JCA No. 46 - The Fens
Overall comments (note 1)
Large-scale, flat, open landscape dissected by hierarchy of rivers, drains and ditches some of which are embanked. Highly visible plantings in open situations, especially of SRC, would change the extensive vistas and the very ‘openness’ which makes this area different, plantings which link to existing features e.g. copses, shelter belts, farmsteads or villages would be less intrusive.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Large-scale, flat, open landscape dissected by hierarchy of rivers, drains and ditches some of which are embanked. |
PA – very open flat landscapes away from villages, any highly visible plantings out of character. |
PA – very open flat landscapes away from villages, any highly visible plantings out of character. |
Coastal strip around the Wash of easily worked silt soils. |
N |
N |
|
| Woodland (note 6) | Woodland cover sparse, shelter belts and copses often planted to provide shooting or around farmsteads. |
PB – where copses and shelter belt are present, planting adjacent to these would be accommodated |
PB – where copses and shelter belt are present, planting adjacent to these would be accommodated |
Numerous orchards around Wisbech. |
PA – planting adjacent to orchards could obscure them. |
N |
|
| Boundary features (note 7) | Mainly ditches however occasion hedgerows especially close to villages. |
PB – N fields with hedgerows would accommodate energy crops more easily |
PB – N fields with hedgerows would accommodate energy crops more easily |
Field pattern irregular and small reflecting pattern of old drainage ditches and intensive horticultural cropping around older settlements on silt soils. |
PA – avoid cumulative effect obscuring field pattern. |
PA – avoid cumulative effect obscuring field pattern. |
|
Field pattern can be large and rectangular on heavier clays where arable production is dominant, and on more recently drained peaty fens. |
N |
N |
|
| Agriculture (note 8) | Predominantly arable on heavier clays away from coastal strip |
N |
N |
Mixed arable and horticultural cropping around the Wash and stretching inland to the Spalding area. |
N |
N |
|
Scattered farmsteads stand out in landscape often with modern sheds and barns. |
PB – opportunities to screen modern farm buildings. |
PB – opportunities to screen modern farm buildings. |
|
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Settled Fens in arc set back from the Wash have established villages with scattered farmsteads |
PA – plantings around settlements will be less visible in the landscape. |
PA – plantings around settlements will be less visible in the landscape. |
In peaty fens settlements on modestly elevated ‘islands’ and communication links on elevated banks. |
PA – plantings may be used to screen new development |
PA – plantings may be used to screen new development |
|
Market towns of Boston, Spalding, Wisbech, March, Ely, Kings Lynn and Downham Market provide main settlements in area. |
N |
N |
|
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Occasional fragments of wet fen. |
PA – avoid further fragmentation and degradation through effects on water table |
PA – avoid further fragmentation and degradation through effects on water table |
The Wash SSSI with extensive areas of salt marsh and tidal mudflats. |
N |
N |
|
| Historic features (note 11) | Historic churches with tall spires in market towns and major villages. |
N |
N |
Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman remains are frequent especially on the fen margin |
N |
N |
|
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | The Witham, Welland, Nene and Great Ouse drain into the Wash but across the Fens they are mainly embanked and artificially straightened. |
N |
N |
There are sea walls of grass banks separating the land from the sea around the Wash |
|
|
|
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | The landscape is very open and flat providing extensive vistas to level horizons and huge skies. |
PA – planting in very open, visible locations change the existing character of the landscape. |
PA – planting in very open, visible locations change the existing character of the landscape. |
The northern edge is overlooked by the southern Wolds offering extensive views to Boston. |
PA – where overlooked by higher ground planting should respect the scale and pattern of the current field system. |
PA – where overlooked by higher ground planting should respect the scale and pattern of the current field system. |
|
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