JCA No. 117 - Avon Vales
Overall comments (note 1)
A rolling undulating clay vale cut by the River Avon and its tributaries, a generally open landscape with a considerable amount of arable divided by weak boundaries and with pasture occurring on the valley floor bordered by overgrown hedgerows and hedgerow trees. Energy crops, may be appropriate within the arable areas, albeit bringing a new character by creating some enclosure. Care should be taken to protect views into, and from, the important historic parklands in the area.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Generally flat low lying landscape – a rolling undulating clay vale cut by the River Avon and its tributaries. |
PA – Blocks of SRC would be visible in this generally open flat undulating landscape increasing enclosure. |
PA – Blocks of miscanthus would be visible in this generally open flat undulating landscape increasing enclosure. |
| Woodland (note 6) | Woodland is concentrated in a few areas; notably mixed woodland between Chittoe and Sudley. |
N – Not possible to plant on steep valley sides but carefully designed regular medium to large scale blocks would fit with the existing pattern of woodland cover but would increase woodland cover bringing some enclosure, especially to the open arable land, and hence alter the character. |
N – Although regular medium to large scale blocks would bring some enclosure, especially to the open arable land, and hence alter the character. |
Woodland also occurs on the steeper slopes of valley sides, on former common land and adjacent to streams and river banks. Coniferous plantations, semi natural ancient woodland and open blocks of woodland appear as ‘islands’ within a more strongly structured farmland landscape. |
|||
Willow and alder by watercourses. |
|||
| Boundary features (note 7) | Regular, medium to large scale fields with mixed hedgerows; ranging from very weak on the open arable land to overgrown thorn/elm hedgerows with mature oak hedgerow trees characteristic of the pasture and low lying wet grasslands. Occasional stone walls. |
N – Regular medium to large scale blocks of woodland would fit with the existing pattern of woodland cover but would bring some enclosure and hence alter the character. |
PA – Avoid obscuring field patterns, especially where boundaries are weak.
|
Ancient pattern of flood meadows and prominent network of drainage ditches on the valley floor. |
|||
| Agriculture (note 8) | A mixture of arable and pasture dominates the landscape. Considerable extent of open arable with low hedges with pasture in the smaller fields on the valley floor. |
N – although plantations would increase the wooded feel of the landscape and alter the balance with cropping, thus altering character. |
N – could be accommodated into current patterns of cropping – although may bring some enclosure, especially to the open arable land, and hence alter the character. |
Some nurseries, fruit growing and market gardening around Bromham - characterised by open fields with few hedges. |
|||
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Most of the major settlements lie along the Avon, linked by valley bottom and ridge roads. Small nucleated towns, villages, hamlets and farmsteads are clustered along streams linked by narrow, winding lanes. |
PA – movement of harvesting equipment could be difficult along narrow lanes. |
PA – movement of harvesting equipment could be difficult along narrow lanes. |
Distinctive market towns with attractive stone built centres such as Malmesbury, Calne, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. |
PB – Potential to screen and soften urban sprawl around the larger towns. |
PB – opportunities may exist in urban fringe |
|
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Valley bottom wetlands |
PA – where it would result, in the loss of, or impact on, semi-natural habitats. |
PA – where it would result, in the loss of, or impact on, semi-natural habitats. |
| Historic features (note 11) | Bronze Age barrows, Iron Age hill forts, Bronze Age occupation sites and later medieval forests of Chippenham, Melksham and Chelwood are important features. |
PA - Avoid these and other known historic features and retain their setting in the landscape. |
PA - Avoid these and other known historic features and retain their setting in the landscape. |
Large historic mansions and landscaped parks, (some of which were designed by Capability Brown) have a distinctly mature pastoral character and are often surrounded by woodland e.g. Bowood, Spye Park. |
PA – where the setting of, or views into or from, parklands are obscured. |
PA – where views into, or from, parklands are obscured. |
|
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Although the wide river corridor is influenced by modern development, it has a strong riparian character and there are ancient patterns of flood meadows, pollards, alders and rich wetland pasture. |
PA/N – plantations would alter the balance with the pasture, thus increasing enclosure and altering character. |
PA - would reduce the pastoral character of the area. |
The Kennet and Avon canal is a prominent feature in the south. |
|||
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Views from the low ridges and also across the area form the higher surrounding chalk downs. |
N -The character area is visible from outside the area and siting and design of plantations should therefore be considered. |
PA – loss of relatively open views across the arable land. |
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