JCA No. 119 - North Downs
Overall comments (note 1)
The North Downs form a chain of chalk hills extending from the narrow ridge of the Hog’s Back in the west, through Surrey across south London to Kent, widening eastwards & terminating at the White Cliffs of Dover. . A significant proportion(60%) of area is AONB with proposals for it to become a new National Park. The mixed farming & well-wooded character provide potential to accommodate some biomass crops. SRC is particularly suited to the lower dipslope, within the river valleys or associated with existing woodland & scrub areas. The potential for Miscanthus is within the existing arable cropping patterns. Although predominantly rural, the introduction of limited areas of biomass crops may help to counteract the increasing development pressure & urban influences of the Medway towns & London. Views(extensive & local) are an important consideration given the extent of AONB designation, the number of good viewpoints, localised sensitivity & general accessibility of the area.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Dramatic rolling chalk downland with continuous steep scarp facing south which is incised by dry valleys forming gentle, wide coombes. A gentle dipslope facing north cut by river valleys. Clay-with-flint soils on upper slopes & ridge tops. Thin chalk soils on downland & scarp. |
PA – Avoid planting on downland, prominent scarp, ridge top skylines & dry valleys. Chalk soils probably unsuitable. PB – Opportunities on lower dipslope & in river valleys |
PA – Avoid planting on downland, prominent scarp, ridge top skylines & dry valleys. Chalk soils probably unsuitable. PB – Opportunities on upper & lower dipslope |
| Woodland (note 6) | A well-wooded landscape with broadleaved woodland & scrub on upper dipslope, ridge tops, scarp & on valley sides. ASNW localised in Kent & Surrey. Less woodland towards the coast. Estate land & historic parkland contribute to overall wooded character. |
PB – Potential for SRC to be integrated into broadleaved wooded character. Maintain balance & pattern with other land uses. Avoid dry valleys, coastal areas, historic parkland & ASNW areas. |
N/PA – Limited potential due to strong seasonal contrasts with existing woodland. Likely to detract from wooded character. |
| Boundary features (note 7) | Open downland on upper slopes gives way to regular fields bounded by mix of post & wire fencing & hedges on dip slope, & bushy/overgrown hedges, thick shaws & hedgerow trees on scarp & steeper valley sides. | PB – Hedged areas & shaws will help to assimilate SRC into landscape. Maintain regular field patterns with new planting. Avoid boundary removal & field enlargement | PB – Hedged areas & shaws will help to assimilate Miscanthus into landscape. Maintain regular field patterns with new planting. Avoid boundary removal & field enlargement. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Livestock grazing on open downland & enclosed pastures of scarp slope & dry valleys. Arable farming includes extensive tracts of cereals, root crops & other horticultural crops on upper dipslope & lower valley sides. Hops & orchards increasing north-eastwards. | PB – Potential to be integrated at appropriate scale into mixed farming areas. PA - Avoid open grazed downland, pastoral valleys, orchards or hop areas. |
PB – Potential to be integrated at appropriate scale into mixed farming, particularly arable areas. PA - Avoid open grazed downland, pastoral valleys, orchards or hop areas. |
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Sparse settlement pattern on upper dipslope & downland. Valleys have small villages, scattered farmsteads & large houses. A few large settlements occur at base of scarp slope & along the Medway. Increasing urban influence towards London. Local building materials include flint, tile & bricks. | PA – Avoid planting on open downland, ridge tops & coasts or where the setting of locally distinct settlements would be adversely affected. PB – Opportunities exist in the urban fringe. |
PA – Avoid planting on open downland, ridge tops & coasts or where the setting of locally distinct settlements would be adversely affected. PB – Opportunities exist in the urban fringe. |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Small pockets of unenclosed, semi-improved chalk downland & species-rich chalk grassland survive on scarp slopes, in steep dry valleys & adjacent to the coast. | PA – Avoid planting on semi-natural habitats particularly species-rich chalk grassland & downland. | PA – Avoid planting on semi-natural habitats particularly species-rich chalk grassland & downland. |
| Historic features (note 11) | A network of drove roads, ancient tracks & sunken lanes link settlements. Roman remains through to military & defence artefacts are typical of downland. | PA – avoid archaeological sites, designed landscapes & their settings. Respect historic landscape character. | PA – avoid archaeological sites, designed landscapes & their settings. Respect historic landscape character. |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Rivers Stour, Medway, Darent & Mole cut valleys through chalk dip slope. Dry valleys on chalk scarp. Some valley floors drained by ditches with remnant wetland habitats. Distinctive high white cliffs in Kent. |
PB – opportunities exist in lower broader valleys. PA – Avoid coastal locations |
N – limited opportunities in lower broader valleys. PA – Avoid coastal locations |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Extensive views from downland & steep scarp top south towards coast & South Downs. Tree-fringed skylines. Major roads, Channel Tunnel development & rail links dominate larger valleys & base of scarp. |
N – Respect visual landscape character & link to new development. PA – Avoid planting on coasts & known viewpoints |
N – Respect visual landscape character & link to new development. PA – Avoid planting on coasts & known viewpoints |
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