JCA No. 23 - Tees Lowlands
Overall comments (note 1)
The Tees Lowlands form a broad, low-lying plain spanning parts of County Durham, Cleveland and North Yorkshire. Quiet rural farmland contrasts with the extensive urban and industrial development along the lower reaches of the Tees.
Biomass crops could be incorporated into the arable and mixed farming areas, although they would affect the character of the more pastoral landscape to the north through loss of pastures. They may also have potential use in urban fringe areas, to help enhance remaining degraded areas and, in the case of SRC, to contribute to the Community Forest.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Broad low-lying plain of gently undulating or flat land |
N – flat land would facilitate harvesting, though SRC would potentially be conspicuous. Also potential to be assimilated on gentle slopes. |
N – flat land would facilitate harvesting, though would potentially be conspicuous. Also potential to be assimilated on gentle slopes. |
| Woodland (note 6) | Generally sparse woodland cover |
PA – introduction of large blocks would introduce a more wooded character |
PA - large scale plantings would be conspicuous and add enclosure |
Localised higher woodland cover e.g. substantial, often ancient, semi-natural woodlands on steep banks of the middle Tees and Leven valleys, and semi-natural woodland on heathy soils north of Billingham and Stockton. |
N – whilst small-scale planting might link with existing woodland, cultivation is impractical on steep slopes |
PA – would detract from wooded character of areas |
|
New areas of mixed woodlands planted under Cleveland Community Forest Initiative. |
PB – potential to contribute to community forest |
PA – would detract from new wooded character of areas |
|
| Boundary features (note 7) | Hawthorn hedges, usually low-cut. Hedgerow network now heavily fragmented in places. |
PA – introduction could potentially reinforce fragmentation |
PA - introduction could potentially reinforce fragmentation |
| Agriculture (note 8) | To the west – open, large-scale arable and mixed farmland |
N – providing would not lead to loss of pasture. |
N/PB – could potentially be accommodated into current cropping pattern. Avoid loss of pasture. |
To the north – permanent pastures and leys |
PA – as would lead to loss of pasture |
PA – as would lead to loss of pasture |
|
To the south – mixed farming |
N – providing would not lead to loss of pasture. |
N/PB – could potentially be accommodated into cropping pattern. Avoid loss of pasture. |
|
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Urban fringe pressures in parts (e.g. around Darlington and the Teesside conurbation); also degraded areas remain |
PB – potential opportunities in urban fringe, including to soften abrupt edges to some settlements; also to help enhance any remaining degraded areas. |
PB – potential opportunities in urban fringe, including to soften abrupt edges to some settlements; also to help enhance any remaining degraded areas. |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Peaty fenland flats and carrs (marshy copses) within Skerne lowlands |
PA – where would lead to loss of these habitats |
PA – where would lead to loss of these habitats |
Extensive saltmarshes and wetlands at mouth of river Tees |
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| Historic features (note 11) |
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| Rivers and coasts (note 12) |
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| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Wide views to distant hills |
PA – may limit long distance views to hills |
PA – may limit long distance views to hills |
The information contained in the above table and accompanying footnotes has been produced by Natural England, on behalf of Defra, to assess opportunities and optimum sitings of energy crops
1. Overall comments
This section summarises the key characteristics of the JCA and the potential impacts and issues concerned with energy crop planting. It aims to provide an overall indication of the suitability for biomass crop establishment. In JCAs where the physical characteristics are so extreme that it is unlikely that land managers will want to plant biomass crops this is generally noted.
2. Generic landscape characteristics
The headings are based on those used in Natural England’s Countryside Quality Counts (CQC) project, with the addition of ‘topography’ and ‘views and inter-visibility’. They provide a way of breaking down the physical and visual qualities that help to make up the landscape. The potential impacts of energy crops have been assessed against this common framework.
3. Key landscape characteristics
This section aims to highlight for each of the generic categories, the specific landscape features and characteristics within each JCA that may be relevant to the growing of energy crops
4. Potential effects
This section summarises the main potential effects of SRC and miscanthus on each of the key landscape characteristics and features. In making the assessment we considered both the presence or absence of crops, and the the effects of scale and pattern in the landscape. Where the impacts are likely to differ between SRC and miscanthus this has been noted. Although it is very difficult to estimate impacts at such a general level we have attempted to assess whether the landscape impact could be beneficial, neutral or adverse, as follows:
- PB - Potentially beneficial
- N - Neutral
- PA - Potentially adverse
5. Topography
Topography, or landform, is often one of the main influences on landscape character, particularly in hilly or upland areas. We have summarised the overall topography of each area, together with an explanation of any specific or exceptional areas or major landform types. Topography will influence how obtrusive energy crops might be in some areas, or how they might fit in well in others.
6. Woodland
This covers all types of woodland, from ancient and semi-natural woodlands to commercial plantations, and includes broadleaved, conifer and mixed woodlands. As well as woodland type, we are interested in the pattern and scale of woodlands and how woodland cover varies across the JCA. In some areas there are close associations between specific types of woodland and particular landforms. Issues of concern include how biomass crops might contribute to or impact on local patterns of woodland cover, and what layouts or scale might be appropriate.
7. Boundary features
These include all forms of traditional boundaries, including hedgerows, stone walls and ditches. We are also interested in field patterns, particularly where these are of historic importance or are distinctive to the area. Issues considered included whether the establishment, growth or harvesting of energy crops could have an impact on traditional and valuable boundaries, either through direct damage (eg to allow access for farm machinery) or by obscuring or affecting the integrity of existing field patterns.
8. Agriculture
Agriculture includes arable, pasture (livestock), horticulture and mixed farming. In areas that are already intensively cropped, energy crops are likely to be less of an issue, and the impacts could be beneficial or neutral depending on scale. Adverse impacts are more likely in pastoral areas, particularly in low intensity, unimproved grassland areas. In areas where there is an existing underlying trend from grass to arable, the assessment has taken account of any existing landscape and land management priorities that may exist.
9. Settlement and development.
This covers population centres, roads, other infrastructure and mineral workings. In most cases energy crops are unlikely to have a significant impacts. However, in some cases there may be issues concerning the scale or pattern of planting where this would impact on the character of the local road network, or significantly affect the setting of towns or villages.
10. Semi-natural habitats
In this section we are concerned with the presence or absence, scale, and pattern of semi-natural habitats, other than woodland which is covered under 6. In general, many impacts will only be apparent at the detailed site level, which is outside the scope of this exercise. We have only commented where it is likely that biomass crops would impact on semi-natural habitats that are an integral part of the landscape.
11. Historic features.
Historic features refer not just to visible monuments and remains, but also historic areas such as parks and battlefields. As well as the presence or absence of features, we are interested in their density and pattern of distribution, and whether they are above or below ground. Specific, extensive archaeological or historic landscapes are noted. Issues considered included whether planting would obscure or damage historic sites, or whether it would affect the setting or integrity of a historic site. It is important to note that historic remains are extremely widespread and many have not been fully recorded. At this scale we have only referred to obvious sites and concentrations of sites. More detailed site assessment will normally be necessary.
12. Rivers and coasts
Water plays a key role in determining landform and defining landscape character. Issues of concern include whether energy crops could obscure watercourses or disrupt drainage patterns, and any hydrological and coastal management issues.
13. Views and inter-visibility
In some JCAs, views in, out or across an area are a key characteristic of the landscape. These may be broad, sweeping views or local, intimate ones. A key concern will be whether biomass crops would obscure or otherwise have an impact on the nature of these views.
Page last modified: 11 May 2007
Page published: 11 May 2007