Pre-Diploma Coastal heath landscape in Norway

Coastal heath landscape Reimaging the human practices.

Coastal heath landscape Author. Peter Has Larsen Supervisors: Sabine MĂźller and Eric Reid Oslo School of Architecture and Design Landscape and Urbanism Fall 2020

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Content Introduction Abstract Concept of cultural landscape What do we want from the cultural landscape?

Norwegian coastal heath landscape Overgrowing landscape Human practises across heath landscape Precedents The Heathland center at Lygra Loosdrechtse plassen Comparison Synthesis Materialisation of form Site Proposed coastal heaths in Norway Potential areas Bliksvær on a map Postcards from Bliksvær Timeline of Bliksvær Digital landscape mapping One´s man island Practises Turf removal Heath burning Grazing Heath cutting Patterns Bibliography

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Introduction Abstract

European Cultural Heath landscape

The heath landscape is a open coastal cultural heritage of Western Europe along the Atlantic coast. It reaches from northern Portugal to Lofoten in Norway, including United Kingdom and Ireland as well. For over 4000 years, it has heen both a distinctive nature agricultural type and an important part of European development.

Remains of stone walls, castles, old peat houses and traces of settlements, testify that the landscape has been used by humans for centuries.

Traditional heather farming has been sustainable in terms of utilising the resources in the coastal fields.

With grazing livestock, seasonal burning and ax, the first farmers began clearing the primeval forest to create heather moors. Clearing has started about 4,000 years ago, but it was not until Viking times that the entire coast of Western Europe was transformed into a mosaic of practising landscape.

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Introduction Context Discourse

European Coastal Heathlands have been maintained for centuries as a result of human presence and practices. Since 1960s, due to low economic profit, most of the coastal farms have been deserted, which had an extensive impact on the value of this cultural landscape today.

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Discourse Coastal heaths are one of the valuable humanmade landscapes in Europe, constructed with various sculptural practices. How should we treat and preserve those practices in the future, and what could they mean concerning contemporary reforestation of the heaths?

Figure. 01 European Coastal heath landscape.

.

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Introduction The concept of cultural landscape What is a cultural landscape?

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Culture is a Latin word meaning to cultivate. The word is used in many meanings today. When we talk about cultural landscapes, we mean landscapes that are influenced by human activity.

German geographer Friedrich Ratzel has coined the term “cultural landscape” in 1895. It became known to the English-speaking countries by the North American geographer Carl Sauer in 1925.

For them, the cultural landscape was the result of human change in the primeval landscape. In Scandinavia, the term was first used by Swedish and Finnish geographers in the interwar period and the first period after World War II in studies of agricultural areas. In Norway, the phrase did not become common until the 1960s.

Analysis of Nordic literature indicates that the term was used mainly distinguished between three uses:

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The cultural landscape is the landscape that has been transformed or influenced by humans. This is the classic definition among geographers, landscape architects, and other professionals.

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Cultural landscapes represent valuable features or elements in the human-made landscape threatened by change, such as new operating methods in agriculture or urbanization. This use of the term is commonly known by those who are concerned with nature and cultural protection. What is threatened can be the agricultural landscape, cultural lands with great biological diversity resulting from traditional farming forms, cultural monuments, or aesthetic qualities.

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Cultural landscapes are landscapes or landscape elements, both natural and human-made, that have cultural significance.

This form of use emphasizes that the same landscape can have different meanings for different groups of people.

We are faced with some choices when it comes to cultural landscapes: a. We can let nature take its course. b. We can speed up the decay, for example, by demolition or planting. c. We may allow other uses.

A lot of cultivated land that has fallen out of use is used for other purposes such as residential areas, agricultural land, traffic areas, or industrial areas.

Cultural landscapes have emerged through use. If they are to be preserved, they must still be used. For us to be able to maintain the landscape, it must be used in the same way as when it was created.

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Introduction What do we want from the cultural landscape?

Do we experience the landscape in the same way?

Beauty can be defined in many ways and is dependent on the eyes that see. A little unpretentious, we can consider four ways of seeing the landscape:

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- “Tamed” beauty. Man likes to surround himself with parks and gardens. That is open grasslands with scattered groups of trees and preferably some water. The need for overview and predictability is also important in this context.

Until the middle of the 19th century, untouched nature was seen as wild, scary, and ugly by most people.

- The picturesque beauty (the dream of the lost paradise?). The picturesque’s sense was more strongly expressed during the 19th century, especially with national romanticism. Some people, especially the wealthy in the cities, turned their eyes to the “untamed” nature and the cultural landscape disorder. What in many people’s eyes was old “rail” got its value as something picturesque.

- Useful beauty. What is useful is also beautiful.

A large, open, and easily managed field can have its beauty for a farmer because it is good to work on. Similarly, details such as arable islands and vegetation edges can be perceived as ugly because they are a daily annoyance.

- The beauty of the specialist. Every specialist has his or her own ideal of beauty. A botanist can fall into spells over a rarely grazed or a puzzle plant that does little of itself. For an archaeologist, a mound of stones can be an exciting and beautiful memorial. Even large towering power lines can be perceived as beautiful, preferably by the engineers.

Landscape experience has become important as motivation for both outdoor life and tourism.

People often seek out environments that are different from those they travel daily. Other landscapes can provide both nature experiences and cultural experiences. People are often associated with places and objects in the landscape in the same way as personal property.

The landscape becomes part of people’s sense of identity. If people experience that something they value in a landscape disappears or is threatened by rapid change, it can trigger a strong commitment.

Many people associate landscapes with beauty and visual experiences. How we experience a landscape depends on the season, the weather, and the lighting conditions. The experience can also be affected by our mood. Individual experiences and personal memories associated with specific places are often important.

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Figure. 02 Twenty One Fence Posts, Shirogane, Hokkaido, Japan. 2004 Michael Kenna, photographer , known for his unusual landscapes with ethereal light.

Introduction Norwegian coastal heath landscape

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The traditional Norwegian heath farm was based on the usual principles of infield (innmarka) and outfield (utmarka). The unique climate condition of the moors allowed grazing throughout the year and peats in the bogs were important as an energy source for the farm. In the beach zone, fisheries, seaweed, kelp and shell sand were collected as a contribution to the fertilization of the fields.

Norwegian authorities considered strip of heather land as poor and marginal. During the national romantic period, famous writers fought for the fascination of forests. A negative attitude towards heather landscape was also noticed between researches. Some called the deforestation off the coast a “land accident� that one had to try to get out of. Since the 1960s, due to low economic profit, most coastal farms have been left behind.

The breaking point of discussion about forestry vs. heather landscape took place during Lygra project in the 1970s. Documentation of the coastal heaths as the fishermen’s cultural landscape marked a turning point for the debate. Essential for coastal biodiversity, only 10% of the former landscape has survived until today. Minor parts have been obtained protection for the future due to dependence on special farming methods that are uneconomic and ineffective today. As a result, many municipalities have proposed new national parks in a threatened area focusing on conservation. Unfortunately, none of these proposals were implemented.

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infield

heath

peat bog

heath

beach

Figure. 03 Model that illustrates the construction of the traditional heather farm. Š Based on illustration made by Lyngheisenteret.

16 Moland Holsøy Karlsøyvær Bliksvær

Træna, Torvværet

Helgelandsøyene Skeisnesset Kalvøya Sør-Gjæslingan Tarva Øyriket sør for Smøla Småge + øyer Stadlandet/Sandsøy

Værlandet Lygra/Lurekalven

Fitjarøyene

Blikshavn/Dale Rennesøy

Ytre Hvaler Nasjonalpark

Synesvarden Søre Eigerøya Vest-Lista

Einarsneset

Figure. 04 Overview of 23 chosen areas in Norway.

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Practises Overgrowing landscape

Forestation of the coast and its consequences

Coastal heaths are a very dynamic type of nature as they are so dependent on active human presence. When usage is reduced or stops completely, it will, after a few years, become overgrown. The heather plants will start to get coarser and get one more wooded growth form.

At the xsame time, the heather field is invaded by shrubs, especially junipers. Gradually, different types of trees establish themselves, and the open character of the landscape fades away.

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Practises Human practises across heath landscape Cycles of the heath landscape

18 Traditional coastal heathland cycle

Cutting with sickle Grazing

Mature phase 15-25 years

Growing phase 6-15 years

Burning

Pioneer phase 0-6 years

Figure. 05 Traditional coastal healthland cycle.

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Discontinued coastal heathland cycle

Shrubs and trees take over Grazing

Mature phase 15-25 years

Growing phase 6-15 years

Pioneer phase 0-6 years

Chopping trees

Figure. 06 Discontinued coastal healthland cycle.

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Precedents

The Heathland center at Lygra Conservation and managment of North European coastal heathlands

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Precedents Definitions and identification of the area The Heathland center at Lygra

The Heathland Centre is located approximately 40 km from Bergen in Western Norway. The area has no legal protection under Norwegian nature or culture conservation laws.

The Heathland Centre is a foundation established by collaboraton between:

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• The University of Bergen • The County Council of Hordaland • The municipality of Lindås • The Council of municipalities in Nordhordland • The Nordhordland Craft and Industry Union • The farmers of Ytre Lygra who own the area

Heathland

Grass heaths

Lurekavlen

Lygra Information building

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Figure. 07 Map of Lygra.

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Modern farming

Restoration

Construction

Biodiversity

This farm is supposed to be run in the same manner as it was in about 1940. The infields consist of about 3 hectares of meadow, 1.2 hectares of pastures, and 0.2 hectares of cultivated fields.

The meadow’s grass is dried to produce hay; the fields are used for potatoes, cereals (barley and oats), and turnips.

No artificial fertilizers are used; only the dung from the byres and seaweed are spread on the fields. No commercial fodder is used. Most work is done by hand or horse, but a small tractor is available for the heaviest operations.

Restoration of one of the boat houses and stone walls. Fot. Peter Emil Karland

The concept of The Heathland Centre focuses on the totality of the landscape due to the farmers’ activity. This is a new and alternative way of thinking about the conservation of nature and cultural heritage.

The best biodiversity is found in well-managed heathlands.

The flower-rich meadows give rich contributions to the biodiversity of the coastal landscape.

Fot. Peter Emil Karland

Modern ecological (organic) farming One of the farms is planning to begin modern ecological (organic) farming. Today it is run in a modern way by a neighbor. This will be changed to modern organic production when he has retired, and the future economy of The Heathland Centre permitted.

This will supplement the cultural historic farm, which in itself is ecologically run.

Modern organic farming is, however, done completely differently, which is demonstrated on site.

The information building, where interpretation and most other activities are organized.

Fot. Peter Emil Karland

Education

Research

Tourism

School children participating in traditional farm work at the Heathlnad Centre’.

Fot. Kristine Ekelund

Documentation of ancient farming technics which today have disappeared. One of the survey publications from LindĂĽsprosjektet. Fot. Peter Emil Kaland

Guided walks in the landscape is an important part of the interpetation at the Heathlnad Centre.

Fot. Peter Emil Karland

Traditional farming In addition to traditional farming, modern farming is also shown. This is done to demonstrate the fast development of farming over the past 60 years and give visitors an experience of how modern food production differs from the subsistence farming of earlier generations in this landscape. The difference in production methods between the cultural, historic farm, and the modern farm is often greater than the difference between the traditional farm (as in 1940) and the Medieval Age farm on Lurekalven (of approximately 1340) only a tenth of the time. The modern farm harvests about 15 hectares of highly productive grass fields using modern methods. Farming is based on modern technology, with applied artificial fertilizers and commercial fodder use in addition to silage. Until recently, milk and meat were produced based on 15 milking cows and 10-15 young cattle.

The present developments in agricultural subsidies make it difficult for a family to live from a farm of this size.

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Precedents Goals

The Heathland center at Lygra

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Preservation is based on long-term agreements with the owners with a mission to preserve the heathlands as authentically as possible and show how dependent they are on active land use and management. The intention is to preserve biodiversity and facilitate research, education, outdoor-life, and tourism, thus stimulating local economic development.

Figure 08 Two of the farms at Ytre Lygra, about 1910.

Fot. Peter Emil Kaland

Figure 09 The old clustered farmstead at Yre Lygra before land allocation.

Precedents Experiences

The Heathland center at Lygra

“authentically indispensable sustainably. “

farming methods (...) are to manage the heathlands

“people from marginal areas for agriculture along the coast, where modern farming is not economically compatible, have started to see the potential of the heathlands and their traditional management methods. They want to maintain this landscape as a source of alternative and sustainable food production, local identity, and tourist development.”

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“The interest from schools and other educational institutions has been considerable. The heathlands have a great pedagogical potential within many different subjects, and the facilities at The Heathland Centre has shown to be useful at all levels.”

“The Heathland Centre has turned out to be a popular area for outdoor life, both for the local people from the area and for the urban population living in Bergen.”

“The number of foreign tourists (...) visiting the center is increasing, but is still lower than other comparable attractions. This is partly because it is a new destination with limited resources for advertising, but it also reflects that this is a new type of tourism (geotourism) in Norway.”

Figure 10 Spring work on Ytre Lygra, about 1910.

Fot. Peter Emil Kaland

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Precedents

Loosdrechtse plassen Restoration and preservation of peat extraction fields.

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Precedents Historical development Loosdrechtse plassen

Located between Amsterdam and Utrecht, Loosdrechtse plassen exercises preservation of cultural landscape with a new function, where invasive natural processes are used to highlight the historical formations.

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In the Early Middle Ages, the area was wild peat, where flooding regularly occurred. Eventually, farmers have begun to excavate large parts of the peat layer for extraction and created elongated islands, on which the cut-out peat was laid to dry. Gradually, the lake’s intrusive surrounding water replaced the excavated fields and resulted in the new image: a valuable cultural-historical landscape with a characteristic alternation of water and narrow land strips.

Goal Within this project, the aim is to restore layers of land in strategic places and strengthen nature in this area and improve the water quality.

Transforming fields into reed nature makes an ideal habitat for many different animals: birds build their nests there, fish and insects can hide and hunt there.

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Figure. 11 Map of Loosdrechtse plassen.

Precedents Recreation

Loosdrechtse plassen

From the 1920s onwards, the recreation boom has started. People from the towns and villages wanted to spend a day sailing or fishing in the lake area; therefore, summer and weekend houses were built on the islands.

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Figure. 12 View over Loosdrechtse plassen.

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Precedents Comparison

Relations between the steps in the design process and levels of intervention

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Figure. 13 Satellite map of Loosdrechtse plassen.

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Figure. 14 Satellite map of Lygra.

Precedents Comparison

Analysis of the form of the landscape; what are the forces behind the form?

Figure. 15 Historical maps of Loosdrechtse plassen.

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Figure. 16 Bedrock map of Lygra.

Precedents Synthesis

How is the form of the landscape designed?

Figure. 17 Topographic formations of Loosdrechtse plassen.

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Figure. 18 Topographic formations of Lygra.

Precedents Materialisation of form

Form of the landscape as elements; parcels, buildings, plants, bridges, landmarks etc.

- points - lines

- planes

Figure. 19 Occupation layer at Loosdrechtse plassen.

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Figure. 20 Occupation layer at Lygra.

Precedents Materialisation of form

Form of the landscape as construction, as materialisation of form: - ground - water

Figure. 21 Surfaces at Loosdrechtse plassen.

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Figure. 22 Surfaces at Lygra.

Precedents Materialisation of form

Form of the landscape as construction: - forest

Figure. 13 Vegetation at Loosdrechtse plassen.

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Figure. 24 Vegetation at Lygra.

Precedents Materialisation of form

Form of the landscape as networks: - road systems

Figure. 25 Network layer. Loosdrechtse plassen.

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Figure. 26 Network layer. Lygra.

Precedents Intrusive forces

Intrusive force over the landscape: - intrusive water

- overgrowing forest

Figure. 27 Intrusive force of water at Loosdrechtse plassen.

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Figure. 28 Intrusive force of trees at Lygra.

Precedents Intrusive forces

Landscape dynamics is regarded as the change of the long-term states over time. Presented precedents differ in the conservation approach to the cultural landscape and suggest two ways of putting the landscape in use. However, each type of landscape has experienced its peculiar landscape-dynamic trajectories (series of changes in long-term landscape states). They combat the intrusive forces of natural processes in their own way. At Lygra, the overgrowing issue is controlled through high maintenance and design solutions (for instance: stone walls), whereas the Loosendrachtsen plassen allowed the flooding of water to enter and accepted the new outlook of the site. The human-made islands became highlighted and repurposed.

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cultivated heath

fields of peat

single tree invasion

excavated peat in the form of island

forest

water channels

Figure. 29 Sequences of invasion.

Site Proposed coastal heaths in Norway

Based on report “Kystlyngheiene i Norge” by Miljødirektoratet, 2013.

The report summarises knowledge on history, occurrence, and ecology of the coastal heathlands along the coast of Norway on an international basis.

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This knowledge, and the presentation of 23 suggested reference areas, are important contributions to the knowledge base behind the national plan of action for heathlands in Norway, presented by the Norwegian Environment Agency in 2013.

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Figure. 30 Kystlyngheiene i Norge. Miljødirektoratet, 2013

Site Proposed coastal heaths in Norway

Based on report “Kystlyngheiene i Norge” by Miljødirektoratet, 2013.

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HOLSØYA

KARLSØYVER

STADSLANDET

SANDSØYA

SMÅGEHEIENE

HELGELANDSØYENE

SKEISNESSET

EINARSNESET

HODNAFJELLET

BLIKSHAVN/DALE

FITJARØYANE

VÆRLANDET

SØR-GJÆSLINGAN

SMØLA

KALVØYA

TARVA

LOFJELLET, VEST-LISTA

SØRE EIGERØYA

SYNESVARDEN

LYGRA OG LUREKALVEN

YTRE HVALER NASJONALPARK

BLIKSVÆR

TORVVÆRET

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Site Potential areas

Based on report “Kystlyngheiene i Norge” by Miljødirektoratet, 2013.

Overgrowing vegetation as an intrusive element and relevance in a larger context

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HODNAFJELLET

Evaluation

Conclusion

Fitjarøyane is considered to be one of the very few areas along the southern part of the West Coast, where it is possible in the future to maintain a larger archipelago area with coastal heaths. The process initiated with cooperation between the landowners and the administrative authorities is auspicious and must be supported so that the local population experiences active farming based on well-kept heather moors becomes a profitable supplement to other industries.

The process that has begun with the Fitjar Islands could lead to the area developing into one of the West Coast’s most varied heather landscapes with great potential for sustainable business development.

Evaluation

Conclusion

The area is part of Rogaland County’s Selected cultural landscape in agriculture. The area has great value as part of the overall cultural landscape on Rennesøy, but as a coastal heathland area in isolation, there are better localities in the county. In the further followup of heather heath, it is important to initiate clearing of trees, heather clearing, and increased grazing in the overgrown part.

Among a selection of reference areas in a national context, which must be representative, the coastal heath area of Rennesøy must be given priority within the southern region of the country. Rennesøy is in a special position in Rogaland as it is part of the county’s highest priority cultural landscape. The area is easily accessible from Stavanger, and there is a network of hiking trails.

+ overgrowing + close proximity to Bergen and Haugesund - large area - already pre-defined as a cabin destination

+ valuable cultural landscape in Rogaland + overgrowing - less valuable on a national scale

Evaluation The values associated ​​ with heather moors and cultural landscapes are being lost on Bliksvær. However, the area still has considerable potential if effective measures are implemented in a short time. The measures should include clearing of bushes and shrubs, outfield grazing, and heather grazing. Burning will be particularly effective concerning junipers and will, at the same time, revitalize the heather. The most important thing is to start significant grazing pressure as soon as possible. There is a plan to establish a grazing team in the northern part of Bliksvær.

Conclusion Bliksvær basically has all the botanical and landscape aesthetic qualities that a heather area of​​ international format requires, on top of that floristically rich meadows and beach meadows as well.

Nevertheless, Bliksvær is an example of how it goes when even the most beautiful semi-natural landscapes are not maintained.

Bliksvær has great potential as a cultural landscape area. It is very urgent to start restoration work as soon as possible.

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BLIKSVÆR

+overgrowing +qualities of international heath + interesting destination - limited access

Evaluation

Conclusion

The heather moors on Skeisnesset are part of a holistic cultural landscape that clearly demonstrates the local use of coastal agriculture resources. Here was a living tradition associated with year-round grazing, heather grazing, heather mowing, and the use of peat resources until the interwar period. The heather moors are varied and species-rich, and they are part of a mosaic with other partly cultural nature types.

The area has a large density of cultural monuments from prehistoric and more recent times.

Skeisnesset contains great and indisputable biological and culturalhistorical values. The area is NordTrøndelag’s first choice in the designation of “Selected cultural landscapes in agriculture”. However, the ongoing overgrowth is a major threat to the landscape values out ​​ here. + overgrowing + first choice in Nord-Trøndelag - prehistoric cultural monuments

SKEISNESSET

Site Bliksvær

Bodø kommune, Nordland

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Bliksvær is an archipelago of approx. 60 islands located 15 km west of Bodø. Large parts of the archipelago are protected as a nature reserve.

It was designated as one of three Ramsar convention sites in Nordland county in 2002 due to its wetland areas. It has also been designated as a nationally valuable cultural landscape.

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Figure 31. Bliksvær, Bodø, Norland

Site Bliksvær on a map

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Bliksvær

Norway

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Bodø

Bliksvær

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Langegode

Bliksvær

Figure. 32 Bodø and Bliksvær.

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Bodø

Site Postcards from BliksvĂŚr

Landscape qualities on the island.

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Figure 33 Beaches at BliksvĂŚr.

Source: https://turbading.com/bliksvar.html

Figure 34 Island and surrounding lan Source: https://turbading.com/bliksva

ndscapes. ar.html

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Figure 35 Heath landscape at BliksvĂŚr.

Source: https://turbading.com/bliksvar.html

Site Timeline of Bliksvær Bodø kommune, Nordland

~ 1700

First cultivation began

1890

First settlement later called “Heimegården”.

1947

Establishing cementary on the island

1950

Population has decreased by 97.2%,

1999

Opening of the chapel

2002

Bliksvær becomes a nature reserve

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Site Cultural heritage of BliksvĂŚr

Significant areas found across the island.

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Figure 36 Cultural heritage at BliksvĂŚr.

Site Digital landscape mapping

LIDAR point cloud mapping through aerial movie.

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Figure 37 Sequences of the movie recorded from the plane over BliksvĂŚr. Source: https://youtu.be/U01LSeqVwEs

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Figure 38 Digital model BliksvĂŚr.

Site One´s man island

Nils Thommesen restores the island from his childhood paradise.

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Figure 39 Nrk tv-documentary : Der ingen skulle tru at nokon kunne bu (40 min) Source: https://tv.nrk.no/serie/der-ingen-skulle-tru-at-nokon-kunne-bu/2015/DKSF47000414

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Nils Peder Thommesens has been an important local driving force for recapitulating livestock grazing at Bliksvær. He appeared on an episode in NRK’s documentary series “Where no one should believe that anyone could live.” Nils’s message is clear: remove all the trees and bring back the heath landscape from his childhood. He became an activist and an example of a devoted heather farmer.

Precedents The future of Bliksvær

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The cultural landscape at Bliksvær is rapidly deteriorating since farming on the islands ended in the early 1970s after being run continuously for at least 300 years. Today, however, both vegetation and species diversity are threatened by incipient overgrowth, but the boundary of the heathland protection area is established on the island’s southwest side. The island’s future is not looking promising; Nils recently turned 74, and nobody wishes to continue his fame.

Bliksvær either needs to convert into a selfsufficient system that conventionally manages overgrowing fields, or intrusive vegetation may become the new normal, possibly introducing a new outcome and practice.

Site Selected grazing boundary at Biksvær

Based on Skjøtselsplan for beiteområde på Bliksvær, NIBIO 2016 Thomas Holm Carlsen & Annette Bär

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Figure 40 Grazing area at Bliksvær.

Site Overgrown areas

Based on aerial images.

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Figure 41 Overgrown area at BliksvĂŚr.

Site Managment measures in grazing areas

Based on Skjøtselsplan for beiteområde på Bliksvær, NIBIO 2016 Thomas Holm Carlsen & Annette Bär

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Figure 42 Managment areas at Bliksvær.

Site Maintenance plan

Based on “Skjøtselsplan for beiteområde på Bliksvær” NIBIO report, 2016 Thomas Holm Carlsen & Annette Bär

• • •

Continue grazing with min. current number of animals on semi-annual pasture (6 months) or longer Introduce heatherburning on smaller areas to create a mosaic of heather in different age stages Clear and thin scrub forest in areas where it is important to increase grazing.

68 Planned management measures in the grazing area at Bliksvær

Maintenance plan

Cost overview

Prioritization (year)

Number of days and cost per day

Grazing-related measures

Measures grazing with total area:

Annual

Hence grazing in coastal heath / subsidy number of sows 226.7 daa * = 23 sows __________ * max. 1 sow / 10 daa; 200/400, - per sow w / u RMP

2 154 daa fenced grazing area (grazing with NKS / GNS preferably in 6 months / year-round grazing)

Burning measures

Area 1 (farthest north) Area 2 (southwest) Area 3 (east)

2017, 2020 2019 2018, 2021

6 days + 5.6 days 6.4 daa 6 days + 5.1 days ____ * 1000 kr / day

Specific restoration measures:

Manual removal of creeping junipers Shrub clearing and thinning

Each year About every year

10-15 individuals / year.

A total of 8.6 days 2-3 days / year. A total of 11.6 daa

Set up a shelter

as requested

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Figure 43 View overgrowing heath landscape at BliksvĂŚr.

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Practices Techniques and purposes

Practices Sculptural acts

When we talk about practicing landscapes, we mean nature that is influenced by human activity.

It emerges through use, and if protected, we need to understand the techniques and their purposes. The task of modifying nature within a natural or external environment is a part of landscape architecture discourse. Human actions transforming the coast into components of a practicing landscape are distinguished and named in the name of Richard Serra’s verb list as sculptural acts that form these spaces.

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Practises Turf removal - to dig

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The work of creating peats has left significant traces in the coastal landscape. Human activity can be found in the form of old ditches, rectangular holes in the bog surfaces, or unnaturally straight edges. The turf harvesting took place in the spring. The peat was cut into square slices, and size and shape could vary a lot. The slices of peat were dried on the ground over the summer. There were stacked in different ways until it was scorched. Finally, it was either stored in its own peat storge-houses out on the heath or transported home to the farm.

Figure 44 Searching for patterns in tradition of grazing through overlaying movie sequences in time.

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Practises Heather burning - to remove - to erase

Heather burning is one of the oldest forms of farming in Norwegian agriculture, still in use until today. In Norway, it has traditionally been common to burn about 5-10% of the heather area every year. It takes approximately 15 years to repeat the procedure.

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Carried out during the winter, vegetation must be dry so that it can burn. Soil, however, needs to be so moist that it does not catch fire. If done properly, the soil will not be damaged, and the seed bank will be activated.

European Heath Farmers have developed the heather moors into a mosaic of grass vegetation in various growth stages to ensure adequate feed for the animals throughout the year.

Figure 45 Searching for patterns in tradition of grazing through overlaying movie sequences in time.

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Practises Grazing

- to scatter - to flow

The evergreen heather has almost the same nutritional value in winter as in summer and traditionally secured the winter feed for the animals that went outside, along with seaweed and kelp.

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In the summer, the coastal heaths were also grazed by dairy cows. When the animals could graze on the hayfield in late autumn and then be fed indoors, they got a better milk production. Today, the coastal heaths are grazed primarily by the breeds Old Norwegian sheep “villsau� and coastal goats.

Figure 46 Searching for patterns in tradition of grazing through overlaying movie sequences in time.

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Practises Heather cutting - to heap - to cut

Heather haymaking was an important part of harvesting, always performed in the fall.

The heather harvesting areas were usually stonefree surfaces that were mowed every 3 to 8. years as necessary. When the heather plants became too old and woody, one had to use a sickle.

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Cutting was much more labor-intensive and was only performed in an emergency. The same hayfields were used for centuries, and they were seldom or never burned.

Figure 47 Searching for patterns in tradition of grazing through overlaying movie sequences in time.

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Practises Patterns

Deconstruction of the construction

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Figure 48 Spatial qualities: surface.

Practises Patterns

Deconstruction of the construction

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Figure 49 Spatial qualities: lines

Figure 50 Spatial qualities: objects

Figure 51 Spatial qualities: points

Practises Conclusion

Further development

Lurekavlen

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Presented precedents of conservation methods differ in approach to the cultural landscape and suggest two ways of putting the landscape in use.

Each has experienced its peculiar landscapedynamic trajectories (meaning: series of changes in long-term landscape states). They combat the intrusive forces of natural processes in their own way. BliksvĂŚr struggles with the same issue and could become a testbed for an alternative solution.

Lygra Information building

Lygra

The project aims to question the conservation practices and suggest that it is impossible to preserve the heath landscape in its totality at BliksvĂŚr, yet through the introduction of landscape architecture toolbox, reimagine cultural practices that once have shaped the land in designated places. Maintaining the land can be translated into a design form, which conceptualizes traces of human presence.

Using patterns and processes as design elements: How can they be used to reimagine practices as a Landscape architecture project?

Loosdrechtse plassen

BliksvĂŚr

Bibliography: Literature (reports)

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Miljodirektoratet, Kystlyngheiene i Norge – kunnskapsstatus og beskrivelse av 23 referanseområder, Universitetet i Bergen og Lyngheisenteret, 2013 Magnus Sandberg ,Utmarka Gror alt, 1999

Per R. Schjerden, Utmark - om ressurser of forvaltning, 1997

Asbjørn Moen, Rolf A. Ims og Michael Jones, Universitetsforlaget, Jordbrukets kulturlandskap - Forvaltning av miljøverdier, 1998

Oddvin Lund,Tore Hauger, Naturforvaltning og friluftsliv, 1996

Line Johansen, Liv Guri Velle, Sølvi When, Knut Anders Hovstad, NIBIO rapport, Kystlynghei i Naturindeks for Norge - Utvikling av indikatorer og datagrunnlag, 2017

Line Johansen, Sølvi Wehn, Knut Anders Hovstad, Naturindeks for Norge: Styrking av datagrunnlag og sammenstilling av påvirkningsfaktorer for temaindekser innen Åpent lavland, 2017

Pål Thorvaldsen, Annette Bär og Svein Morten Eilertsen , Rein som beitedyr i kystlynghei, 2017

Chronicles

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Inger Elisabeth Måren , Chronicle, Kysten endrer seg dramatisk, 2007 https://www.aften-

•

Mons Kvamme ,Chronicle, Kontrollert brenning gir bedre beredskap, 2014 https://www.

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posten.no/meninger/kronikk/i/XqjwE/Kysten-endrer-seg-dramatisk midtnorskdebatt.no/meninger/kronikker/article9090675.ece

Odd W. Jacobsen , Chronicle, Kan kystlyngheiene reddes?, 2017 https://www.smp.no/ meninger/kronikk/2017/12/05/«Kan-kystlyngheiene-reddes»-15708115.ece

Websites:

• • • • • • • • •

http://www.muho.no/en/the-heathland-centre-at-lygra (last opened 08.11.2020) https://culturalburning.org.au/ (last opened 08.11.2020)

https://www.uib.no/en/rg/EECRG/56208/coastal-heathlands (last opened 08.11.2020) https://www.sabima.no/oppdag-de-utrolige-skattene-i-kystlyngheia/ (last opened 08.11.2020)

http://www.kystlynghei.no (last opened 08.11.2020)

https://tv.nrk.no/serie/der-ingen-skulle-tru-at-nokon-kunne-bu/2015/DKSF47000414/avspiller (last opened 08.11.2020)

All aerials are borrowed from Google earth, ostober 2020.

GIS resources

Kartverket, NGU

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Diploma schedule:

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

January

week 2 Site analysis / GIS

week 3 Larger situation plan 1:10000

week 4 Study of possible interventions February

week 5 Study of possible interventions

week 6 Strategy on a focus area 1:5000

week 7 Development of interventions /digital modelling week 8 Development of interventions /digital modelling March

week 9 Model photography

week 10 Layout / Presentation

week 11 1st interim / Preliminary design

week 12 Development of interventions /digital modelling April

week 13 Detail drawings 1:50

week 14 Field trip / creating visual content (photography/movie) week 15 Editing material (movie) week 16 2nd interim May

week 17 Presentation material / 3d print models week 18 Presentation material / 3d print models week 19 Presentation material/ 3d print models

week 20 Presentation material / Diploma hand-in

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