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JCA No. 116 - Berkshire and Marlborough Downs    

Overall comments (note 1)

The Berkshire and Marlborough Downs is an open rolling chalk upland area that also includes downland with woodland, more intimate river valleys and farmed vale landscapes. The area falls wholly within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.   Energy crops are not appropriate on the open rolling chalk downland.  This area is internationally important for it’s historic landscape (includes a World Heritage Site) and views must be protected.  Biomass crops, and SRC in particular, may be accommodated in the valleys and also to the south and east where the open downland gives way to increasing numbers of shelter belts and woodland.

Generic landscape characteristics (note 2)	Key landscape characteristics (note 3)	Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4)
		SRC	Miscanthus
Topography (note 5)	Large scale open rolling chalk downland extending as a dip slope from a steep escarpment with woodland.	PA – SRC plantations would be very visible on an open rolling topography and alter the character of the landscape.	PA – Miscanthus would be very visible on an open rolling topography.
	Distinctive intimate river valleys incise the chalk; farmed vale landscapes also occur.
Woodland (note 6)	Woodlands are absent from the open downland and the vales, occasional linear shelterbelts and beech clumps occur on the downland and broad-leaved woodland occurs along the River Avon.	PA – Woodlands are characteristic by their absence from the downlands.	N/PA - Miscanthus would be very visible in this open landscape although possible to fit into current cropping patterns. N – Planting fields in the south and east within a more varied landscape. Should be at the whole field scale.
	Savernake Forest provides extensive and continuous woodland cover.	PA.  Plantations would contrast with the extensive areas of semi-natural woodland.
	Extensive areas of broad-leaved woodland also  occur on the scarp and lower downland slopes and small blocks and linear strips of wet woodland occurs along the river valleys.	N – Impractical to plant on the scarp and steep valley slopes. Potential in south and east where woodlands are more frequent, but planting should be at the whole field scale or in belts.  Also small blocks along the chalk river valleys.  Careful siting and design required.
Boundary features (note 7)	Large open geometric fields on the open downlands with post and wire fencing.	PA – Woodlands are characteristic by their absence on the downlands and vales. Extensive planting would obscure field patterns and increase the enclosed feel of the landscape.	N – Planting should be at the whole field scale. PA - Extensive planting would obscure field patterns and increase the enclosed feel of the landscape.
	Enclosure fields with a weak hedgerow structure on the vales.
	Woodland, hedgerows and shelterbelts form the boundaries to an irregular pattern of fields on the lower slopes.
	Hedgerows enclose small fields in the river valleys.
Agriculture (note 8)	Predominantly intensive arable farming on the downlands.	PA – Would change the character of an intensely agricultural landscape with limited woodland.	N – could be accommodated into current patterns of cropping – although may bring some enclosure to the open arable land.  Should be at the whole field scale.
	Pasture associated with the valleys and dairying in the vale.
	The scarps and steep slopes of dry valleys are sheep grazed.
Settlement and development (note 9)	Sparse settlement pattern of occasional farm buildings and racehorse training establishments on the open downs.	PB – Good road network; opportunities to soften the impact of some new developments	PB - Good road network.
	Compact villages and hamlets occur in the valleys.
	Historic market towns of Marlborough and Hungerford are located in the Kennet Valley and Pewsey in the Vale.
	Expanding urban centres border the Character Area.
Semi-natural habitats (note 10)	Important chalk grasslands.	PA – where it would result in loss of  semi-natural habitat.	PA – where it would result in loss of semi-natural habitat.
	Extensive ancient semi-natural woodland; Severnake Forest with it’s ancient trees.
	Small areas of lowland heathland.
	Chalk stream and rivers (Salisbury Avon, Kennet, Lambourn and Pang).	PA - The chalk streams are sensitive to pollution.	PA - The chalk streams are sensitive to pollution.
	Open arable land is important for birds such as stone curlew.	PA – Loss of open nature of landscape.	PA – Loss of open nature of landscape.
Historic features (note 11)	Numerous barrows and other prehistoric earthworks; Neolithic stone circle at Avebury, Silbury Hill and West Kennet Longbarrow, (World Heritage Site). Bronze Age and Iron Age hillforts cluster on scarp ridges. The Ridgeway, an ancient chalk track follows the top of the scarp.  Also wider network of Green Lanes and drove roads.Chalk cut white horses are a dramatic visual feature.Sarsen stones occur in the west. Water-meadows and numerous historic parklands.  Dew ponds.	PA – Avoid these and other  known historic features and retain their setting in the landscape.  This is an important historic landscape and archaeology is often very visible and distinctive from barrows to water meadow systems.	PA – Avoid these and other known historic features and retain their setting in the landscape.  This is an important historic landscape and archaeology is often very visible and distinctive from barrows to water meadow systems.
Rivers and coasts (note 12)	Chalk stream and rivers.  Salisbury Avon is an important chalk river with associated wetland landscapes.  The Kennet, Lambourn and Pang are also key features. Winterbournes. Dew ponds.	PB – Possible to plant small blocks along the chalk river valleys.  Need careful siting and design.  PA - The chalk streams are sensitive to pollution.  PA – Avoid historic water meadow systems.	PB – Possible to plant small blocks within arable areas along the chalk river valleys.  Need careful siting and design.  PA -The chalk streams are sensitive to pollution. PA – Avoid historic water meadow systems.
Views and inter-visibity (note 13)	Important historic landscape with numerous archaeological features prominent within the landscape.  Wide expansive views across open downland and of scarps - Chalk cut white horses are a dramatic visual feature on the scarp.	PA - SRC plantations would alter the character, and obstruct views, within and of an important open historic landscape. N - where planted in more enclosed areas or along the river valleys.	PA - Miscanthus would alter the character, and obstruct views, within and of, an important open historic landscape. N – where planted in more enclosed landscapes or along the river valleys.

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

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