JCA No. 142 - Somerset Levels and Moors
Overall comments (note 1)
The Somerset levels and Moors are a flat, low-lying and wet landscape containing a wide range of environmental features, and the landscape is largely defined by an open, remote character. The opportunities for biomass plantings vary throughout the area. The open, wet grassland heart of the moors are particularly sensitive to plantings due to visual impacts creating enclosure and potential effects on the ‘raised water level areas’ managed specifically for wading birds. The whole area is also known to be rich in buried archaeological remains. In this context, SRC may be accommodated within the rectilinear field pattern in semi-enclosed areas that have been known to contain lines of willows, scrub or withy beds. Miscanthus is more suited to the areas where arable crops already exist, often towards the drier, slightly higher margins of the moors and levels.
| 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 and wet landscape of peat or clay moors, floodplains, and the clay levels near the coast |
N – opportunities on the clay moors and levels
N – impractical on the steeper slopes |
N – opportunities on the clay moors and levels
N – impractical on the steeper slopes and wet ground |
| Woodland (note 6) | Sparse tree cover on the open moors, with occasional shelter copses. |
N – although large plantings would be out of scale with existing woodland features |
PA – large scale plantings should be avoided where the local pattern of woodland cover is small and irregular |
| Boundary features (note 7) | A strong, geometric pattern of small to medium sized rectangular fields separated by wet rhynes and ditches; often with lines of pollarded willows alongside. |
N/PA – opportunities for planting occasional fields where they avoid masking, and physical impact on, wetland features such as rhynes and ditches |
PA – larger scale plantings will mask the field pattern and obscure the rhynes and ditches
N/PA - would bring some enclosure and hence alter character. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Predominantly wet pasture (grazing marsh) on the broad, low–lying moors. |
N/PA– opportunities towards the margins of the moors and south near withy beds, away from the open pastures and raised water level areas, where plantings would create enclosure |
N – towards the margins of the moors and levels where arable exists
|
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Sparsely populated moors, with farmsteads and villages on higher margins. |
PA – plantings would weaken the open character and restrict views in remoter areas; movement of harvesting equipment could be difficult PB – opportunities may exist within the urban fringe to help soften new development |
PA – plantings would reduce the open character and restrict views from public roads
PB – opportunities may exist within the urban fringe to help soften new development |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Willow carr and reed beds in the old peat workings centred on the Brue Valley |
PA – where it would result in loss of, or impact on, these habitats. |
PA – where it would result in loss of, or impact on, these habitats. |
| Historic features (note 11) | Strong historic character due to widespread, high archaeological interest above and below ground level - for example: |
PA – Avoid these and other known archaeological remains and their settings, and areas of high archaeological potential identified by the County HE records office
|
PA – Avoid these and other known archaeological remains and their settings, and areas of high archaeological potential identified by the County HE records office |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Rivers Parrett, Brue, Axe and Yeo drain westwards to the coast across regulated floodplains, with seasonal (winter) flooding |
N/PA – towards the margins of the moors |
N/PA – in drier areas with existing arable fields away from raised water level areas |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Long, expansive views within the open moors, broadly enclosed by surrounding hills. |
N – large-scale plantings will create enclosure and weaken the open expansive character.
PA - obscured or restricted public views of key features due to roadside plantings |
N – large-scale plantings will create enclosure and weaken the open expansive character.
PA - obscured or restricted public views of key features due to roadside plantings |
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:
14 March, 2007
Page published: 10 December, 2002