JCA No. 123 - Romney Marshes
Overall comments (note 1)
A flat low-lying open floodplain landscape comprising reclaimed marshland. The uniform open character provides a sense of remoteness.28% of the area falls within the High Weald AONB. Dungeness has a high nature conservation value i.e. shingle foreland is NNR & internationally renowned.
Biomass crops: - Miscanthus is most suitable on lowland agricultural. SRC more appropriately located on higher ground by settlements. Both would introduce a vertical element into an otherwise predominately flat landscape, high-density plantations should be avoided. Avoid areas particularly distinctive for small fields, dykes and unimproved pasture.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Flat low-lying open marshland landscape bounded by higher undulating land. |
N – possible opportunities on higher undulating land. |
N -possible opportunities where opens out to floodplains. |
| Woodland (note 6) | Clumps of trees on pockets of higher ground (around farmsteads and small hamlets). Few trees by drainage ditches and banks. The wet waterlogged conditions typically support tree species such as willow and ash. |
PA/N – Large-scale plantings should be avoided where local pattern of woodland cover is small and irregular. Possible opportunities in the few areas of tree cover around settlements. |
PA - Introducing large scale plantings would not be in keeping with wooded character of many areas. |
| Boundary features (note 7) | Absence of field boundaries. Limited hedgerow by drainage ditches, channels and banks. Greater density of tree cover with hedges forming field boundaries, wooded banks north on elevated slopes. |
PB/N – Enhance tree features (willow pollards). Care should be taken to maintain the essential open ‘treeless’ character. |
PA/N – Large scale planting whilst appropriate in larger fields would create enclosure in an otherwise open landscape hence alter character. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Widespread conversion to arable farming, with extensive arable fields of cereal plus vegetable crops. Rich agricultural land. |
PA/N – plantations would introduce an enclosed wooded feel into an open landscape, thus altering character. |
PB/N – on lower floodplain areas where it could be accommodated into current patterns of cropping. |
Traditional open wet pasture (grazed by cattle and sheep). Stock grazing persists over most of the area. |
PA – where it would cause loss of floodplain pastures |
PA – where it would cause loss of floodplain pastures |
|
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Scattered hamlets, villages and farmsteads on raised ground. Narrow straight open roads divide up the landscape. Some areas have no roads. Past extensive gravel workings. Dungeness power station and holiday resorts along the coast. |
PA/N – Opportunities for screening urban settlements. Dense planting would alter the character. Lack of roads could create problems for harvesting. |
PA/N – Would alter the character of the area. Lack of roads could create problems for harvesting. |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Unimproved pasture, wetland and grassland habitats, salt marshes, coastal sand dunes and shingle ridges. Occasional orchards to the north and west. |
PA – Where it would result in loss of habitat vulnerable to change. Would contrast with the conservation of this character. |
PA – Where it would result in loss of habitat vulnerable to change. Would contrast with the conservation of this character. |
| Historic features (note 11) | Relic features of the Napoleonic Wars – defensive Martello towers along the coast and the Royal Military Canal lying at the base of the former cliffs in the north. |
Avoid known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic landscape character. |
Avoid known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic landscape character. |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Extensive areas of open water at Rye Harbour and Denge Marshes formed by flooded gravel pits. |
PB/N – Possible opportunities to restore and reintegrate areas of former gravel working. |
PB/N – Possible opportunities to restore and reintegrate areas of former gravel working. |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | The sky dominates the wide-open, windswept character of the marshes; provides a sense of remoteness. |
PA – Break-up the strong character of long open wide views, along coastline, where coastal and inland views would be restricted. |
PA – Break-up the strong character of long open wide views along coastline, where coastal and inland views would be restricted. |
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