About Cornwall National Landscape
Cornwall National Landscape (AONB), supported by Strategic Historic Environment at Cornwall Council, is seeking a consultant to undertake research into the heritage, cultural and social value of Cornish hedges.
Cornish hedges are among Cornwall’s most distinctive cultural and historic assets. Dating back more than 3,500 years, they are unique landscape features that continue to be used for their original purpose.
Covering approximately 30,000 miles, Cornish hedges form Cornwall’s largest semi-natural habitat and contribute significantly to the county’s historic landscape character, local distinctiveness and sense of place.
While their biodiversity, carbon and natural flood management benefits are increasingly recognised, there remains a significant evidence gap around their contribution to heritage, wellbeing, community cohesion, cultural identity and social value.
About the Consultancy
The successful consultant will develop a robust methodology for assessing and valuing the heritage and social impacts of Cornish hedges at both site and landscape scales.
Job Title: Consultant – Valuing Heritage as an Ecosystem Service Benefit of the Cornish Hedge
Commissioning Organisation: Cornwall National Landscape (AONB)
Supporting Organisation: Strategic Historic Environment, Cornwall Council
Job Location: Cornwall, UK
Project Timeline: All assets to be supplied by 31 March 2027
Indicative Budget: £14,000–£20,000
Closing Date: Monday, 28 September 2026
The work will use the principles and methodology within Historic England’s Social Impact Framework, together with relevant Heritage Valuation, Heritage and Environment, Culture and Heritage Capital and wellbeing valuation approaches where appropriate.
The research will help demonstrate the wider public value of Cornish hedges and support their potential inclusion in future:
- Green finance mechanisms.
- Environmental land management schemes.
- Heritage investment programmes.
- Policy development.
- Investment and stewardship initiatives.
The findings will also contribute to the development of a Cornish Hedge Unit (CHU) by ensuring cultural and heritage benefits are recognised alongside other ecosystem service benefits.
Areas to Be Assessed
The study should assess the contribution of Cornish hedges to:
- Sense of place and local identity.
- Landscape character.
- Historic environment value.
- Community pride and cultural distinctiveness.
- Health and wellbeing.
- Community cohesion and social connection.
- Heritage skills retention and transmission.
- Education, learning and volunteering.
- Visitor experience and tourism appeal.
- Economic activity associated with heritage skills and conservation.
Scope of Work
The consultant will be expected to:
- Review existing evidence relating to heritage, wellbeing and social value associated with historic landscape features.
- Apply relevant Historic England social impact themes, including wellbeing, identity, community connection, participation and place-making.
- Assess the contribution of Cornish hedges to Cornwall’s historic landscape character and local distinctiveness.
- Review relevant existing research, including Developing an Ecosystems Services Approach to Dry Stone Walls.
- Examine the role of Cornish hedges in supporting community identity, cultural continuity and sense of place.
- Identify and assess the value of traditional hedge-building skills, employment, training and local economic activity.
- Evaluate educational, volunteering, interpretation and visitor benefits.
- Explore appropriate wellbeing valuation approaches capable of providing indicative monetary values for social outcomes.
- Consider values at individual hedge, farm, parish/community and landscape scales.
- Develop recommendations for incorporating heritage and social value into the wider Cornish Hedge Unit framework.
Stakeholder Engagement
The study should include consultation with relevant stakeholders where appropriate.
Potential stakeholders include:
- Hedge builders, including CREST.
- Land managers.
- Community groups, including the Cornish Hedge Group.
- Heritage organisations.
- Local authorities.
- Tourism interests.
Two pilot hedge sites constructed through the Cornish Hedge Capital Project may also be used as demonstration case studies to test and illustrate the proposed methodology.
Expected Final Report
The final report should clearly set out:
- The methodology used.
- Data sources.
- Key assumptions.
- Evidence gaps.
- Valuation outputs.
- Recommendations for practical application.
- Recommendations for policy and funding mechanisms.
The methodology should be robust enough to complement existing ecosystem service studies covering biodiversity, natural flood management and carbon.
Project Deliverables and Timeline
All project assets must be supplied by 31 March 2027.
The successful consultant will be expected to produce work that can help Cornwall National Landscape demonstrate the full cultural, heritage and social capital value of Cornish hedges.
Consultancy Budget
Submissions should be in the region of £14,000–£20,000.
Applicants should ensure their proposal demonstrates how the available budget will support delivery of the required methodology, consultation, valuation work and final outputs.
How to Apply
Interested consultants should submit their response to:
Email: melodie.manners@cornwall.gov.uk
Closing date: Monday, 28 September 2026
Applicants should ensure their submission addresses the requirements outlined in the consultancy brief and demonstrates their ability to develop and apply an appropriate approach to heritage, cultural and social valuation.
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