JCA No. 105 - Forest of Dean and Lower Wye
Overall comments (note 1)
Enclosed landscape of a well wooded plateau of varied ridges and valleys. Mosaic of woodland (40%) and open ground. A quarter of the area lies within the Wye Valley AONB and there are scattered areas of common land. Small areas of SRC could be accommodated, although care is needed with design and siting as the existing pattern of hedges and farmland with small woodlands (inherited from the original medieval hunting forest of the Forest of Dean) is integral to the character of the area. Miscanthus does not easily fit into this landscape due to the lack of mixed or arable farming.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | This is a complex undulating plateau of varied ridges and valleys contained by an outer distinctive ridge limestone and sandstone and bounded by the Severn and the Wye, a deep, steep sided river gorge with a narrow valley floor. |
N – Impractical on steep slopes, but possible opportunities on the more gentle slopes. |
N – impractical on steep slopes; possible opportunities on lower more gentle slopes of the valleys. |
| Woodland (note 6) | Extensive woodland covers large areas of the Character Area ranging from commercially managed coniferous plantations to ancient and semi-natural oak and coppice woodlands. |
PB – Impractical on steep slopes, but opportunities on the more gentle slopes. PA - Care needed with design and siting as the existing pattern of hedges and small woodlands is integral to the character of the area. |
PA - Impractical to plant on steep valley sides and out of character with the landscape.
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Many small farm woodlands and numerous hedgerow trees. |
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Also parkland trees e.g. Lydney Park |
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Significant number of traditional orchards to the north and east. |
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| Boundary features (note 7) | Small, irregular fields bounded by stone walls or species rich hedgerows, many on banks, with hedgerow trees. |
N – Care should be taken not to obscure field boundary patterns, especially where complex field patterns occur. |
PA – Would lose the small irregular field pattern. |
Medium rectilinear fields with hedgerows or stone walls and isolated trees generally occur on flatter ground. |
N – Care should be taken not to obscure field boundary patterns. |
N – Care should be taken not to obscure field boundary patterns. |
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| Agriculture (note 8) | Mix of dairy and sheep and beef grazing. Rough pasture on steep slopes and improved pasture in valleys. |
PA – the farmland is an integral part of the character area and provides a context for the central forest area. Extensive planting would lose this balance. |
PA – Would change the character of the area. Predominantly pasture and woodland. |
Many small holdings - market gardening, orchards, livestock grazing and horses. |
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Commons, together with areas of enclosed farmland, tend to be used for unrestricted sheep grazing. |
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Small areas of heathland and derelict fields with scrub and bracken encroachment. |
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| Settlement and development (note 9) | Random and cluttered settlements throughout area. |
PB - opportunities exist to soften edges and add structure to the often formless settlements. |
PA – Would change the character of the area. Predominantly pasture and woodland. |
| Ring of settlements associated with iron ore deposits; sprawling and linear; buildings interspersed with industry and open grazing land surround the edge of the Forest. | |||
| Dispersed settlements of St Briavels and Hewelsfield Commons (enclosed by squatters in the C18th) are Conservation Areas. | PA – Would change the character of the complex field pattern and widely scattered dwellings. |
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| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Broadleaved ancient and semi-natural woodlands (Wye Valley in particular). |
PA – where it would result in the loss of, or impact on, the unimproved grasslands, heathland and woodlands. |
PA – where it would result in the loss of, or impact on, the unimproved grasslands, heathland and woodlands. |
Small area of heathland |
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Unimproved acid grasslands |
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| Historic features (note 11) | Widespread evidence of past mining - waste tips, disused railway lines, shallow overgrown workings. |
PA - Avoid these and other known historic features and retain their setting in the landscape, in particular protect views into or from, abbeys and parklands. |
PA - Avoid these and other known historic features and retain their setting in the landscape, in particular protect views into or from, abbeys and parklands. |
Forest of Dean was once a royal hunting forest |
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Tintern, Flaxley and Abbey Dore |
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Offa’s Dyke |
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Also parkland e.g. Lydney Park |
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| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | The character area is bounded by the Severn and the Wye, a deep, steep sided river gorge with a narrow valley floor. |
N/PA – Would change the character of the area by increasing enclosure in the predominantly pastural nature of the valley bottoms. |
PA – Would change the character of the area. Predominantly pasture in the valley bottoms. |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | The forest encloses and obscures the landscape but dramatic and spectacular views are afforded from the Wye Valley |
N – where planted in enclosed areas. |
N – where planted in enclosed areas. |
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