JCA No. 149 - The Culm
Overall comments (note 1)
An undulating, open, remote rural landscape, sparsely wooded and dominated by livestock farming. Intricate steep valley systems form rolling ridges feeding into wider major river valleys. Steep rugged coastline, much of which falls within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area could support high miscanthus yields but low to medium SRC yields, some soils being too wet. Large scale planting would change the character of this distinctive lowland pastoral landscape. The coastal strip will be particularly sensitive to planting. Opportunities for planting SRC exist adjoining or linking existing woodland where in scale with the woodland pattern, pastoral valley bottoms should be retained. Opportunities for Miscanthus are more widespread – within existing crop patterns; however, planting should avoid masking field patterns and impeding views through large contiguous blocks.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Rolling open, locally steeply undulating landscape, with ridges separated by intricate pattern of incised river valleys. Sheer cliffs on northern boundary where meets the sea. |
N – planting impractical on steep valley sides. Opportunities on lower slopes, flat valley bottoms and broad ridge tops |
N – planting impractical on steep valley sides. Opportunities on lower slopes, flat valley bottoms and broad ridge tops |
| Woodland (note 6) | Generally low woodland cover. Some large conifer plantations in central area, & extensive valley and coastal woodlands. Overgrown hedges/abundant hedgerow trees give more wooded feel in parts. |
N – Impractical where steep. Potential to plant alongside or linking existing woodlands in scale with existing cover patterns. Could soften edge of conifers |
N – Impractical where steep |
Scattered small farm woodlands. Ridge tops mainly open. |
PA - Large scale planting on open ridge tops would create increased sense of enclosure and alter character. |
PA – scale of planting should be in keeping with existing cropping patterns, large blocks would create increased enclosure. |
|
| Boundary features (note 7) | Low hedges and hedgebanks on ridge tops and wet valley bottoms around a pattern of large regular fields. |
PA – Planting would obscure field pattern and hedges and may result in some physical damage |
N/PA – On a large scale planting would obscure field pattern. May be opportunities in larger fields |
Irregular smaller fields on valley sides with earthbanks and hedges often taller and overgrown |
PA- Planting would obscure field pattern and hedges and may result in some physical damage. |
N – Opportunities where in scale with field pattern. Large scale planting would create more enclosure & mask pattern |
|
| Agriculture (note 8) | Predominantly pasture. Some scattered areas of open common & unimproved pasture |
PA – A change to cropping would alter the pastoral landscape & create enclosure in open areas |
PA – A change to cropping would alter the pastoral landscape and create enclosure in open areas |
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Sparsely populated. Scattered hamlets and farms connected by winding sunken lanes. Occasional hilltop villages, sheltered fishing villages in coves & some coastal resorts |
N – providing planting is not very close and does not restrict views from and to settlements and from ridge lanes |
N |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Fragmented areas of unimproved Culm grassland of high conservation value, often in wet valley bottoms, but also some unenclosed commons on higher & undulating ground. Some coastal heath. |
PA – Planting would result in loss of distinctive ‘natural’ landscape features, & introduce new type of land cover resulting in erosion of character. |
PA - Planting would result in loss of distinctive ‘natural’ landscape features & introduce new type of land cover resulting in erosion of character |
| Historic features (note 11) | Clusters of Bronze age barrows on prominent ridges. Coastal/maritime heritage around ports and fishing villages. |
PA – Avoid these and other known archaeological sites and their settings and respect historic landscape character. |
PA – Avoid these and other known archaeological sites and their settings and respect historic landscape character |
Historic field patterns. Evidence of medieval strip fields around settlements. |
PA – Avoid masking the field pattern through planting |
PA–Avoid masking field pattern through large scale planting |
|
Some historic parkland/estate landscapes |
PA – Avoid loss of pasture & damage to parkland trees |
PA – Avoid loss of pasture & damage to parkland trees |
|
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Intricate pattern of small valleys forming catchments of rivers Taw, Torridge & Mole |
N/PA – impractical on steep slopes. Planting in valley bottoms could increase enclosure & alter character |
N/PA - planting impractical on steep slopes. Planting in valley bottoms could increase enclosure & alter character |
Main river valleys have steep valley sides with flat, open & fertile land in bottom. |
N/PA – Impractical on steep slopes. Opportunities adjoining woodland but retain pastoral character in valley bottom. |
N/PA – Impractical on steep slopes. Opportunities on lower slopes but retain pastoral character in valley bottom. |
|
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Wide views across a remote landscape. More restricted within enclosed wooded valleys. |
N/PA – Large blocks of planting would change character, masking distinctive landscape pattern and could restrict views. Less impact in enclosed areas. |
N/PA – Large blocks of planting would change character, masking distinctive landscape pattern and could restrict views. Less impact in enclosed areas. |
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