Landscape strategy making and landscape characterisation—experiences from Danish experimental planning processes

Landscape strategy making including landscape characterisation is the subject of this article. Traditional approaches to landscape planning is briefly and critically discussed and a more place based and strategic approach to rural landscape planning is argued for. Landscape characterisation and community involvement is discussed in relation to three dimensions: the landscape as a common good; landscape rights; and the landscape as a development factor. A landscape strategy making approach based partly on Patsy Healy’s work on collaborative planning and spatial strategy making is outlined, and experiences from two Danish case studies are presented. It is concluded that the landscape strategy making approach including highly specific landscape characterisations works and represents a promising way forward for more integrative and participatory approaches to landscape planning and policy, although more work on assessing the landscape condition is needed.