JCA No. 120 - Wealden Greensand
Overall comments (note 1)
This long narrow character area is defined by greensand escarpments and intervening clay vale, and there is local variation depending on topography and soils. Much of the area is designated as AONB, with potential National Park status for the section within W Sussex and E Hampshire. The mixed land uses, extensive woodland and sheltered lower areas provide potential to accommodate some biomass crops, particularly SRC. However the land use pattern is often small scale, and the character area is under pressure and vulnerable to landscape change, particularly in the E. so sensitivity to local conditions would be essential. Views are an important consideration given the extent of AONB designation, the number of good viewpoints and the 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) | A long, narrow belt of Greensand typified by scarp/dipslope topography. Upper and Lower Greensand form escarpments separated by a clay vale. |
PA - Avoid planting on prominent escarpments and skylines PB – opportunities in vales |
PA - Avoid planting on prominent escarpments and skylines |
| Woodland (note 6) | Extensive belts of ancient mixed woodland of hazel, oak and birch, chestnut coppice plus more recent coniferous plantation. Local variations in woodland cover reflect the diverse geology. |
PB - Potential for SRC to be assimilated into mixed woodland character. Maintain balance between woodland and other land uses - avoid over-planting |
N – May be limited potential. Miscanthus could contrast strongly with woodlands in winter – avoid high visibility locations. |
| Boundary features (note 7) | Field boundaries formed by hedges with character and species reflecting the soils. On the clay, hedges are dense, species rich with occasional standard oaks. On more acidic soils they generally consist of hawthorn\blackthorn, also with occasional oak trees and trimmed low hedges |
PB - Clay areas - dense hedges could help to assimilate biomass crops into landscape. |
PB - Clay areas - dense hedges could help to assimilate biomass crops into landscape. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Agricultural land comprises a mosaic of mixed farming, pasture and arable land set within a wooded framework. A fruit growing orchard belts persists in Kent. |
PB - Biomass crops have potential to be assimilated into areas with mixed land use |
PB - Biomass crops have potential to be assimilated into areas with mixed land use |
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Small settlements are dispersed through the W and SW parts of the JCA. Large houses set within extensive gardens are found throughout. Much of the eastern Greensand belt is heavily dominated by modern development. |
N – Avoid planting where the setting of locally distinctive settlements would be adversely affected. Urban fringe areas may have potential to accommodate some planting. |
N – Avoid planting where the setting of locally distinctive settlements would be adversely affected. Urban fringe areas may have potential to accommodate some planting. |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Important semi-natural habitats include lowland heath (although this is much reduced in area), extensive ancient woodland and pasture plus wetlands associated with the R Arun in W Sussex. |
PA - Avoid semi-natural habitats |
PA - Avoid semi-natural habitats |
| Historic features (note 11) | A range of historic landscape features including field monuments (tumuli and Iron Age hill forts), numerous landscaped parks, small quarries and relics of the iron industry including hammer ponds. |
PA - Avoid archaeological sites, designed landscapes and their settings. Respect historic landscape character. |
PA - Avoid archaeological sites, designed landscapes and their settings. Respect historic landscape character. |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Surface water is an important feature across the Greensand with many streams and rivers (e,g Rother, Way, Arun, Medway) draining off the dipslope. |
N /PB - There may be opportunities to accommodate SRC in lower broader valleys |
PA - unlikely to be suitable for Miscanthus |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Higher land is intervisible with adjoining vales, the High Weald and the North and South Downs |
N - Avoid planting where there would be an adverse effect on viewpoints. |
N - Avoid planting where there would be an adverse impact on viewpoints. Consider seasonal impact. |
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