The area under investigation lies mainly within the West Penwith part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It is also mainly within the former West Penwith Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) boundary and is focussed on areas of semi-natural habitat associated with the ESA roughland tier.
The area has an outstanding archaeological heritage, particularly from the Bronze Age and Iron Age periods. The international importance of the industrial heritage associated with metalliferous mining is recognised through inclusion in the St Just Mining District part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.
A currently informal partnership of key organisations and stakeholders is working to establish a consensus for a vision for the future sustainable management of the area
The area supports a rich assemblage of heath, scrub and farmland birds, including important populations of several species including breeding grasshopper warbler, cuckoo and nightjar, and wintering hen harrier. The area is an Important Bird Area (IBA) for Stonechat.