JCA No. 29 - Howardian Hills
Overall comments (note 1)
The Howardian Hills comprise a clearly defined complex ridge of rolling hills and sheltered valleys rising from the Vale of York. Woodland is extensive, except on the open plateaus, and there is an active forestry industry in the area. Generally, it should be possible to assimilate biomass crops in to the landscape where gentler slopes permit.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Clearly defined but complex landform of irregular ridges and valleys, with scarps of limestone on outermost ridges |
N – but avoid obtrusive locations on tops of scarps and along skylines |
N – but avoid obtrusive locations on tops of scarps and along skylines |
Glacial deposits creating a more undulating landform to south and west |
|
|
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| Woodland (note 6) | In many places a well wooded landscape, with broadleaved woodlands and parklands in sheltered valleys |
PB – could be easily assimilated into wooded landscape character, especially in sheltered valleys. Impractical to plant on sloping land |
PB – could easily be assimilated into wooded landscape character, especially in sheltered valleys. |
Large scale conifer plantations and blocks of woodland on the more open plateaus |
PA – avoid obtrusive locations on open plateaus |
PA – avoid obtrusive locations on open plateaus |
|
Small scale alder woodlands in valley bottoms |
PB – but avoid planting in alder woodlands, or increasing their fragmentation |
|
|
| Boundary features (note 7) | Predominantly hedges, with stone walls on higher plateaus |
N |
N |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Predominantly arable cropping, with some areas of pasture and improved grassland mostly on steep slopes and damper valley floors |
PB – would introduce diversity of structure, colour and texture and provide enclosure in open arable areas |
PB – would introduce diversity of structure, colour and texture and provide enclosure in open arable areas |
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Dispersed settlements and small villages |
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|
Small roads in places |
PB – existing active forestry industry means that the infrastructure for harvesting crops is largely in place, although a few areas are only accessible by narrow roads |
PB – existing active forestry industry means that the infrastructure for harvesting crops is largely in place, although a few areas are only accessible by narrow roads |
|
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Semi-natural and ancient woodland sites |
PA – avoid planting on ancient or semi-natural woodland sites |
PA – avoid planting on ancient or semi-natural woodland sites |
Small areas of unimproved grassland |
PA – avoid planting on unimproved grassland |
PA – avoid planting on unimproved grassland |
|
| Historic features (note 11) | Evidence of early settlement from dykes, with priories established in mediaeval times |
PA – avoid known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic |
PA – avoid known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic |
Regular field patterns a result of 18th. century enclosures |
N – but avoid obscuring field patterns |
N – if planted within existing field patterns |
|
Large country houses such as Castle Howard |
PA – avoid disrupting designed landscape layouts |
PA – avoid disrupting designed landscape layouts |
|
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Few watercourses on plateaus |
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Small rivers flow through narrow valleys |
|
PB – could contribute to local riparian landscape |
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River Derwent flows through deeply incised and winding gorge |
PA – inappropriate on steep slopes and within gorge |
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| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Designed parkland landscapes associated with country houses |
PA – avoid disrupting key views in and out of designed landscapes |
PA – avoid disrupting key views in and out of designed landscapes |
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:
10 May, 2007
Page published: 10 December, 2002