JCA No. 27 - Yorkshire Wolds
Overall comments (note 1)
The Wolds landscape is formed from a chalk escarpment that runs from the Humber estuary to the North Sea coast at Bridlington, and is large scale, with wide open skies, rolling landform and dry valleys. The rolling hills and steep sided narrow dry valleys mean that much of the area is unsuitable for planting biomass crops; however, there may be some flatter areas that have potential for biomass crops.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | North and west facing escarpment is steep and prominent with a more gently rolling, east and south facing dip slope. The open rounded landscape of the hills contrasts with the sheltered steep sided dry valleys
| PA –Plantations would be difficult to assimilate in to the very open landscape of the rounded hills and plateaux. |
PB – Plantations would be difficult to assimilate in to the very open landscape of the rounded hills and plateaux. |
| Woodland (note 6) | Limited woodland, mainly broadleaved, restricted to steep slopes and escarpments, with some associated with parkland and estates, and small plantations sheltering large farmsteads. |
PB – limited extent of woodland could make it difficult to assimilate new plantations |
|
| Boundary features (note 7) | Very large, regular shaped fields defined by low hedges and fences |
N – as long as does not obscure field patterns. |
N – as long as does not obscure field patterns. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Predominantly arable farming |
PB – where field patterns are not obscured. |
PB – most suitable where there are arable crops |
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Very little settlement, limited to large scattered farmsteads on high ground, and small villages in valleys and market towns at fringes. Some urban fringe influence from Hull in the south, and caravan parks and holiday villages near the coast. |
PB – may help to screen urban fringe and recreational landscapes
|
PB – may help to screen urban fringe and recreational landscapes
|
Significant networks of drovers ways and enclosure roads with wide verges. |
Open and wide roads could provide good access for machinery. |
Open and wide roads could provide good access for machinery. |
|
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Remnants of unimproved/semi improved, chalk grassland in steep-sided valleys. High chalk cliffs along the coast at Flamborough Head. |
PA – should not be planted on or close to these habitats |
PA – should not be planted on or close to these habitats |
| Historic features (note 11) | Significant areas of archaeology, with a particular concentration of prehistoric earthworks including burial mounds
|
PA – Avoid known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic landscape character. In particular, avoid impacting on the extensive prehistoric landscapes |
PA – Avoid known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Estate and parkland landscapes. |
PA – avoid affecting designed landscapes |
PA – avoid affecting designed landscapes |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Rivers and streams are few on the permeable chalk, limited to short streams that drain steep valleys along the escarpment and dip slope, and the Gypsey Race which runs through the Great Wolds Valley. |
N |
N |
Large-scale landscape of rolling hills, big skies and long views from escarpment and plateaux. Contrasts with the more enclosed, sheltered valleys. |
PA – plantations would adversely affect the open character of the upland landscape and disrupt the many extensive views |
PA – plantations would adversely affect the open character of the upland landscape and disrupt the many extensive views |
|
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:
15 March, 2007
Page published: 10 December, 2002