NES2101 : Landscape, Culture and Heritage

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To make students aware of the natural, historical and cultural factors that contribute to the character of today's countryside. To encourage students to perceive the composition and to assess the quality of cultural landscapes. To provide an introduction to the history of landscape appreciation in the UK as an example of the development of a society's cultural association with landscape. To introduce students to the origins and practice of landscape character assessment, environmental impact assessment (EIA)and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and to demonstrate their role in maintaining countryside character. To demonstrate how public and private institutions contribute towards the maintenance of landscape character and cultural heritage in the UK.

Outline Of Syllabus

Lectures 1 to 3: The Developing Appreciation of Landscape in the UK
Lectures 4 to 7: Landscapes for the People
Lectures 8 & 9: Environmental Archaeology
Lectures 10 to 12: Managing Heritage Landscapes
Lectures 13 to 17: Landscape Character Assessment
Lectures 18 and 20: Environmental Impact Assessment

Towards the second half of the semester up to three field classes involving practical exercises in applying Landscape character assessment or EIA.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion135:0035:00Writing up field class exercises (x2)
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion120:0020:00Preparation and completion of essay on landscape appreciation
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture201:0020:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion101:0010:00Research and preparation for the heritage on your doorstep presentation
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading125:0025:00Directed reading on aesthetics and landscape history
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading110:0010:00Directed reading on environmental assessment
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading118:0018:00Directed reading on landscape character
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading114:0014:00Directed reading on heritage management
Guided Independent StudySkills practice23:006:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyReflective learning activity201:3030:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork26:0012:00Landscape character assessment
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures provide the basic knowledge framework and appropriate further reading will provide insight into a range of issues in the appreciation and management of landscape character and heritage. Open discussions within lectures will provide an opportunity to articulate and critically evaluate alternative approaches to the achievement of key landscape management objectives. They will also provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate that, when appropriate, they can suggest new hypotheses, and show initiative and originality in approaching management problems. The field classes provide an opportunity to practice and develop the practical skills in landscape character and environmental impact assessment introduced in lectures.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay2M40Landscape appreciation in UK (1500 words)
Written exercise2A60Landscape character assessment exercises (2000 words)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

100% Continuous Assessment: one essay (40%) set second week of term with four week return date, plus a field-class exercise (60%) set around the Easter vacation.

The initial essay tests students' understanding of society's developing interest in landscape and heritage. Landscape and environmental impact assessments require practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge, therefore the field exercise tests students' ability to apply the material from the course in a practical context linked to the designation of National Parks and AONBs.

The formative assessment encourages students to reflect on their local countryside heritage and on how it can be managed to benefit more people.

Reading Lists

Timetable