscape quality
This can be both an attribute and a value. People can associate a range of values with a landscape, that is, beneficial qualities which they respond to, and which denote its significance in their lives. However, relativity is critical, as landscapes that have the attribute of being of poor quality in a regional context may still be highly valued in their local context. The term 'quality' reflects the value that is placed on landscapes which appeal primarily to the visual senses, but this value is not absolute and tends to reflect prevailing ideas about which landscapes are of special value. Although quality is a separate issue from evaluation it is often linked because landscapes of higher quality may be more valued and more likely to be designated.

Landscape scale
An approach that examines issues at an extensive scale (such as a catchment system), rather than the individual site scale. Here the term landscape refers to the scale of the approach (landscape as an area), rather than as a topic of interest.

Landscape sensitivity
The degree to which the character and qualities of the landscape are affected by specific types of development and land-use change. Sensitivity depends upon the type, nature and magnitude of the proposed change as well as the characteristics of the host landscape. High sensitivity indicates landscapes are vulnerable to the change; low sensitivity that they are more able to accommodate the change and that the key characteristics of that landscape will essentially remain unaltered.

Natural beauty and amenity
There is no clear statutory definition of 'natural beauty and amenity'. It is a composite term commonly used in environmental legislation that refers to those qualities of the landscape which appeal to all our senses, but particularly the visual and experiential. In more popular terms 'natural beauty and amenity' is simply interpreted as what people see, experience and enjoy as they react to their surroundings.

Sense of place
The term 'sense of place' captures the identity of places we recognise. It embraces natural and cultural features, the distinctive sights, sounds and experiences rooted to that place, its atmosphere and people. Places with a strong 'sense of place' have a clear identity and character that is recognisable by inhabitants and visitors alike.

Wildland
Extensive areas where wildness is best expressed.

Wildness
A quality of the landscape, usually due to natural character, remoteness, or lack of obvious human influence, experienced by people through such values as feeling close to nature and experiencing a sense of solitude.