JCA No. 127 - Isle of Wight
Overall comments (note 1)
A small-scale island landscape with an often-intimate feel, there is a juxtaposition of varied and distinctive landforms. 50% of the island is in the Isle of Wight AONB, 50% of the coast is Heritage Coast.
Biomass crops: Miscanthus and SRC could be considered on the lower agricultural land to the north and east, although plantations will have a high impact upon this Island. Most of the island has a potentially high yield capacity for Miscanthus. SRC the south and east likely to produce low yields.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | A central chalk ridge divides the island on an east-west axis. Steep Chalk downland on an east-west axis; fertile open rolling southern coastal farmland moving down to diverse estuarine seascapes and dramatic sea cliffs and stacks. |
PA/N - Impractical on steep valley sides, possible opportunities on lower slopes and where opens out to floodplains. |
PA/N - Impractical on steep valley sides, possible opportunities on lower slopes and where opens out to floodplains. |
| Woodland (note 6) | Small copses and beech and ash woodland on the northern slopes with coniferous planting on the southern slopes of the downs. |
PB – Could contribute to woodland cover, |
PB – Could consider Miscanthus planting by coniferous plantations. Would alter character. |
Orchards (Northern pastures). |
PA – Care must be taken not to screen orchards. |
PA – Care must be taken not to screen orchards. |
|
| Boundary features (note 7) | Hedgerows predominant throughout – variations in field size and pattern. Mature hedgerows bound irregular field (Northern pastures). Large open fields with few relic hedges (southern coastal plain) – sparse scrubby network of hedges. Few hedgerows on the chalk downs. |
N – Opportunity for planting in areas with strong hedgerow features, large open fields could accommodate SRC but would create enclosure. |
N – Opportunity for planting, large open fields could accommodate Miscanthus but would create enclosure. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Mixed agricultural use. Mainly permanent grassland (dairy farming) to the north, Intensively arable in the south and horticulture to the east. |
N – Avoid loss of pasture. |
N – Avoid loss of pasture. Could potentially be accommodated into current cropping pattern. |
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Formal estates dominate parts of the north coast. Mineral extraction, extensive holiday/ industrial development and caravan parks. Small intimate villages connected by narrow winding lanes. Southern side of the island is less developed.
|
PA - Avoid altering the character of the formal estates, and disrupting the setting of villages. Narrow lanes limit access for harvesting. Good design in keeping with character would decrease visual intrusion of the urban development. |
PA - Avoid altering the character of the formal estates, and disrupting the setting of villages. Narrow lanes limit access for harvesting. Good design in keeping with character would decrease visual intrusion of the urban development. |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Ancient woodland (south and along the coast), heathland, unimproved meadows and grasslands, marshes, creeks and bogs. |
PA - Need to preserve / restore chalk downland and unimproved meadows – under pressure. |
PA - Need to preserve chalk downland and unimproved meadows – under pressure. |
| Historic features (note 11) | Prehistoric burial mounds, former medieval deer parks, and Victorian country houses and parklands. |
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) | Medina and Yar rivers. Half of the coastline is Heritage Coast. |
N – Could contribute to local riparian landscape – small belts of willow car. |
N – Could contribute to local riparian landscape. |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | The dominance of the sea and sky in many views. Topography strongly influences views. Sweeping views over the south coastal plain. |
PA/N - Avoid losing the open character. Planting of SRC in areas of distinct enclosed character. |
PA/N - Avoid losing the open character. Planting of Miscanthus in areas of distinct enclosed character. |
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